MILITARY POLICE

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 134, 2 March 1936, Page 10

MILITARY POLICE

An Old Comrades’ Association VETERAN SURVIVORS OF THE “A.C. FORCE” Former members of the regular military force known as the Armed Constabulary in the late ’sixties of the last century have formed a 'Wellington section of the New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades’ Association. Three veteran survivors of the “A.C. Force”—Mr. J. A. McGrath, Mr. James Gentles, Mr. George Law—have been made vice-presidents.

A member of the new association explains the origin and development of the movement thus: — Toward the conclusion of the Maori wars the New Zealand Government formed a regular military force which was designated the Armed Constabulary, but known more often as the “A.C. Force.” This fine body of men served as soldiers or police as occasion demanded in a similar manner to other bodies of military police on the frontiers of the Empire. It was only natural, however, that in the course of time and particularly with the pacification of the countryside, these civil and military duties should be separated; thus the Armed Constabulary became the parent of the clvij police and Royal New Zealand Artillery, but the latter was first to become the Permanent Militia, being subdivided into what were popularly known as the Permanent Artillery and Torpedo Corps. In 1905, however, these units became respectively the Royal New Zealand Artillery and Royal New Zealand Engineers, the latter being ultimately absorbed into the former, artificers and “specialists” attending to the electric searchlight equipment and to the engines on the defence vessels.

It is a far cry from the later ’sixties of last century to the present time, but throughout this period there has been an increasing desire on the part of ex-members of the Permanent Force, or rather that part descended from the Armed Constabulary, to form an association, and a local branch came into being recently, when at a meeting convened -for the purpose by LieutenantColonel .S. G. Sandle the Wellington section of the New Zealand Permanent Force Old Comrades’ Association was formed. No fewer than 40 people were present, including three survivors of the Armed Constabulary, namely, Mr. J. A. McGrath, Mr. James Gentles and Mr. George Law. The association at its birth honoured these splendid old veterans, and incidentally itself, by making them vice-presidents. Mr. Gentles, who in spite o£ his advanced age is to be seen about Wellington almost every day, has the distinction of having trained all recruits and young officers on the barrack square for a period of over 30 years, including every one of those present at. the meeting except his two confreres. His and their reception was most enthusiastic.

The following officers were elected :— President, Lieutenant-Colonel S. G.. Sandle; vice-presidents. Colonel H. E. Pilkington, Sir. W. G. Wohlmann, Captain H. C. Petersen, Slessrs. J. A. McGrath, J. Gentles, G. Law, J. Spence, C. R. Broberg, A. T. Emerson, J. Cummings, and D, J. O’Neill; committee, Slessrs. J. Duncan, F. Cassin, J. Leslie, T. Asher, J. J. Power, C. Radcliffe, T. Nisbet, W. Colbert and A. Smith. Sympathetic reference was made to the recent deaths of Sir. 11. J. Slulholland (hon. lieutenant) and Mr.- J. J. Weybourne (master gunner), both old hands whose military service began before the last Slaori War scare at Hokianga in 1896. The successful launching of the association was in no small measure due to the energy of Sir. A. Thomson (formerly master gunner), who was most active in tracking down those eligible for membership. The occasion of the meeting was marked by the utmost good fellowship, and when the business was over by a prolonged exchange of reminiscences.