HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 October 1940, Page 9

HOME GUARD

APPOINTMENT OF AREA COMMANDERS ANNOUNCED BY MR SEMPLE. MAJOR D. G. JOHNSTON FOR WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The appointment of area commanders of the Home Guard at Auckland. Wellington and Christchurch was announced last night by the Minister of National Service, Mr Semple. He said that the appointments had been made, as a result of recommendations from district commanders, after consultation with Major-General R. Young, the Dominion commander. The following are the officers chosen: No. 1 Area, Auckland City, Headquarters —Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Marryatt, D.S.O. No. 5 Area. Wellington City, Headquarters —Major D. G. Johnston. No. 10 Area, Christchurch City, Headquarters —Major D. S. Murchison. D.S.O. "Four district commanders were recently appointed as a first subdivision of the Dominion into district commands for the Home Guard, ’ Mr Semple said. “These district commanders are now selecting area commanders, who will in turn command sub-divisions of the four main districts. I feel that the Government had been fortunate in securing the services of gentlemen with such fine records. As is the case with district commanders, these area commanders will give their time gratis to the work of organising the Home Guard. “The appointments will make possible the organisation of local Home Guard units in Auckland. Wellington and Christchurch to be proceeded with immediately. The appointment of an area commander in Dunedin is at present under consideration, and I hope to make a further announcement in this connection soon." Lieutenant-Colonel Marryatt was in England in 1914. and joined the British forces. He served throughout, the last war, rose to command a battalion, and was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in dispatches. Major Johnston served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from 1916 to 1919. Mr Semple said. Ho was with the artillery trench mortars and the Divisional ammunition column and rose to the rank of Major. No. 5 area will consist of Wellington City, together with the boroughs of Pctone, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Eastbourne: the counties of Hutt and Makara, and the Town District of Johnsonville. Major Murchison served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from 1914 to 1918 with the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. He took part in campaigns in Egypt and Palestine, was awarded the D.S.O. and mentioned in dispatches.