HOME GUARD

Taranaki Daily News, 28 September 1940, Page 6

HOME GUARD

By Telegraph—Press Association.

distr1ct officers four appointments fine service records 5

Wellington. Last Night. The appointment of the four district commanders of the Home Guard were announced by the Hon. Robert Semple, Minister of National Service, to-day as having been approved. They are: — Auckland: — Colonel M. Aldred, V.D.: N.Z.E.F. 1915-17, Egypt and Palestine, highest rank temporary major; Territorial force 1908-34. commanded 1st. Auckland Mounted Rifle.s and 1st New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade, highest rank colonel. Wellington:— Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D.S.O.: N.Z.E.F. 1914-19. Samoa, Egypt and France, highest rank lieutenantcolonel; commanded 4th Bat.talion New Zealand Rifle Brigade; D.S.O. in despatches; Territorial force 1909-29, commanded 1st Battalion Wellington Regiment and 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade, highest rank colonel. Christchurch: — Major G. E. F. Kingscote: N.Z.E.F. 1916-17; Intdlligence officer 3rd N.Z. Rifle Brigade, 1917; British Army, 1918-19; Middle East, General Staff Officer; Intelligence, Caucasus Army; highest rank major; mentioned in despatches. Dunedin: — Lieut.-Colonel A. S. B. Smith, E.D.; N.Z.E.F. 1915-18, Otago Mounted Rifles. Egypt and France, commissioned in the field 1918; - Territorial force 1920-37, commanded Otago Mounted Rifles, highest rank lieutenant-colonel. Immediate Organisation. Immediately the four district commanders were appointed they were called to Wellington for a conferenee with the Dominion commander, Major-Greneral R. Young, and Ministers of the Crown, said Mr. Semple. They had now returned to thqir districts to institute the necessary action to bring the Home Guard into being at the earliest possible date. "In previous statements," said Mr. Semple, "it has been indicated that the organisation of the Home Guard, while not being a military establishment at this stage, would be developed very much

along the lines of the army so that the closest collaboration would be ensured in the training and disposition of the Guard to render it an efficient supplementary body to the armed forces in time of need. It was decided, therefore, to divide the Dominion into district commands and those in turn into areas, as is done with the army organisation. Four Commands Deslrable. "For the purposes of the Home Guard, however, it has been found desirable to have four district commands, two in the North Island and two in the South. instead of three as in the army," continued the Minister. "The division of the South Island into two districts will allow of much quicker organising because less . travelling by the district commander will be involved. "Great care has been exercised in the selection of personnel to undertake the work of district commanders. and after a very wide consultation with MajorGeneral Young the Returned Soldiers' | Association, local authorities and others the Government has been fortunate in securing the services of men with fine records who have agreed to give their time gratis to this work."

Tlie annual farm number of the Taranaki Daily News will be issued in the form of a supplement on Monday morning. In accordance with the wsshes of the authorities this year's number is devoted entirely to the advocacy of greater primary production as the farmers' part In the national war effnrt. The supplement will be freely illustrated and will deal with various angles of the farm productive effort.