SECOND ECHELON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 29 November 1939, Page 4

SECOND ECHELON

MEN FROM GISBORNE READY FOR THE DRAFT MEDICAL BOARD ACTIVE EARLY CALL EXPECTED Preparations are being made throughout the military areas for filling the draft of Second Echelon volunteers for N.C.O. training at an early date, and last night a number of men of the acceptable age groups were examined_by,a medical board in Gisborne, wKi a view to their being available if called upon. It is expected that an early call will be received for men suitable for noncommissioned rank, and also that the main draft for the Second Echelon will be called for at short notice, though not for some time yet. The object at present is to clear the decks so that when the calls come it will only be necessary to issue notices to the selected men.

Activity is also prevalent in connection with the medical examination of Maori recruits, and a board will sit in Gisborne on Saturday, and another in Ruatoria on Sunday to deal with volunteers for the Maori Battalion.

Prospects of Active Service

The flow of enrolments for the Special Military Force has not been restored noticeably in this district, as was expected, by the announcement of the Government’s intention to dispatch the First Echelon overseas at a date and to a destination not yet disclosed. As the date for the listing of the Second Echelon approaches nearer, however, enrolments should increase. At present there is a good pool of recruits from which to draw, and no difficulty should be found in Ailing the draft from this district.

Additional enrolments of European volunteers in Gisborne include the following:—

Sainsbury, George Sherratt, single, 30 years, P.O. Box 88, Wairoa, solicitor.

Oman, James Wren, married, 32 years, Gisborne, storeman. Kelly, Edward John, married, 32 years, 24 Cook street, Gisborne, storeman.

Frost, George Edward, single, 28 years, 208 Crawford road, Gisborne, labourer.

Honan, Reginald, married, 30 years, 111 Rutene road, Gisborne, oil wells assistant.

Bloomfield, Graham, single, 31 years, 182 Russell street, Gisborne, carpenter.

Trafford, Charles William, single, 29 years, Private Bag, Gisborne, sheepfarmer.