FOR KING AND COUNTRY

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 135, 22 November 1940, Page 2

FOR KING AND COUNTRY

THE HOME GUARD MOVEMENT PUKEKOHE’S FIRST PARADE A MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE OVER 200 MARCH TO DRILL HALL

All doubts about apathy in Pukekohe regarding the Home Guard movement ' were dispelled last night when Puke- I kolie held its first parade. Members ' of the Home Guard and Emergency 1 Precautions organisation assembled in I Massey Avenue outside the Strand theatre and shortly after 7.30 the Commander, Lieutenant E. G. Moncrief, formerly of the New Zealand Permanent Staff, marshalled the parade which consisted of the Municipal Band under Drum Major 11. Sutton, a detachment of Pukekohe Platoon. B Company, Ist Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment (C.R.0.). under Corporal E. Stembridge, the Pukekohe Technical High School cadets under Sergeant K. Smith, and 160 Guardsmen and prospective guardsmen. At the command, “Parade, ’shun,” the men sprang to attention with a snappy click of the heels as though they were soldiers who were ready for the passing out ceremony after a period of training. The next order ! “Parade quick march,” saw the column move off, headed by the band. The old soldiers had not forgotten to move off on the correct foot and they soon settled down to a sprightly gait in the : step to the drill hall. As the column passed the Massey Avenue entrance door at the Strand Theatre, pupils of the Pukekohe primary school who were at the theatre for the repeal performance of their concert, gave the guardsmen three rousing cheers, evidence Rial I lie youngsters appreciated (lie fact that the veterans were ready

to defend the children in the event of an attempted invasion of New Zealand. As the column headed along KingStreet, more men joined in the march and by the time Edinburgh street was reached there were well over 200 in tiie column, exclusive of band, territorials and senior cadet personnel. Arriving at the drill hall the parade right-wheeled and entered the building and stood easy. Pipes and cigarettes were soon aglow and for some time tiie Guardsmen were entertained with displays of physical “jerks” hv the school eadets and drill by the territorials. The commander explained the objects of the movement, and called for instructors in machine gun. Lewis gun and Hotchkiss gun. Quite a number stepped forward and doubtless the Pukekohe Home Guard unit will be well served in this connection for there are many ex-Commissioned and j non-commissioned officers available. Subsequently enrolments took place and more than sufficient are already available to form a company. Features of the parade were tiie •' . number of returned soldiers, and i youths not yet eligible for military 1 service present. j The response was most encouraging | and indications point to a particularly strong branch of the Home Guard in j Pukekohe. I Parades will lie held every Thursday in the meantime, at which further enrolments will tie made.