HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 October 1940, Page 4

HOME GUARD

MASTERTON ORGANISATION RECRUITING OFFICES OPENED. DETAILS OF THE SCHEME. Following the recent visit of the Dominion Commander of the Home Guard, Major-General R. Young, arrangements have now been made to enrol members in the Home Guard, for the local district comprising Masterton Borough, Masterton, Mauriceville and Castlepoint counties. Recruiting offices have been opened in the following places:—Masterton Town Clerk's office, Masterton; Masterton County Clerk’s office, Masterton; Mauriceville County Clerk’s office, Masterton; Castlepoint County Clerk’s office, Tinui; Wairarapa R.S.A. Secretary’s office, A.M.P. Buildings, Perry Street, Masterton. The purpose of the Home Guard is to establish a corps which will be trained in tactical exercises and. the use of arms, etc., in the evenings and upon the weekends and by so doing will be ready to co-operate with the army in the event of an invasion of this country or some such war emergency. The organisation of the Home Guard as affecting this district is as follows: —Dominion commander (Major-Gen-eral R. Young); Wellington district commander (Lt. Col. R. St. J. Beere, D. 5.0.); area commander for Wairarapa (to be appointed); Battalion commander (in command of four companies); Company commander (in command of four platoons); Platoon commander (in command of one platoon—--30 guardsmen); Guardsmen. For active training, all men over 16 years of age who are British subjects, reasonably fit, able and willing to train, and who are not actively attached to the armed forces, may join the Guard. There is no medical examination. Men enrolled in the Emergency Precautions as key men give service through this organisation, and are not eligible for membership in the Home Guard. There is nothing, however, to prevent E.P.S. men actively participating in Home Guard training, but. it must be understood that in the event of a state of emergency arising requiring the E.P.S., that their duty lies with this organisation, and not with the Home Guard. For those of the Home Guard not physically capable of field training, lighter duties in a supernumerary capacity may be found. CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. The conditions of service are:— (1) Voluntary and unpaid, and all must accept their own liability for any disability that may arise, or be aggravated, through such service. (2) Where members’ vehicles, horses, or goods, fete., are used in the service of the guard, no payment will be made therefor. (3) All must carry out the required training at own expense and conform to the discipline laid down. (4) Where -the Governor-General thinks the circumstances warrant it, he may issue a proclamation and embody the whole or any part of the guard in the defence forces under the Defence Act, 1909, and those affected at once become soldiers under the control of the army, with pay, equipment, etc., as in the army. Whilst in the guard, men are still liable for military service, overseas or home, in terms of the national service regulations—that is, they are available for the ballot, but may continue in the guard until called up to camp. (6) Reasonable facilities will be allowed for transfer between units for those who move their residence from one part of the country to another. (i _ Uniform will not be issued, but a ; brassard or armlet will, to be worn on the left arm when on duty. Arms or equipment will not be issued to indivual guardsmen, but will be made available for training purposes as required. TRAINING. Training is to cover physical training, drill, signalling and messages, scouting and guard work, road blocking and clearing, transport and supply, field exercises, lectures, and any other phases that may be laid down. Training will be arranged for evenings or at weekends, to suit local conditions. Selected personnel may be given the opportunity of a refresher course by the army so that they can instruct others. Special parades may be arranged for suitable occasions. “Try outs” or alarms may be practised so that members may learn their emergency jobs. ) An oath of allegiance must be taken by members of the Home Guard on joining. By proclamation, members of the Home Guard will come under the army forces in event of a war emergency. (Men of the E.P.S. do not take the oath of allegiance, as, in the event of a slate of emergency, their services will be utilised under the authority of the local body, and will, therefore, not be called up by proclamation). Major-General Young, Dominion Commander of the Home Guard, upon his visit to Masterton recently, made it convincingly apparent the need to proceed with the establishment of the local unit with the utmost despatch. To all those men not already enrolled in some form or other of war duty, enlistment with the Home Guard provides a most effective wartime service. Men are wanted who are both willing and prepared, at some sacrifice of their time, at some inconvenience to their personal comfort, and even, maybe, at some element of personal risk, to offer services to their country without thought of reward or compensation.