Home-Guard

Hutt News, Volume 15, Issue 19, 8 October 1941, Page 5

Home-Guard

HOTT BATTALION INSPECTIONS AND REVIEW BY BRIGADIER WEIR. In perfect spring: weatfier,, a ceremonial inspection and review of the Hutt Battalion was carried out on Sunday last by the Officer Commanding the Central Military District, Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir N.Z.S.C, , In addition to a large crowd of citizens who packed the grandstand of the Recreation Ground, there was a representative attendance of senior military officers to witness the traditional pageantry of review, a ceremony performed on comparatively rare occasions. , The scheme of Home Guard training does not contemplate . that excessive attention should be paid to ceremonial procedures or barrack-square drill exercises and, indeed, this class of work has not figured at all prominently in the training of the Hutt Battalion, and consequently many officials were anxious to see how the battalion vwould shape in performing the various evolutions, difficult enough for well-trained troops but dolibly so in the case of volunteers with but a limited amount of time available for training. No one, however, need have had any anxiety on that score. The enthusiasm, loyalty, and intelligent co-operation of all ranks combined to ensure that the entire ceremonial was carried through with an extraordinary

degree of steadiness and precision. The inspecting officer (Brigadier Weir) was received with tlje ''general salute." Accompanied by the Battalion Commander (Captain J. W. Andrews) and staff officers in attendance, the Brigadier inspected every unit on parade, passing along the lines of each platoon in rotation. On conclusion of his inspection he at once issued formal orders for the march past. This phase of the proceedings was notable for the excellent work of. the Battalion Band, which created a deep impression as it swung down the line at the head of the column, led by Drum-ma/or B. Croft: The saluting base, over which flew the Union Jack and the personal flag of the Brigadier, was placed immediately in front of the grandstand, and as the long column of marching men, led by the Battalion Commander, marched past, each platoon in turn performed a smart

"eyes right" to the inspecting offl- - cer. Officers in attendajjcjq.; ,upon e Brigadier Weir at the saluting base - included Colonel A. E. Conway, s N.Z.S.C. N.Z. i Military Forces) and ,Lieut.-Colonel s D. G. Johnston (Area Director). A - detachment of uiouJWme e Guardsmen brought up rfear of y the column. Unfortunately the . state of the ground prevented these , men from >: parading with their r mounts, which would have inflicted a considerable to the soft turf. r As its circuit of .'ifefjgfound the parade re- - formed in ''mass" upon a six-column frontage and then, under the command of the Battalion Commander, performed the ceremonial high-light of the morning's, proceedings, namely. the "advance in review order." This movement is difficult since the advance is made along a wide frontage, and, on this occasion, the march was made in the ceremonial "slow time" —an evolution which requires perfect precision for its accompaniment—but it was splendidr ly performed and brought warm applause from the spectators. In the course of a short address, « Brigadier Weir heartily congratulated all ranks upon their excellent turn-out and soldierly bearing, and . expressed himself as being tho--1 roughly pleased with the morning's , ceremonial. He commended the guardsmen for the standard of pro- ! ficiency they had attained, despite , the difficulties brought about by . delay in securing equipment, and assured the parade that everything possible was being done by the Army authorities to equip the Home Guard fully at an early date. The proceedings were terminated by the parade again according the inspecting officer the military compliment of a "general salute," after which the Brigadier and the official visitors were entertained at morning tea. An informal inspection of the various units at training was afterwards made by Brigadier Weir and other senior military officers, while friends and relations of the guardsmen also evinced a lively interest in their work. The Minister of Finance (Hon. Walter Nash) and Mr. H. E. Combs (Parliamentary members for the district), Dr. Riddell (Canadian High Commissioner) and Mrs. Riddell, members of the Hutt City Council and other representative citizens were present, as well as a large number of military officers, including Lieut.-Colonel R. B. Ashe (Signal Officer, H.Q. Staff), Major Reeves (Brigade Staff) and officers of the local Territorial units and the National Military Reserve. It was apparent to all visitors that the Hutt Battalion is deeply indebted to its band which, under the conductorship of Mr. T. Gray, provides music of a very high" ord ir, and must materially contribute to the bearing of the men and the high standard of marching which has been attained in the,, coraparatitfely

short time the unit has Ifeen in existence. » Competent military judges expressed the opinion that the ceremonial was of an extremely high order and such as would have done credit to well-seasoned troops. So far as is known it was the. first full review to be held by any Home Guard unit JnNew Zealand.