THE HOME GUARD

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 99, 17 December 1943, Page 3

THE HOME GUARD

Few Home Guardsmen will regret that no more training parades are to be held, for the degree to which defence preparations have been relaxed in New Zealand of recent months is the mark of the steadily rising margin of safety in this country from enemy attack and the rapid flowing away from these shores of the tide of war. Now that uniforms, rifles and other equipment are to be withdrawn, the Home Guard ceases in actual practice to be a military force, although its personnel are still liable for service and can be called up in the unexpected eventuality of a ■deterioration in the Allied cause in the Pacific war. Many of the younger guardsmen will find opportunities for further service in the Territorial Force, but most of the guardsmen will be able to devote their attentions to the more civilian aspects of the war, content to know that they have done a good job at a critical time in the nation's history During the short time it has been m existence there grew up amongst guardsmen, in both town and country units, an espirit de corps, a feeling of confidence and reliance upon each other which would have been most valuable and helpful had tne force been confronted with a more serious task. Men from ail walks of life learned to understand and know each other better prejudices were broken down and a oond of comradeship was growing up, cutting across all sectional interests. The unifying factor was the defence of the country, and if any regrets can be felt at the passing ?_• t ?? me Guard > nis because this highly desirable understanding and comradeship will tend to disapSrtt If _f n be cn couraged to grow and, develop under civilian m OSvon^ fOr .l he good of the co^ mumty, then the Home Guard will have built a greater monument to its memory than can be realised at taeere m°me_^ CaH •** s^ * __e«t- fi-^f l he _opportunities are ftlt? rstlV° help New Zealand to contuiue^ to produce more food and to continue to do her part in tiSn'S r'-^ thf n ' in the t on period, to help to build the nahe w^fT. al°n? „lines which mean peopfc happiness of all its

y^UgUst' 1942 ' more than half tne ships which used to bring food to Britain had been diverted to sup-P-'ymg and maintaining the armies throughout the world. ariPjes