MEN NEEDED FOR HOME GUARD

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23944, 11 May 1943, Page 4

MEN NEEDED FOR HOME GUARD

CHECK TO BE MADE QF THOSE NOT SERVING

A check of men available for Home Guard service who are serving neither with the Home Guard nor the E.P.S. will be made shortly by the Army. The service of a large number of men called in early ballots was deferred by Appeal Boards without any direction that they should serve in the Home Guard. Although, when Home Guard enrolment was made compulsory for men between the ages of 35 and 51, it was stated that younger men held on sine die appeals should join the Home Guard, it is known that large numbers did not do so.

The service of these men is required for the Home Guard more than ever now that a system of gradual transfers of grade 1 men to the non-mobilised section of the territorial force is about to begin, and a round-up is to be made. The Home Guard will eventually consist of the few grade 1 men who cannot be released from their civilian occupations for service with the nonmobilised portion of the' territorial force, those grade 2 men who cannot be released or are not immediately required for the territorial force, and most grade 3 men, plus fit men between the ages of 45 and 51 and volunteers over the age of 51. In the case of the two latter categories, commanding officers or the men themselves may asjc for examinations by medical boards if there is doubt about their physical fitness. A check on the physical fitness of these older men is now being made in some units, and a number of men have been marched out.