N.Z. ARMY ORGANISATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 4 February 1942, Page 3

N.Z. ARMY ORGANISATION

NATIONAL MILITARY RESERVE TO BE TAKEN FROM FIRST-LINE TLACE Wellington, This Day The Minister of Defence, Mr .tones i i announcing changes in the organisation I of the defence forces to meet mobilis > j ation requirements, said when the C National Military Reserve was formed it was intended that its role should be H as second-line troops, but the situation [had since necessitated their utilisation • as first-line troops. * | “The great majority of these men are > veterans of the Great War, and many -j are now not quite up to the high phyri > cal standard required for first-] im II troops. This has already resulted in s I number being medically boarded out ,; and others have been, and more will b* j j released on account of hardship, etc i “As balloted men become available , it is intended to build up all the first |! l:ne units with a higher category o . j men, and this will enable men nov serving in the National Reserve unit .“j who should not for various reasons b< ’ 1 retained in first-line units to be re ; tained in the Home Guard, which ii ! future will provide all second-lin-I troops required. “When the transfer of personnel i . | being made, special consideration wil , j be given to the retention of officer? ; j warrant and non-commissioned officer . and specialists, and changes will b< . made in such a manner as not to im ■ j-air efficiency. When these change are implemented, the present Nations Reserve battalions and companies wil no longer retain their National Reserve complexion and titles. “Units are to be altered to accorc with the changes. For example, the Is National Reserve Battalion (Auckland will become a battalion of the Auckland Regiment and the various Nationa Reserve companies will become independent infantry companies affiliatec to the local infantry regiment. The Minister added: “Changes of designation should have a beneficial moral effect on our expanding territorial army, in that the new' battalions will be allowed to share the very fine tra--1 ditions of the parent regiment.” i Mr Jones paid a tribute to the service and example of the National Military j Reserve.—P.A.