Ex-Servicemens’ Units To be Formed for Defence of Northland

Northern Advocate, 5 July 1939, Page 9

Ex-Servicemens’ Units To be Formed for Defence of Northland

JPOR THE DEFENCE OF WHANGA REI DISTRICT, A LOCAL COMPANY OF EX-SERVICEMEN IS TO BE FORMED.

WHEN AN URGENT APPEAL FOR ITS CO-OPERATION IN THIS DIRECTION WAS RECEIVED YESTERDAY FROM THE DEFENCE DEPARTMENT, THE EMPIRE EX-SERVICEMEN'S ASSOCIATION LOST NO TIME IN TAKING ACTION.

A special meeting of the executive was called the same evening to receive Captain H. G. Wooller, N.Z.S.C., who said that he had been requested to make immediate representations to the .association for the formation of a company of returned men for the defence of Whangarei district.

Captain Wooller asked that at least three platoons be formed at Whangarei. The fourth platoon, to complete the company, could probably be drawn from the Kaikohe district, he said. Steps were also being taken at ©nee to form another Northland company of ex-servicemen, with two platoons each at Kaitaia and Dargaville. MEETING ON SATURDAY NIGHT. The Empire Ex-Servicemen’s Executive received the request with a full realisation of its urgency, and decided to co-operate to the fullest possible extent. A meeting of all ex-servicemen wi 11 be held in the Drill Hall, Walton Street, at 7.30 on Saturday next, when a company will be formed. Already the secretary of the assoc ration, Mr L. A. Johnson, has received numerous inquiries ,as to the time and place of the meeting, and no difficulty whatever is anticipated in the formation of a full company. Captain Wooler announced last night that full equipment, including rifles, light machine guns and ammunition, would be available to the units.

Formation of the ex-servicemen’s units is quite a new departure in that the whole organisation will be staffed and conducted by the returned soldiers themselves, with the assistance of the Permanent Staff. Appointments of officers and n.c.o’s will be made by the units subject to approval by . the Department.