BACK IN HARNESS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20012, 10 August 1939, Page 4

BACK IN HARNESS

DIGGERS ON RESERVE CLASS II MEN MUSTER FOUR PARADES A YEAR NOMINATION OF OFFICERS Between 60 and 70 ex-servicemen, most of them veterans of the New Zealand Expeditionary iForce, took part in the first Gisborne muster of military reservists under the new scheme of defence organisation, which provides for the enrolment of experienced men for home garrison duties in the event of 'war.

The attendance gave much satisfaction to those who took part in the muster, there being only a few who were called to the parade and who failed to answer the roll-call. Most of those present indicated, by their bearing, satisfaction with the opportunity of again rendering service, even though the calls upon their time and energies will be modest, so long as the' .country remains, at peace.;,,.,,.., vi .....,' ■ Purpose of Reserve In a short address to the gathering, Lieut. R. H. Perrett, area officer, outlined the purposes ctf the reserve,.and intimated that four parades a year would be held, the members of the Military Reserve being 'bound by no oath, but giving an honourable undertaking to render disciplined service in accordance with the terms of their enrolment. No medical examination would require to be passed, the Army Department recognising that a majority of the ex-servicemen might otherwise be debarred 'from giving service.

,The training of the reserve also would be simplified as far as possible, the feature being a musketry course, with probably a run ovei? the points of the Lewis automatic gun, a weapon with which many of those present were well acquainted from war service days. Officers and non-commissioned officers would be given the opportunity to proceed to Trentham for a short refresher course, before being posted to units of the reserve, which would be formed on a basis of company and platoon strengths. Co-operation with R.S.A. . The appointment ■of commissioned and non-commissioned officers is a matter ifor the Army Department itself, but will be made only after consideration of nominations offered by the branches of the Returned Soldiers' Association in various districts where reserve formation's are enrolled. ■ It is regarded as important by the Army Department to have the close co-opera-tion of the ex-servicemen's organisation to the establishment of the reserve, in view of the important part which it might play in expanding the personnel and services in the event oS an emergency.

At a meeting of the executive of the Gisborne Returned Soldiers' Association, held last evening, three nominations for ; commissioned rank in the Military Reserve, Class 11, were approved. The nominees are men who held commissions in' the N.Z.E.F. during the-Great War, and'who since then have taken a keen personal interest in the territorial ifoTces.