The fall of France in June 1940 deprived the Company of its main source of its principal raw material, sand, and supplies had to be obtained from British sources, particularly Lock Aline in Scotland.

A Home Guard Company was formed in the works that same month, and was attached to the 8th Battalion (Northumberland). The Company soon numbered six officers and eighty-one men. The officers were : Company Commander, E.N. Pringle; Assistant Company Commander, A.E. Veitch; Platoon Commanders, R.W. Clark and W.S. Harley; and Assistant Platoon Commanders, R.O. Robson and R. Irving. Following a period of training the factory was guarded every night by members of the Company.

Subsequently, the 8th Battalion (Northumberland) was reorganised in 1942 and the Works Company, which was then classed as Platoon No.29 under the Command of A.E. Veitch, had the honour of being chosen as the H.Q. Defence Platoon. Eventually the Platoon formed part of "E" Company of the 8th Battalion until the Home Guard was ordered to 'stand down' in December 1944 as the war in Europe drew to a close