GUARD DUTY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 4, 4 July 1940, Page 7

GUARD DUTY

"FORGOTTEN MEN"

LONELY AND MONOTONOUS

WATCHING THE SEAS

' Among those performing valuable and essential war work in New Zealand is a legion of forgotten men—the members of the Guards Companies, most of whom have been on duty since war was declared on September 4. They are employed manning coastal watching stations, guarding vital points, and on similar duties. Much of their work is monotonous and a number of the stations are in lonely spots many miles from habitation. Although comfortable camps have been provided as rapidly as possible at all stations where the men have to live on the job, it was difficult to complete this work at short notice. For a great part of the nine months of war many guards have had to. live in emergency camps where considerable .discomfort has been unavoidable. Nevertheless they have carried out their duties cheerfully and without complaint.

Nearly all of the guards saw service during the last war as the ribbons on their breasts will testify. Many of them voluntarily left much better paid civilian jobs for their present war role, and there is no doubt that the work they are doing should earn for them the gratitude of their country. The Guards Company on duty in and near Wellington is approximately 200 strong. It includes men who served in many branches of the Empire fighting forces during the Great "War. Ex-naval men as well as soldiers have a place in the company's ranks. For instance, one man took part in the famous Zeebrugge raid on St. George's Day, 1917. Another saw ssrvice on the North-West frontier of India. k One man was a member of the original Tank Corps in the last war, and the official History of that unit devotes a page and a half to his exploits. The majority of them, of course, served with the New Zealanders during 1914-18, and many, including the Commanding Officer, Captain G. F. Vance, took part in the Gallipoli campaign. Decorations held by members of the company include the D.C.M., Military Medal, Croix de Guerre, and so on. COASTAL STATION. One of the more isolated points in the Wellington area where members of the company have been on duty since the outbreak —a coastal watching station —was visited the other day by a "Post" representative on the occasion of an inspection by Captain Vance and staff officers from Central Military District Headquarters, Buckle Street. This station, which is on the sea coast at one of the most exposed positions in the North Island, is manned by a sergeant, three guards, and a cook. Sole access to the station from the nearest road is over seven miles of rough and mountainous bridle path, only portion of which can be negotiated on horse-back. Rations and all supplies have to be taken in by pack horse, and if the men want to visit the city during their leave periods they j must travel the seven miles both ways on foot. When war began men were at once sent out to this spot. Of necessity the station had to be established on an exposed headland and. consequently' it is open to every wind that blows. Tented, accommodation was all that was available at first. Sometimes the tent blew down, but it was pitched again and the men carried on. As soon as possible a wooden building was erected, and it has sinGe been enlarged to provide two bedrooms, a kitchen, and a living-room where the men have their-meals and where, during the winter months, most of their off duty time is spent. Books, playing cards, and a darts board form the principal available amusements. During the rare periods of calm there are fish to be caught from the rocks on the beach and they are occasionally a welcome addition to the menu. RAIN AND WIND STORMS. As its name implies the job of a coastal watching station is to maintain continuous observation over the area of ocean within its field of vision. In this case the men take hourly spells on the edge of the cliff scanning, with the aid of a powerful telescope, the long stretch of water in view. A permanent shelter is soon to be erected for this work, but up to the present the man on duty has had no shelter from the weather. In rain storms and gales, during the bitter blast of southerlies, the men have stood their watches without complaint. . This guard also acts as a naval signal station and reports to the naval authorities in Wellington every vessel sighted. The station is in telephone communication with naval headquarters and also District Headquarters in the city, and this means of communication is used for all reports. After seeing the conditions under which these men work and live it is impossible not to be struck by their gameness. One would imagine that after a few weeks of this life they would be on the lookout for a more congenial post, but requests of that nature from this and other similarly isolated stations are extremely rare.