H.G. NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 24138, 7 March 1942, Page 5

H.G. NOTES

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Visits. The area military commander. Lieuten-ant-colonel >l. G. Jeffery, visited many working parlies of the Home Guard on their respective defence areas or on the airfields last, week-end. Parties from the Otakon, Cargill, Flagstaff, and Pioneer Battalions, as welt as from Green Island and Mosgiel. were engaged on various duties, and the value of their work is fully appreciated by the army authorities. On this occasion Colonel Jeffery was accompanied by Lieut cnant-colonel D. S. Chisholm, officer commanding the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment. Gazetted Men. Home Guardsmen who have been gazetted and posted to Army units should return (heir Home Guard equipment to their company quarter-master sergeant or to Home Guard headquarters, together with fnil name and address. Mosgiel and District. Good work was done last Saturday and Sunday on positions sited by the Engineers. Those men who have been chosen tor work this Sunday will meet at the school a„ 8.45 a.m. (not 9 a.m., as originally announced). One hot meal will be provided. Bating utensils should be brought. C Company, Cargill Battalion. The company will parade, at the gate, railway station, to-morrow, at 8.20 a.m. to entrain for the sector, The usual rations for two meals will be carried, and milk and sugar with, if possible, a quart bottle of water. Equipment will consist or webbing and pack (not .haversack), and greatcoat should be carried in the pack. Rifles will be issued at the station. Arrangements have been made for a bus to leave the Normanby terminus at 8 a.m. in the event of the weather being very’ wet (not merely drizzling) the parade will be held at the North-east Valley Hall at 9-30. Firing practice was carried out at Pclichet Bay range last Saturday, and some good scores were registered, although the efforts of some units who have only recently joined, and other circumstances outside the control of the marksmen, affected the company average. The company will parade at the Garrison Hall on Tuesday at 7.15 p.m. for practice on the miniature range. At Tuesday’s parade all ranks were addressed by the battalion commander, Major W. E. Earnshaw, M. 0., and the battalion intelligence officer, Lieutenant Fraser, on the subject of security. N.C.O. classes continue to he well attended, and last week’s was particularly interesting, as W.O. Walker and W.O. Marshall were present and gave instruction in bayonet, fighting. Otakou Battalion. Otakon Battalion has experienced a fairly quiet week generally after the week-end bivouac, concerning which, in order to derive full benefit from night operations, patrol work, and general field training, it is recognised a longer period is necessary. | It is felt a good response would bo made j to bivouacing over Easter, as this would give time for the battalion to “ settle in in a manner not possible in one night out The fact that Home Guardsmen will by then most likely have been equipped with uniforms would also contribute to the success of any such venture. A fair response has been made for the full 'week working parties, that for ' this coming week being fully subscribed. Guardsmen finding they can give one week should notify their O.CL . immediately. It is anticipated that with the changed conditions in regard to allowances for married men and the fact that men will be fully uniformed, no difficulty will arise in fulfilling the weekly quota. At weekly parades every opportunity is being taken to concentrate on night operations and patrol work, so far as possible. Time spent on the range is also invaluable at this stage of training. A Company relief party spent a very fruitful week-end,. taking advantage of the occasion to get in as much training as their duties permitted. K Company provides this week’s relief, followed by Peninsula Company for the week-ends following. Uniforms will be issued immediately to relief parties. B and C Companies have been putting in good training generally. Night operations and full-day manoeuvres form the major part of their schedule. Recruits should take full advantage of these exercises. Wet days will provide the opportunity for further drill and rifle training. Possibly a battalion “ awkward squad ” will be formed to ensure that recruits receive Initial training. D Company requires additional strength for the machine-gun section. Guardsmen anxious to transfer to this company should make application immediately. The corapanv is making good progress. Tlie signallers are putting in good work, much time being spent in training recruits. Men anxious to join up should apply for transfer, especially those with previous experience. It is important that, this section be kept posted over strength to meet contingencies and transfers out.. The n.c.o. class is still flourishing. It is proposed to augment the present schedule with lectures on subjects of general interest. Battalion administration section is kept busy, necessitating a considerable amount of overtime. Lines of Communication. The 29th Company paraded at Logan Park last Sunday. The acquisition of the University Ground for transport training will prove a great benefit. During the week a number of men gained their civil heavy traffic licenses, and they and men with motor cycle licenses will shortly he tested by the Army. On Monday evening at the Drill Hall instruction included musketry, infantry, and M.T. drill, and at an early date a start will be made with the full training syllabus. Boots will be issued shortly. * A parade of impressed vehicles was bold this afternoon, so there will be no parade to-morrow. -Green Island. The Green Island Company will to-mor-row supply a large working party on the defence sector. It is hoped that as many men as possible will turn up. Men will parade at 8 a.m., when a brief service will be held. Departure for the sector will be at 8.30, Flagstaff Battalion. Next Saturday the battalion will commence a week-end bivouac. Dress; Full marching order (packs and haversacks), greatcoats, blankets, ground sheets (or equivalent), moss and toilet gear. It is expected that the companies will be back in town about 9 p.m. on Sunday. An appeal is made to members of the companies and to residents to lend Lents for the occasion. Announcements regarding next Saturday’s street parade will be made during the week. A Company carried out a useful morning’s work last Sunday. While the O.C. has expressed pleasure with the progress made by the men regularly attending, he is far from pleased with those who all too frequently absent themselves, and an appeal is made for more consistent attendance by all. For next week-end’s bivouac the company will parade at Morningtoii School at 1.45. B Company, who are engaged in night manoeuvres to-night will not parade tomorrow. The usual parade will be held at 7.30 on Tuesday next, while n.c.o.s will have their usual class on Wednesday, at 7.30. The time for next Saturday's bivouac parade is indefinite at the moment, but will be approximately 1.45. A definite announcement will be made later.

C Company will also parade at approximately 1.45 'next Saturday for the weekend tnvouac. Through the generosity of the Holland Hall Committee this company is to have the use of the Holland Hall for parades. The first parade in this hall is to he held on Wednesday, Mareh 18. fifty men shot at the miniature range at the Garrison Hall lust Tuesday week, and gained an excellent average of 22.98, with 12 possibles being registered. Tnfortnnalclv the company is losing the services of I’latoon-eommander L. R. Fountain, who is going into the Army, 'mid to him go the beat wishes of iho company..