EXTRA BATTALION

Evening Star, Issue 23811, 15 February 1941, Page 12

EXTRA BATTALION

500 MEN TO GUARD BUILDINGS A special battalion of 500 men to undertake guard duties is to bo formed in Dunedin, and will bo part of the Home Guard movement. The district commander (Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Bruce Smith), in making the call,' states that the men will be required to guard public buildings, such as railway stations, petrol pumps, broadcasting stations, banks, post offices, hospitals, and private houses. Mon of 55 years and over, physically capable of undertaking this work, arc asked to parade at the Garrison Hall, Dowling street, on Monday at 7.30 p.m. Issuing instructions concerning this extra battalion, Lieutenant-colonel Bruce Smith said: “ I would like it clearly to be understood that the work of these guardsmen (in_ England they, arc known as wardens) is as important —in some cases more so—as that of members of the Home Guard who have been posted to what is referred to a« the “ fighting battalions.” The or wardens, will form the front behind the front. There is no need to empha-< s'se the seriousness of the position in the Pacific, and the urgent need for enrolment in the special battalion. Monday’s parade will be addressed by the district commander.