FIELD MEDICAL WORK

Southland Times, Issue 24764, 8 June 1942, Page 3

FIELD MEDICAL WORK

HOME GUARD DISPLAY What was described by several speakers at tHe conclusion of the proceedings as a most useful display was a demonstration given by the medical platoon of the Invercargill battalion of the Home Guard at the motor camping ground, Queen’s Park, on Saturday afternoon. The medical platoon of the Invercargill battalion has been described as the best equipped medical unit of the Home Guard in New Zealand. The equipment was lent to the platoon by the Invercargill Sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society. The purpose of the demonstration was to give medical sections of other battalions of the Guard in the No. 12 and 12A groups an opportunity of seeing what equipment is required. Home Guard units represented included Riverton. Tuatapere, Dipton, Bluff, Gorge Road, Balclutha, Walrio, Clinton, Kaitangata and Waikaka. The E.P.S. organization, the Red Cross Society and the St. John Ambulance Association were also represented. The medical platoon of the Invercargill battalion has two Red Cross trailers. Each has all the necessary equipment, such as bandages, splints and drugs to establish a field dressing station. The work of the medical platoon lies in the field, its job being to get wounded men to the . field dressing station for treatment. The platoon has 50 stretchers and seven field kits supplied with bandages and other necessities. Members of the platoon gave a demonstration of their work during the afternoon. INQUIRIES ANSWERED Lieutenant-Colonel W. Bell, director of the Home Guard for No. 12 group, said that from time to time he had received inquiries from country units of the Guard asking what was necessary to equip a medical platoon. The answer had been supplied that afternoon by the Invercargill battalion, which had what had been described as the best-equipped medical platoon of any Home Guard battalion in New Zealand. He was very grateful to the Invercargill Sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society for what it had done for the Invercargill battalion of the Guard.

Mr J. D. Campbell, chairman of the Invercargill Sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society, emphasized the need for co-operation between the various organizations that were concerned with caring for the sick and wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel H. C. Mackenzie, officer commanding No. 12 military area, said it was very pleasing to see what had been done to help the troops in the field and also the civilian population should the necessity arise. He also spoke appreciatively of the work of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary and proposed a vote of thanks to the members of the canteen section of the auxiliary who had provided tea during the afternoon. The motion was carried by acclamation.