WAR SERVICE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 61, 11 September 1939, Page 5

WAR SERVICE

VOLUNTEER FORCE ANY PART OF THE WORLD -DURATION OF HOSTILITIES "The Government has decided to raise a special military force for service in or beyond New Zealand. En. listment in this force will be entirely voluntarv and will be confined to men and N.C.C.'s between the ages : and 21 and 35 years. In the case of officers, the maximum ages will be ■ double-term - 30; captain, 3o; major s 4t/; lieutenant-colonels, 15. The medi c&i standard required will be J'.tncss "for active service in any part of the woikl. Enlistments will be received 'from 9 a.i-i. on Tuesday next. September 12. Announcing this decision, Uie Min. .•ister of Defence, the Hon would be given to single* men not engaged in essential industries in the following order:--Aj serving members of the Territorial Force; B, members of the Infantry Section* of the Special Reserve; *C, members of Class 1 of the Nation--ai Military! Reserve, that is, then who have undergone not less than "two years' Territorial training; D 5 other single men with or without -military training. Enlistment will be lor the duration of the Avar and for 12 months thereafter, or un.til lawfully prescribed. SITUATION OiF CAMPS. The first steps to be taken in connection with the establishment of this special force will be the enlistment of 6600 officers, non-commis-sioned and men, and the organisation will consist of divisional troops in three brigades. It will be drawn as nearly as possible equally between the three military districts, ;2200 of all ranks from each district :being taken for training at special camps, at Papaltura, Ngaruawahia,. Trentham and Blenheim. The work of preparing these canips 15 being pushed on 24 hours a day. "It is hoped to have the first in, train, "ing within a month or three weeks from the date of opening enlistments Training will be for a minimum period of three months. •In event

their services not being required 'immediately on completion, of their training, all ranks will be granted indefinite leave without pay, and -allowed to return to their civil occupation, but will be liable to be •called up again at short notice. While on leave without pay, they may carry out normal training with -the Territorial forces. The pay and allowances for the special force will be the same as those announced tor the Territorial force and for Class II • of the National Military Reserve already called rip for service- in New Zealand. KEEP AT WORK. Mr Jones said he wished to make - two appeals, one was to volunteers • of the special force that they should not throw up their employment till ' they actually receive notification to proceed to camp. In consideration of men doing 'this, the Army Department has undertaken to give 4,0 day:, notice, if possible, to the men required to report for training. Volunteers might be inclined, once they hod passed the medical examination and been accepted, to think they were finished with civil employment and were already soldiers. It would be much better for them and much bet- - ter for the country if they could J ■ stick to their jobs until they knew exactly when they were going t" ■camp. The Minister's second appeal in ■ the same connection was to employ- ' ers. He asked that they should do ffiieir utmost tc keep jobs open for called up or enlisting for military service. The Government had already announced that public servants joining the military forces will be granted leave of absence with • out pay and that while they are on service their superannuation contributions will be paid by the Government. A full list of the army offices which will be open, to receive army volunteers from 9 a. m. oil Tuesdav. September 12, is as follows: Northern District; Whangarei, Dargaville, Auckland. Hamilton, Te Paeroa, Waihi, Morrinsvillc, Tauranga Rotorua; Central District: Danncvirke, Hastings, Hawera, Maslcrton, Napier, New Plymouth. Palmcrston North, Petone, Stratford Wellington; Southern Dis trict: Nelson. Blenheim, Westporr. -Greymouth, Christchurch, Ashbur. ton, Timaru Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill.

LUCKY BOYS Field Marshal Lord Birdwood, speak ing at Betteshanger School, Kent, urged the boj T s to do what they knew to be right, and added: "You boys are lucky not to be your own, sisters. You can think for yourselves. One day your sisters go out in a hafc like the Eiffel Tower; llie next day in one like a pork pie; and the next in one like nothing on earth. Then they go out in one cocked over the right eye t and they can't see out of it. And then they cock it over tho left eye ? and can't see out of that. All they can say is that ifs the fashion and they can't help themselves. But you boys can."'