HOME GUARD
AREA COMMANDERS. PALMERSTON NORTH POST. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Oct. 24. The following further appointments of area commanders for the Home Guard were announced by Hon. R. Semple to-night: —■ Area No. 6a, headquarters Palmerston North.—Lieutenant Charles Victor Ciochetto, c/o Barraud and Abraham, Ltd., Palmerston North.. Lieutenant Ciochetto served in the N.Z.E.E. from 1914 .to 1919, seeing service first in Samoa. He returned later to New Zealand and proceeded to Egypt with the N.Z. Rifle Brigade. He was transferred to the N.Z. Machine-Gun Corps and accompanied the N.Z. Division when it arrived in France in 1916. For his services he was awarded the Military Cross and Military Medal. After returning from active service in the Great War, Lieutenant Ciochetto was transport officer for the Railway Department at Palmerston North and later/was stationmaster at Ashhuret for three years, resigning from the department to enter business ,on his own account at Ashhurst for a further three years. He was subsequently absent from the Dominion for 12 months, undertaking a tour, with Mrs Ciochetto, which included the United States, Canada, England, Holland, France and Belgium, and Lieutenant Ciochetto then took the opportunity of touring the former battlefields and renewing acquaintanceships on the Continent. On his return he entered business at Rongotea, and after four years disposed, of his interest there, becoming merchandise manager for Messrs Barraud and Abraham, Ltd., a position he has held for five years. In that period, Lieutenant Ciochetto has taken an active interest in local affairs, and is a member of the Rotary Club and the Citizens' Lunch Club, in addition to which he has undertaken other activities. ■
Area No. 6, headquarters Wanganui. —Major Robert Davies Hardie, D. 5.0., e/'o Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Wanganui. Major Hardie joined the N.Z. Expeditionary Force in 1914 and proceeded to Kgypt with the Wellington Regiment. He saw service in Gallipoli and was later transferred to the New Zealand Machine-Gun Corps. He served with this unit in France in 1916 and 1917, being eventually appointed divisional machine-gun officer and officer commanding the New Zealand MachineGun Corps. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was twice mentioned in despatches. In civilian life he is produce manager for Dalgety, and Co., Ltd.. Wanganui. Major Hardie. who is an old boy of Palmerston North, was educated at the College Street School and Palmerston North High School. He is a brotl.-M- of Mr J. R. Hardie (town clerk). Area No. 9a. headquarters Greymouth. Brigadier-General William Meldrum. C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0.. retired magistrate. General Meldrum served during the last war from 1914 to 1919. leaving New Zealand with the Main Body in command of the Wellington Mounted Rifles. He served in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine and was eventually appointed to command the N.Z. Mounted Rifles Brigade. In addition to receiving the C. 8., C.M.G.. and D. 5.0.. and Order of the White Eagle of Serbia, he was three times mentioned in despatches and his name was forwarded to the Secretary of State for War for distinguished and .gallant services throughout the campaign. He has taken a prominent part in the organisation of the -R-S.A. on the West Coast. '•■' - ■ .... - Area No. 4. headquarters Hamilton. —Lieutenant-Colonel- Robert .Duff us McFarland. M.C., E.D., barrister and solicitor, Hamilton. Colonel Mclarland left with the Samoan Expeditionary Force in August, 1914. Later he served with the 2nd Battalion of the Auckland Regiment in France. He received a commission in the field and rose to the rank of captain and temporary major. ' _. , , Area No. 9b, headquarters "W estport. —Flight-Lieutenant Hugh Douglas Hamilton, company director. Westport. Plight-Lieutenant Ham. ton served with the N Z E.F. from 1914 to 1916 with the Mounted Rifles in Egypt and ■ Gallipoli with the rank of corporal. He was transferred to the Royal Ilying Corps. I
RETURNED SOLDIERS PRAISED
Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 25 "The rapid march of events m the Pacific, as well as further afield, indicates that there must he no time lost in bringing the home defence ol New Zealand up to its maximum looti'ng" said Hon. R. Semple to-day, when he again stressed the urgent need of recruits for the Home Guard. "If the rest of the people will follow the lead of the R.S.A., the job will be done." said the Minister Everywhere he had travelled he had found the returned soldiers keenly behind the Home Guard movement. Their offers of co-operation were encouraging, and the discussions he had had with officials of the association had been most helpful. This was the spirit the Government wanted. The returned soldiers would be the bulwarks of the Home Guard.
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Bibliographic details
Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 281, 26 October 1940, Page 8
Word Count
765HOME GUARD Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 281, 26 October 1940, Page 8
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