PARADE OF HOME GUARD

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 8

PARADE OF HOME GUARD

700 MEMBERS MARCH THROUGH CITY SALUTES TAKEN AT WAR MEMORIALS About 700 Invercargill members of tlie Home Guard in the No. 12 area attended the first street parade in the city last night. Considering that many of I them had joined the Home Guard only I recently and had not undergone much training, the men made a good showing. Their general bearing was impressive and when the men are fully equipped they should constitute a formidable force. It was unfortunate that | the cold weather prevented many j people from watching the parade last [ night. The Caledonian Pipe Band, which joined the Home Guard in a body, led lhe first half of the parade and the Battalion Band was at the head of the remainder. The men, who were led by Major H. W. Slater, entered Dee street from the Drill Hall about 7.30 p.m. and marched past the Great War Memorial, where the salute was taken by Major H. C. MacKenzie, area officer for the Invercargill military district. At the South African War Memorial the salute was taken by Lieutenant-Colonel E. F. Selby, commander of the Home Guard for the No. 12a (Gore) area, and Captain W. Bell, commander of the No. 12 (Invercargill) area. When the men returned to the Drill Hall both Lieutenant-Colonel Selby and Captain Bell congratulated them on the showing they had made. It was announced that at the parade next Wednesday evening an extensive reorganization would be carried out to form fighting units of the Home Guard and to separate the Emergency Precautions Scheme workers, who will not be available in the event of the Guard members being called up.

Fifty-five more men joined the Home Guard last night.