HOME GUARD

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 27, 26 October 1940, Page 7

HOME GUARD

Nelson And Blenheim Area Commanders

The appointment of area commanders for the Home Guard in Nelson- and Blenheim announced last evening by the Minister of National Service, Air. Semple. They are as follows: — Area No. 9, Headquarters Nelson. — Captain Euan AVilliam Lucie-Smith, AI.C., Nelson. Captain Lucie-Smith served in the last war from 1914 to 1919. He enlisted in the ranks in the Honourable Artillery Company and wits later commissioned in the Royal Field Artillery. He was awarded the Aiilitary Cross in 1917 and promoted to the rank of captain. On conclusion of the war he served for a time in the Intelligence Branch of the General Staff in Palestine till 1921, when he joined the Palestine Police. He served in this unit till March. 1939. rising to the rank of Acting-Deputy Inspector-Gen-eral. He retired in March, 1939, and has since been living in Nelson. Area No. 9 0., Headquarters Blenheim. — Lieutenant-Colonel William Thompson Churchward, E.D., barrister and solicitor, Blenheim. LieutenantColonel Churchward served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, with the rank of lieutenant, from 1917 to 1919, in the Second Battalion, Canterbury Regiment; on returning to New Zealand he continued his service with the Territorial Force from 1920 till 1935. During the last four years of his service he commanded the First Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast Regiment, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and received the Efficiency Decoration.