Service For Empire

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 12 (Supplement)

Service For Empire

IT is surprising how little is known and understood of the Legion of Frontiersmen. Members are seen on public parades often, looking very smart and soldierly in their picturesque uniforms, and mostly people just wonder what they are and—then forget to inquire further. Yet the frontiersmen belong to an organisation that is worldwide in its influence. It is composed mostly of old campaigners who desire to keep alive the spirit of their adventures. They are a voluntary, self-governing, self-sup-porting body, a great patriotic society with no political creed but that of Empire, and they are banded together as a brotherhood of men who have striven for and know the Empire from having seen its vastness and majesty with their own eyes. To-day there are frontiersmen in all parts of the world, not militant war seekers but men who are yet ready to stand for the Empire again should necessity arise. With that aim their desire is to be organised and prepared and to strive to keep fit and in touch with their old life. "God Guard Thee," the motto which was engraved in Arabic inside the ring of that great frontiersman, General Gordon, of Khartoum, they have adopted as their own. In the ranks of the legion in New Zealand there are many returned soldiers who, through the activities of the organisation, are keep-

What Frontiersmen Stand For

ing fit should any emergency occur. In the Great War the legion lost 9000 men in all branches of the service for King and country. Amongst the objects of the New Zealand command are:—Safety and national well being of the Empire; the practice and encouragement of military training for the defence of the Empire; the enrolling in peace time of men who have had frontier, naval, military or other training, or other experience as may be considered useful to assist the Empire in case of need; to render assistance to the Defence Department in relation to the defence forces and cadets and to assist and encourage the youth of New Zealand to recognise their duty and responsibility to their King and Empire. Membership is of one class only, active. Members must be British by birth or naturalisation and over 25 years of age. Good citizenship and loyalty to the Throne are essential for membership. Discipline of establishments is strict, and training is regular and varied, including physical "jerks," signalling, drill (in accordance with the N.Z.M.R. manual), in addition to general military -practice, including rifle shooting. The squadrons in New Zealand are dispositioned as follows:—A. Auckland; 0, Gisborne; G. Wanganui; H, Hawke's Bay; I, Wellington; K, Masterton; L, New Plymouth, M, Taranaki; N. Palmerston North; O. Te Kuiti; Q. Nelson. B, Dunedin; S, Waverley (Taranaki); V, Chmtchurch; and troops in Hutt Vallev and at Timaru.