SCOTS FOR N.Z.E.F.

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 64, 15 March 1940, Page 8

SCOTS FOR N.Z.E.F.

SPECIAL COMPANIES

RECRUITING EFFORT

The offer of the Scottish organisation, made on February 10, to furnish a battalion for overseas service, has not been accepted in its entirety by the Government, but it has been agreed that the entity of the existing Scottish company in the 27th Machinegun Battalion shall be preserved, and that all recruits of Scottish birth or descent will be posted to the Otago and Southland companies of the 26th (Can-terbury-Otago) Battalion in the Third Echelon. The combined Scottish associations, at a meeting held last evening, agreed to accept the offer of the Government and to invite all Scottish organisations ! throughout the Dominion to assist in recruiting for these companies. It was also decided to request that the glengarry be substituted for the slouch hat in these companies, that the companies be recognised as the New Zealand Scottish, and that New Zealand Scots who had enlisted recently for the Third Echelon be drafted to the two companies specified as predominantly Scottish by the Minister in the following letter addressed to Mr/ J. G. MacKenzie, president of the Wellington Scottish Association: — Dear Sir, —With reference to your letter of the 26th ultimo, and the conference held to discuss the proposal to form a Scottish Battalion of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., I now desire to confirm the decisions made in regard to that matter: — (a) For the reasons already given, it is not deemed expedient to include a complete Scottish unit as such in the organisation of the N.Z.E.F. (b) As far as possible, the entity of the existing Scottish company in the 27th Machine-gun Battalion will be preserved, and, provided circumstances and numbers permit, those of Scottish descent will continue to be posted to that unit. (c) In ordec to give an increased representation in the N.Z.E.F., it is agreed that, although no change will be made in the name of the unit, as far as numbers and circumstances permit, those of Scottish descent will be posted to the Otago and Southland companies of the 26th (Canter-bury-Otago) Battalion in the Third Echelon. This measure should ensure that such companies are composed at least of a predominant Scottish element, and it is hoped the Scottish societies in New Zealand will adopt and take an active interest in these companies and the already existing Scottish company of the 27th Machine-gun Battalion, and exercise every endeavour to ensure an adequate supply of recruits for them. I trust that the arrangement outlined above will meet with the approval and have the full support of your organisation, and also.hope that the active interest which you and members of all Scottish Associations in New Zealand have taken in recruiting the 2nd N.Z.E.F. and its reinforceIments will be maintained."