THE HOME GUARD

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LXIV, Issue 62, 6 August 1943, Page 2

THE HOME GUARD

THREE YEARS OLD

WHAT IT HAS ACHIEVED

The Home Guard, dating its commencement from when its establishment was approved by the War Cabinet (August 2, 1940), is just three years old, says the Dominion. It has been described as the cheapest army in the world; for a good part of its history, when other considerations prevented it being adequately equipped, the cost to the public purse was .almost negligible. Its origin was not purely official. Rather, it began when the will of a, free people to defend .themselves with whatever means came to hand manifested itself in a number of voluntary units formed in several districts soon after the war began. These units armed themselves with shot-guns, sporting rifles and any other lethal weapons individual members possessed or could borrow. Like the official and huge Home Guard organisation which followed, and absorbed these early unofficial units, they were prepared to give effect to those memorable words of Mr Churchill, after Dunkirk: "We shall fight ion the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills, we shall never surrender. . . ."

Much said and written about the Home Guard has dealt with its deficiencies and ignored its achievements. The latter could be concisely described thus: (1) The building up of morale; (2) the demonstration to the people generally and to the world at large of a determination to hold the country at all costs; (3) the value of training to men who subsequently entered the Territorial Force or the 2nd N.Z.E.F.; (4) the worth to all concerned ,of rubbing shoulders and sharing discomforts with other citizens with whom they had previously—though they might have been near, neighbouTs—little or no social contact. lin over-emphasising deficiencies sight was frequently lost ;of the self-reliance shown in the improvisation of weapons.

It was often said in the early stages that the Army did .not want the Home, Guard. The plain fact ,of the matter was that for a period serious problems of the equipment and general training and servicing •of a large, rapidly-formed regular force were, a tremendous burden for th army to carry without shouldering responsibility for a large part-time army which, at the time, it could neither equip nor train. It was in tJie face of such difficulties that the Home Guard showed its mettle. There were certainly growlings and grumblings; there has never been an army ,of any sort where, -lacking positive action, it was not the individual soldier's privilege to grouse.

Woatfen Rifles

The equipment difficulty may be gauged when it is recalled that many units made wooden replicas of rifles with which to practice rifle drill. Jam-tin bombs and Molotov cocktails were made by all units, and workable bomb-throwers were also locally made.

Apart from the unofficial units, which were formed soon after war began, the Government received thousands of offers of service from persons whose circumstances prevented, their joining the armed forces. The Government then decided to establish, with the aid of local authorities, a voluntary and unpaid Home Guard to train in the evenings and at week-ends in preparation for co-operation with the Army in the event of invasion or some such war emergency. Later the object of the guard was .more precisely denned as being to "augment local defences by providing for static defence of localities, the protection of vulnerable and key points, amd to give timely notice of enemy movements, to superior military organisations."

As Director-General, the Government appointed Major-General R. You,ng, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., who commanded the 2nd N.Z. Infantry Brigade in France and who was General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces from 1925 to 1931, when he retired. He brought to the Home Guard not only wide, practical military experience, both as a soldier and administrator, but, what was important to a really civilian army, leadership without unnecessary formality.

At New Year, 1941, the Home Guard had gnowa to a force of 80,----000; by June, 1941, 101,000 were attested. By December, 1942, every guardsman had battledress and boots, but for most of the time before this the "uniform" was ,a.n armband or the old .service uniform ,of the Territorial Force. Overseas demands for battledress, which took preference over the Territorial Force, delayed the issue to the Home Guard. Meantime thousands of civilian suits a.nd pairs of footwear got a good knocking about on parade grounds and in riverbeds, scrub and gullies an manoeuvres. Value of Defence Works The value of the solid manual

w,ork done. for the country by the Home Guard in the members' own time is described as almost incalculable. They constructed defence works at all the vulnerable beaches round the coasts of New Zealand, constructed tank traps and rifle ranges, and, free of cost to the nation, did many other absolutely essential defensive works. Their labour enabled regulars to be kept reasonably free for straightout training.

The appointment of leaders in the Home Guard was a source of criticism, not infrequently well-founded. These were made on the recommendation of local committees, and those so appointed, while they had proved themselves • invaluable as organisers, Sometimes did not 'have the requisite military background for field leadership. The Army took over the Home Guard on August 1,^1941, and Home Guard commissions were then granted. The criticism referred to was being gradually met by changes at the time the Home Guard went into a reserve role in July, 1943, but the problem could not be met by wholesale retirements or demotions.

After Japan entered the war, permanent staffs were appointed for each battalion, and New Zealand was divided into 33 zones. Each zone ihad a regular commander for all Territorial Force and Home Guard units in the * zone, for the operational control and training of which he was responsible. This brought about closer working cooperation between the two forces and created. a worthwhile mutual understanding.

Home Guard personnel have never been paid, except when attending courses. Thousands have done these and come through well. Courses not only brought to light fresh talent for higher rank, but revealed deficiencies in some already holding

The Home Guard has had many reverses and disappointments, but .not once did it fall down on the job. The fortunes of war—good as far as the safety of this country, is concerned—were such that it was not put to the test. Consequently, in common with the Territorial Force, there, is always a tendency to underestimate its value. But when the history iof- the war is written, and the dangers ance threatening New Zealand are made fully known, there will be no under-estimation of the value of a Home Guard force of more than' 100,000 men prepared, ,of their own free will, to cast back an invader into the sea, with bare hands alone if necessary.