STRENUOUS TIME

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 291, 9 December 1941, Page 5

STRENUOUS TIME

HOME GUARD "BIVVY" FIRE, SMOKE AND WATER \;' Members of the Home Guard manoeuvring in the Brown's BayAlbany district during the week-end went through fire, smoke, mud and water to achieve their objectives. The exercises, which were confined to two small groups of volunteers from the Remuera Companies, were probably the most strenuous ever [undertaken by this arm of the national defence forces. Organised by Lieutenant McAlpine, of the Auckland Scottish, the operations embraced various aspects of guerrilla fighting, including night patrol work, in which compass bearings played a prominent part! The manoeuvres began on Saturday morning and extended with few intervals until after 11 p.m., and were resumed before 7.30 on Sunday morning, when a surprise attack was launched against the bivouac of an opposing unit. In the final "stunt" the attackers chased the "enemy" over miles of scrub-covered hills and swamp. Most of the guardsmen were carrying full packs and rifles. Some of the .Older men found the going fairly hard, but there were no casualties, and the entire week-end was described by one of the commanding .officers as more valuable than anything the men had yet received. Actual war conditions were reproduced strikingly When several sections advanced over a paddock of burning scrub, which sent up a smoke screen. At other times the men were obliged to wade through creeks and swamps, and. penetrate dense bush. Evidence of the men's enthusiasm Wds the fact that most of them were without army boots and other equipment. They took their own blankets and rations, but-wage issued „with ground sheets. . _