AUSTRALIAN MILITIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19125, 21 September 1936, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN MILITIA

850 RECRUITS IN MONTH COUNTRY CAMPAIGN SYDNEY, Sept. 7. In the last month about 850 militia recruits have been enlisted in New South Wales, and the military authorities state that such enthusiasm has been shown in country districts where new units are planned that they will have difficulty in providing sufficient staff. The net increase in militia strength for the month, after allowing for men who took their discharges, was 729. The Ist Cavalry Division increased by 70 men, the Ist Division by 276, the 2nd Division by 243, and the 2nd District Base Unit by 140. The Base Commandant (Brigadier Hardie) said on Saturday that the technical units, including the Ordinance Corps, the Army Service Corps, the Veterinary Corps, and the Artillery, with the exception of the Fortress Company and the Heavy Battery unit at Manly, had now- reached full strength. The Light Horse has also recruited its quota.. The infantry divisions will have no difficulty in obtaining the recruits they require when the units planned' for country centres have been formed. Brigadier Hardie will leave Sydney on September 18 to visit North Coast centres, including Grafton, Lismore, Casino, Murwillumbah, and Kempsey. A headquarters staff will be established at Lismore within a fortnight. Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal, accompanied by Colonel R. T. A. McDonald’ and Major Marian, returned at the week-end from a tour of southern anj western towns. Enthusiastic meetings were addressed at Bathurst, Mudgee, Wellington, Molong, Forbes, Grenfell, Orange, Lithgow, and 1 Katoomba. Enthusiasts at Canberra expect to be able to recruit 100 men, and a public meeting will be held to-day., The local aim is to form a special unit with seine such title as the National . Capital Guard, and consideration is being -given to this suggestion.