HOME GUARD

Waikato Independent, Volume XLI, Issue 3905, 15 September 1941, Page 5

HOME GUARD

3 NEWS and NOTES g *J (By "Guardsman") ** TTmwrnmwiWTf

NEW REGULATIONS Cambridge guardsmen will be interested in the regulations Gazetted giving effect to the Government's decision to incorporate the Home Guard in the defence forces. The existing Home Guard is abolished by the regulations, but there is a provision for its members automatically to become members of the reconstituted Home Guard.

It is stipulated that service in the Home Guard shall not absolve any person from liability for service with any other armed force. Officers of the Home Guard will not exercise military command outside the Home Guard except as authorised by the officer commanding the military district. Officers must obtain the consent of the Governor-General before resigning their commissions. Members of the Home Guard will be liable to undergo the prescribed training whenever they are not called up for continuous service.

There is provision for the impressment, of firearms for the Home Guard. Any .firearm impressed from the stock-in-trade of a licensed dealer under the Arms Act will become the property of the Crown, instead of being taken on loan, and the owner is to receive compensation agreed upon or fixed by arbitration.

The Foreign Legion

A story told at a Home Guard social at Matamata on a recent Saturday night concerned a guardsman's wife who expressed a desire to go to the pictures that night. The husband was sorry but he had to go to the A Company social. Well, what about the matinee? Sorry again, but he had to go to the Home Guard football match. Oh well, we will go on Monday night. Bad luck

again, there was a Home Guard parade on Monday night. By this time the lady was a bit fed up and exclaimed: "Home Guard be blowed, why don't you call it the Foreign Legion and be done with it!" Duty on Benzine

A request that the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, should refund motor spirit duty on benzine supplied free by local bodies to the Home was declined when the Minister in the House of Representatives answered a question asked by Mr W, J if Broadfoot (Opposition—Waitomo). Mr Semple said it was not t considered there was sufficient; justification for making the desired provision in the case of used for.'Home.Guard purposes any more than in the case of 'those used for the other armed 'services. This matte? was first raised in the Hoiise by Mr- W. S. Goos;man, member for Waikato, following representations made to him from Cambridge." • > . ■'•<"■■- ■ '.■■ ' '■ •••>'. ■/ . Exercise at Te AwamutM

On a recent week-end B Company of i\) e Waipa-Te A> amutu Battalion of- the Home Guard ; carried out interesting tactical exercises* at Kihikihi. The general idea was that a rifle company of the enemy had occupied a certain hill and B Company, which was occupying another position, was insfrucjted to , attack and drive him out ; The platoons were appointed to different positions„and the attack was carried out successfully. At the conclusion of the practice the company was assembled and the operation criticised. The staff officers accompanying the various platoons reported that the work had been well carried out.

Captain H, A. Swarbrick, who had taken up a position on the hill to be attacked, reported that until the attack was made he could not see any men approaching he position. He had distinguished one or two signal- posts by the-flags showing overt the top of' the rise below which the post was situated. Colonel J. G. Wynyard addressed the Company and stated that the practice had been instituted to bring out three points: Protection on the march;' invisibility and surprise; and signallers practice in Jieeping: up with the advancing troops, andr-in all these matters excellent results had been achieved.