THE HOME GUARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 302, 28 September 1940, Page 2

THE HOME GUARD

THE DISTRICT COMMANDERS. EARLY ACTION EXPECTED. (Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, September 27. The Minister of National Services (Soil. R. Semple) in. a statement today, announced the appointment of four district commanders of the. Home Guard. “In previous statements,” said Mr Semple, “it has been indicated that the organisation of the Home Guard, whilst not being a military establishment at this stage, would be developed very much along the lines of the army so that the closest collaboration would bo ensured in the training and disposition of the Guard to render it an 'efficient supplementary body to the armed forces in time of need. It was decided, therefore, to divide the Dominion into district commands, and those in turn into areas as is done with the army organisation. For the purposes of the Home Guard 1 , however, it has been found desirable to have four district' commands, two in the North Island and two in the South Island, instead, of three as in the army. The division of the l South Island into two districts will allow of much quicker organising because less travelling by the district commander will be involved. “Great care has been exercised in the selection of the personnel to undertake the work of district .commanders,” said Mjr Semple, “and after very wide consultation with MajorGeneral Young, the Returned Soldiers’ Association, local authorities and others, thei Government has been fortunate in securing the services of men with, fine records, who have agreed to give their time gratis to this work.” Careers of Commanders. Mr Semple said that he had pleasure in announcing that the following appointments had been approved:— Auckland District Commander:— Colonel M. Alfred, V.ID*., N.Z.E.F., 1915-17. He served in Egypt and Palestine with the highest rank of Temporary Major. He was in the territorial force, from 1908 to 1934, and commanded the Ist Auckland Mounted Riflas and the Ist N.Z. Mounted Rifle Brigade with the highest rank of Colonel.

Wellington District Commander: — Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0., N.Z.E.F. 1914-19. He was in Samoa, Egypt and France with the highest rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He commanded thei 4th Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, with whom he was serving when awarded the D.S.O. He was a. member of the territorial force from 1909 to, 1929, and commanded the Ist Battalion, of the Wellington Regiment and the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade with the highest rank of Colonel. Christchurch District Commander,: Major G. E. F. Kingscote, N.Z.E.F., 1916-17. Ho was intelligence officer with the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1917, and was ini the British Army •in 1918-19 and later with the Dunster Force in the Middle East. Dunedin District Commander:— Lieutenant-Colonel A. S. B. Smith, E.D., N.Z.E.F. 1915-18. He was with the Otago Mounted Rifles in Efeypt and France and was commissioned in the field in 1918. iHe served in the territorial force from 1920 to 1937, and commanded the Otagcj, Mounted Rifles with the highest rank of LieutenantColonel.

The Minister stated that immediately thei four District Commanders were appointed they were called to Wellington for a conference with the Dominion Commander, MajorGeneral Young, and Ministers. They had now returned to their districts to l institute the necessary action to bi'ing the Home Guard into being at the earliest possible date-