MILITARY RESERVE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 289, 7 December 1939, Page 9

MILITARY RESERVE

CLASS TWO ORGANISATION IN WANGANUI SECOND COMPANY FORMED A further step in the organisation of Class II military reserve in Wanganui was taken last night, when a second company was formed and placed under t | command of Captain E. H. L. Bernau. The function of this reserve is organisation in readiness for any emergency arising round the defence of New Zealand. Guarding of vital points in such a way as to relieve and assist the regular forces is the main requirement, and the particular work which would arise for the Wanganui companies to do is the establishment of guards over the port, freezing works and other such points. Keen Interest Shown Indicating that there is very keen interest in the work being planned, there was a large attendance last night and the company was addressed in the first instance by Captain S. H. Gould, N.Z.T.S., acting area officer. He explained that it is proposed to instruct the officers and non-commis-sioned officers, and to train the men with rifles on the range. Captain Bernau then took over and the following officers and non-com-missioned officers took charge of the various platoons:— No. 6 Platoon. Platoon-officer, Lieutenant H. A. Gatward; platoon sergeant, J. J. O’Reilly; section leaders, J. H. Booth, T. H. Aiken, A. Thompson. E. N. Shields. No. 7 Platoon.—Second-Lieutenant D. Gifford-Moore; Sergeant L. H. Pettit; section leaders, G. Trengrove, G. H. White, T. H. Groves, W. A. McDonald. No. 8 Platoon.—Second-Lieutenant G. I. Jones; Sergeant. R. Cargill; section leaders, J. Glasgow, E. C. J. Perry, P. H. Tinney, E. L. Jones. No. 9 Platoon. —Second-Lieutenant G. E. Ironside; Sergeant E. H. Moore; section leaders, G. R. Jones, A. L. Robb, G McCracken, A. T. Wysocki. Company Sergeant-Major.—G. E. Cutfield. Company Quartermaster-Sergeant. —A. J. North. Reserve Non-commissioned Officers. —G. H. C. Jones. E. R. S. Dale, H. O. Dornbusch and P. W. Hill. There are now two companies of the reserve in Wanganui, No. 1 Company being under the command of Captain H. M. Keesing, M.C. Parades are to be held early in the New Year. Active Palmerston North Palmerston North has been particularly live in regard to the reserve, and members there have already had shooting practice on the range. There is one company in Palmerston North, one in Levin, one in Feilding, in addition to the two in Wanganui. There are also reserve companies in Marton and Taihape. All the units mentioned are within the No. 6 group, organisation for which radiates from the Army Office, Wanganui.