AUXILIARY RESERVE

Grey River Argus, 31 July 1940, Page 9

AUXILIARY RESERVE

PARADES AND DRILL For New Class of Men • CHRISTCHURCH, July 30. The formation of an auxiliary reserve has been decided on by the National Service Department, according to information given to the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association. This reserve is to comprise men who are not members of the existing forces —the Army, Navy, Air Force. Territorials, or National Military Reserve, Class 11. “The function of this organisation is to defend localities in which the members live and areas contiguous thereto,” states a circular received iw the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association from its Dominion headquarters last evening. Arms and equipment will be issued later, but to begin with members will parade and drill (physical exercises, etc.,) under the guidance of the Army. In the event of trouble in New Zealand the Army will take control. “So that this auxiliary reserve may be established without delay, the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association has been requested to submit nominations for district leaders and area leaders. Working upon the military districts (Northern, Central and Southern) three district leaders are to be appointed. These men will be required to act in the closest conceit, with the officers commanding the military districts and should be persons of wide military experience and organising ability. Naturally, the P er " sons nominated should have an undoubted standing in the community and ample time to give to the work involved. They will be located at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. “Sixteen area leaders will be required. These will be located at Auckland, Paeroa, Whangarei, Hamilton, Wellington, Wanganui, Gisborne. Napier, Masterton, New Plymouth, Nelson, Greymouth, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin, and Invercargill. Those selected should have some military experience and considerable organising ability. “The positions of district and area leaders will be purely honorary, but the Government will reimburse travelling expenses.”

CLASS 11. UNFITS.

CHRISTCHURCH, July 31

The position of men who after serving many months in Class 11. Military Reserve were now being rejected on medical examination was discussed by the executive of the Christchurch Returned Soldiers’ Association last evening.

Mr C. Miln said there were a number of keen men in the Class 11. Reserve who were now being rejected from the reorganised reserve because they could not pass the medical examination. Some of these men had been drilling for 10 months, and they did not like getting out now after being accepted in the first place. He suggested that the standard of fitness required should be less than for service overseas. It was mentioned that a large number of the men rejected were over the age of 55 stipulated as the limit for Class 11. Reserve. The executive continued to discuss the question in committee, and a solution was passed that the attention of the Dominion executive of the association be drawn to the dissatisfaction existing through the rejection for medical boards of men who had now been trained for 10 months. ARMY PROMOTIONS. Army staff promotions and appointments announced in the latest Gazette include the following:— Lieutenant and Quartermaster W. L. Glanville, New Zealand Permanent Staff, is appointed Quartermaster, No. 1. Training Battalion, Mobilisation Camp, Burnham. Lieutenant and Quartermaster H. D. Hunt, New Zealand Permanent Staff, is appointed Quartermaster, No. 2 Training Battalion, Mobilisation Camp, Burnham. Lieutenant A. J. D. Morton, New Zealand Temporary Staff, is appointed Assistant Area Officer (temporary), No. 10 Area, Christchurch, in addition to his appointment of Adjutant, the Canterbury Yoemanry Cavalry. Lieutenant F. N. Armstrong, Nev/ Zealand Staff Corps, relinquishes the appointments of Adjutant, Ist Battalion, the Otago Regiment and Dunedin Company, the New Zealand Scottish Regiment, Dunedin, and is appointed Assistant Instructor, Southern Military District School of Instruction, Burnham. Captain R. H. Cleland, New Zealand Temporary ’ Staff, relinquishes the appointment of Assistant Area Officer, No. 11 Area, and is appointed Adjutant, Ist. Battalion, the O'-agc Regiment and Dunedin Company, the New Zealand Scottish Regiment, Dunedin.

Captain E. E. Lloyd, N&w Zealand Staff Corps, relinquishes the appointment of Adjutant, Mobilisation Camp, Burnham, and is appointed General Staff Officer, second grade, Southern Military District, Christchurch. Lieutenant and Quartermaster J. J. Fitzgerald, New Zealand Permanent Staff, is appointed Weapon Training Instructor, Training Cadre, Mobilisation Camp, Burnham.