HOME GUARD

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 38, 14 February 1941, Page 9

HOME GUARD

OPERATION OF SCHEME

PHYSICAL TRAINING

FINE OPPORTUNITY

The scheme for the training of men of the Home Guard is now being put into full operation.,. The instructors, of the physical welfare branch of the Internal Affairs Department, who are to be responsible for the carrying out of work under the scheme, have completed a refresher course at a special camp arranged for the purpose in Hutt Valley, Wellington, and have returned to their respective districts.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr. Parry). stated today that the area officers of each district who were in charge of' Home Guard physical instruction were in touch with trie various units of the Home Guard, making arrangements for the work to pro-' ceed. . .■ .

"There is a splendid opening under the scheme for men to improve their physical fitness," Mr. Parry said. "With the introduction of this training,' which is devised by experts in physical culture to. suit advantageously all men who join up, there should not, as the wor.k develops, be an unfit man in the Home Guard. Once a man whose condition by reason of occupation or other cause has been weakened feels again the joy of fitness he will strive to maintain that fitness."

SUB-AREA ACTIVITIES

The following reports of Home Guard and Civil Guard activities in. the Wellington area have been received:—

Seatoun-Strathmore Park.—Excellent progress is being; made in the training of the members of the Home Guard and E.P.S. units in the SeatounStrathmore Park sub-area, and an increasing number of recruits is being enrolled each parade night. Intending recruits are requested to enrol immediately so as to keep pace with the training. Parades of the Home Guard are held every Monday night, in the Seatoun School grounds, and'intending recruits can then enrol. In the •Home\Guard unit n.c.o.s'have been appointed to the various platoons, which'have been divided into age groups,so as to ensure greater facility in training. Separate signalling and first-aid field units have been formed. The various units under the E.P.S. are undergoing instructional training, and the first-aid and fire squads in particular are most enthusiastic over the excellent instruction being received. In connection with the recruiting rally to be held in the Kilbirnie Kinema next Sunday at 8 p.m., Seatoun Guardsmen are requested to assemble at the Seatoun Terminus at 6.50 p.m., and the Strathmore Park Guardsmen at the corner of Bentinck Avenue- and Broadway at 7 p.m. The parade will then march to Kingsford Smith . Street to join the Guardsmen from other districts at.7.15 p.m. in a combined march to the Kilbirnie Kinema, during which Major-General Young will take . the salute at a point along the route.

Ngaio.— Notwithstanding the.wet and windy weather on Wednesday evening, over, 100 men of the Ngaio Home and Civil Guard" units paraded in the local Town Hall. Part of the programme consisted of the first lesson in a course of fire-fighting, an address being . delivered by Mr. Me Jennet, of: the Wellington' Fire Brigade. Whilst these■ lessons'oorn r fire-fighting are/mainly applicable to those who have enlisted with that particular section of the.Civil Guard, members of the Home Guard are also proposing to make themselves familiar with the routine. Members of the E.P.S., or Civil Gt^ard, who have not yet been posted to any definite unit, are undergoing training with the Home Guard section, pending their appointments. The Home Guard itself has already established n.c.o. classes and signalling units. The local committee has arranged for an enrolment committee to be in'attendance in the Ngaio Town Hall each Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock.

Lower Hutt.— On Wednesday evening some 400 members of the Lower Hutt Home Guard and E.P.S. organisations met in the grandstand of the recreation ground at Lower Hutt.' The Home Guard was divided into four companies of four platoons each. Two n.c.o.s were appointed to each platoon and lectures and instructions given. Members of the National Military Reserve, under Sergeant-Major Ryan, were present and acted as instructors. The Civic Band joined the unit as a body, and will be in attendance at each parade. At the suggestion of the men it was decided that the singing of the National Anthem should be a feature of each parade.

Members of the various groups of the E.P.S. met. within the grandstand and received instruction in their various duties.

Petone. —About 100 members of the Petone unit of the Home Guard paraded last night under Lieutenant R. W. Toomath and marched to the Technical College, where Lieutenant W. A. Ritchie gave instructions to an n.c.o.s' class and 2nd Lieutenant E. W; Mills instructed the unit in the parts and use of a rifle. Intending members are notified that parades are held on the recreation ground each Thursday evening. . *.. ■

Island Bay.—The Island Bay Home Guard unit held a further parade on the grounds of the Island Bay School last night. In place of the usual infantry instruction lectures were given on phases of field operations. The unit commander, Lieut. D. Y. Gemmell, stressed the necessity for the unit completing its preliminary training as quickly as possible so that more advanced work could be undertaken. To bring the unit up to effective operational strength, Lieut. Gemmell asked members to endeavour to enlist two I others each.

East Harbour.—The East Harbour Home, Guard, which is now 120 strong and parades every Wednesday night, is receiving instruction in signalling under the direction of Major F. H. Lampen, D.S.O. The keenness shown in this area is demonstrated by the fact that there were 100 men at its last parade, in spite of the inclemency of the weather.

Otaki. —Some 150 members of the Home Guard, including a full muster of the Otaki Fire Brigade, attended the inaugural meeting at Otaki. The Mayor (Mr. C. F. Atmore) pointed out that it behoved everyone over the. age of 16 to join up. Mr. Atmore referred to the, splendid work done in other parts, and stated that of the 188 men available at Waikanae no fewer than 180 had joined up. The speaker said that the Otaki district extended from Feilding to Paekaktiriki. with headquarters at Palmerston North. The subarea from Shannon to Paekakariki was under the command of .'Captain A. T. White. Mr. Walter Taylor had been appointed battalion commander and Mr. H. N. Fearnley commander of the Otaki company. The Otaki company has been, divided into three platoons, a rifle platoon under Mr. H. Jepson, a

pioneer platoon under Mr. H. Jacob, and a beach patrol (commander to be appointed). .

Northland.--The Northland Home Guard unit of almost two platoons held its first Saturday parade last week. Headed by the Pipes and Drums of the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment, a route march took place through the district to the park, where instruction was given in company drill. Noncommissioned officers' classes have been formed, and the efficiency of the unit is increasing. Parades are held every Tuesday at the Fire Station. Men of the district who have not already joined can enrol at the Fire Station every Tuesday and Thursday, from 7 to 9 p.m.

- Legion of Frontiersmen,-—The Legion of Frontiersmen Company of the Home Guard held a weekly parade on Tuesday last. Excellent pi'ogress is being made with training., and a number of new enrolments have been made during the week. Applications from those desirous of joining this unit can be made at Tuesday's parade at Buckle Street. A special parade will be held on Saturday afternoon at Buckle Street. On this occasion a route march through the city will be made, continuing along the Hutt Road" and returning via the waterfront route.

Melrose-Houghton Bay.—At 7.15 on Sunday night the Melrose-Houghton Bay unit will march from the north end of Kingsford Smith Street to the Kilbirnie Kinema to hear the address to be given by the Hon. R. Semple.

Upper Hutt. —A meeting of- the Home Guard committee was held at Upper Hutt last evening, at which it was arranged to hold a public parade at 2.30 p.m. tomorrow in conjunction with the fire brigades and other organisations. The parade will leave Mangaroa, and will be led by the Trentham Camp Military Band.