THE HOME GUARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23791, 19 October 1940, Page 13

THE HOME GUARD

AREA COMMANDERS further appointments OFFICERS OF GREAT WAR [liV TKLKCIIt A l'H I'RKSS ASSOCIATION'] WELLINGTON, Friday Additional appointments of area commanders for the Home Guard were announced by the Minister of National Service, the Hon. J{. Semple, to-ni°dit as follows:

Area 8. Headquarters at New Plymonth.—Lieutenant L. W. Delpii, schoolmaster. New Plymouth Bovs' High School. Lieutenant Delph had service with the Canadian militarv forces prior to t ie last war and was appointed to a commission in the Roval Engineers in .A I ay, irur>. He served" in I'ranee, and later in Palestine with the oltli Division and the Australian Mounted Division. Eventually he was transferred to the /sth Indian Cavalry Division, and served with the army of occupation in Syria. Since coming to New Zealand lie has been agriculture instructor at King's College, Auckland, and now holds the same position at the New Plymouth Boys' High School. Prior to going to New Plymouth lie was a reporter on the stall' of the Nkw Zkai.and Hkkalw. Area Ba, Headquarters at Hawera.— Lieutenant-Colonel B. W. H. Smart. I-ieutenant-Colonel Smart served as a private in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from 191-1 to 1918. He saw service in Egypt. Gallipoli and France, and his name was brought under the notice of the Secretary of State for War for valuable services. He was transferred to the Imperial Army with a commission and rose to the rank of captain. On returning to New Zealand lie continued service with the Territorial Force, and rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in command of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles.

Area Bb, Headquarters at Stratford. —Lieutenant-Colonel L. Gibbs. Lieu-tenant-Colonel Gibbs left New Zealand in 1914 with the Main Body as signal officer of the Canterbury .Mounted Rifles. and saw service in Egypt. Gallipoli and Palestine. He held various appointments, including that of staff captain of the Xew Zealand Mounted Hides Brigade in the Jordan Valley, and was mentioned in despatches. On returning to Xew Zealand he continued service with the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles. and was appointed to command a unit in 19.'W with the rank of 1 it'll tenant-colonel.

Area 7b. Headquarters at Masterton.—Captain \Y. R. Birch. M.C., farmer. of Hapua. Captain Birch served during the last war from 191 1 to 1918 with the Ist Royal Dragoons, retiring in 1919 with the'rank of captain.

NEW ARMY UNITS SECOND BALLOT MEN EXPANSION IN AUCKLAND A large number of new units are to be formed in the Northern Military District from the men drawn in next Monday's ballot for service with the Territorial Force. In the main, these reservists may expect to enter camp at the beginning of January. It has already been announced that the Auckland Regiment is to receive two new battalions. In addition to these, the following units are to lie established: —Auckland area: 38th Field Battery, Xew Zealand Artillery; 21st Field Company Detachment. Xew Zealand Engineers; 4th Signal Detachment. Xew Zealand Engineers; oth Composite Company. Xew Zealand Army Service Corps. Paeroa and Hamilton areas: Bth Field Ambulance, New Zealand Army Medical Corps; Northern Remount Depot; and Xorthern Veterinary Depot.

PROMOTION OF OFFICER LT.-COLONLL 1). E. BRFMNER Recently appointed general staff officer (first grade) at Northern Military District headquarters. Major I). K. Bremner, M.C., N.Z.S.C., has been promoted to the rank of lieutenantcolonel. lie was formerly commandant of the district army school, Narrow Neck, and succeeds Colonel L. Potter, N.Z.S.C., who left last night for Wellington to take up his new appointment in command of the Central Field Force. 7TH MEDIUM BATTERY BALLOTED MEN JOIN UP [from ocr own connKSP.-iN-nr.N-Tl HAMILTON. Friday Arrangements have now been made for the ("th Medium Battery encamped at Claudelands to transfer to Waiouru on November 15. Eighty recruits drawn in the ballot on October 2 were mobilised in Hamilton to-day and were immediately drafted to the battery. They took up" their quarters at Claudelands shortly before noon. The battery is now nearly up to full strength.