HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 June 1941, Page 6

HOME GUARD

FIELD EXERCISES NEXT SUNDAY OPERATIONS AT BLAIRLOGIE. INVASION BY “ENEMY” FORCES. On Sunday next lite Masterton Battalion of the Home Guard under the command of Lieut. A. L. Hibbs, D.C.M., will carry out a field exercise at Blairlogie Junction. This will be the first time that the batallion, now 800 strong, will be together as a complete unit, and some 500 men are expected to take part in the exercise. The battalion is composed of 7 companies—“A,” “B” (E.P.S. Military Unit) and “C” Companies located in Masterton, “D” Company, with platoons at Kaituna, Mt Bruce, Kopuaranga and Rangitumau and a section at Matahiwi; “E” (Mauriceville) Company, with platoons at East and West Mauriceville and Hastwells: F Company with platoons at Bideford, Tinui, Te Ore Ore, Wainuioru and a mounted troop at Homewood, and “G” (Gladstone) Company. In Sunday’s exercise the battalion will bo transported by trucks supplied through the E.P.S. Transport section and by private owners, with valuable assistance from the Masterton Borough

Council and will proceed as a convoy to Blairlogie Junction under the control of Mr P. F. Fagan, who once again has come to the assistance of the battalion by acting as transport officer.

On arrival there the men will have lunch, which they will bring with them, and tea will be supplied by the Battalion H.Q. staff and Mrs C. C. Cook’s committee of ladies, who have rendered this service on the Town units fortnightly parades since these were first started. Tea will also be served at the completion of the day’s work. The story governing Sunday's operations is briefly as follows: —New Zealand has been invaded at various points and two companies of the enemy with tanks are advancing on Masterton along both the Tinui and Homewood roads, converging on the Blairlogie Junction. Tank blocks at points on these roads have stopped the A.F.V’s and the enemy (represented by “A” and “C” companies for the purpose of the exercise) are continuing the advance on foot. They are to be held on a line east of the Junction by the other companies in the battalion. How this is to be clone is the work for the day and valuable lessons are expected to be learnt. Umpires, under Major R. J* Fowler (in the absence of Lieut.Colonel G. G. Hancox) will overlook the operations, and Col. R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0., Wellington District Commander of the Home Guard, and Capt. W. R. Birch, Area Commander and other area officers, will be present to watch the exercise. It is expected that other unit commanders from Area 7B (Wairarapa) will also be present.

In this exercise, the stretcher-bearer unit will take part under Dr Hosking, who is taking a very keen interest in this part of the Home Guard activities. It is regretted that the signal flags, usually borrowed from the Territorials, will be in use elsewhere that day and so the very vital work of the signallers will bo limited. Several of the Home Guard signallers have made their own flags, and these of course will be put to good use, but the signal platoon, one of the keenest as well as the most valuable in the whole battalion will not be able to be 100 per cent effective until it owns its own flags. These flags are not difficult to make and it is felt, if the need is known, there may be a response from some,of the very willing ladies of the community. Anyone willing to help in this work is asked to get into touch with the Adjutant of the Battalion, Lieut. Raymond Lee, at the Area H.Q. Office. Trust Lands Trust Building. Queer! Street, who can supply details of what is needed. In the event of bad weather conditions, an announcement from 2ZB will be made at 8 o’clock on Sunday morning.