HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1940, Page 4

HOME GUARD

RETURNED SOLDIERS GIVING LULL SUPPORT • CLASS TWO UNIT BEING INCORPORATED. DECISION AT LAST NIGHT’S MEETING. Full support for the Home Guard movement was forthcoming at a meeting of members of the Wairarapa R.S.A., held in the Masonic Hall, Masterton, last night. The president, Mr R. Whyborn, presided over an attendance of about a hundred. Mr W. R. Birch, Home Guard area commander for the Wairarapa was present and addressed the meeting regarding the establishment of the Home Guard, particularly in relation to the position of Class Two of the National Military Reserve. From information placed before the meeting it was apparent that a unit of Class Two of the National Military Reserve would'not be gazetted for the Wairarapa district and the only alternative open to members wishing to serve in the present crisis was to join the Home Guard, in which they could be drafted into the returned soldiers’ unit. Mr Birch indicated that Class Two' could be absorbed in the Home Guard as a separate unit and that it was possible for any ex-serviceman at present not a member of Class Two to join up now with' this unit in the Home Guard. He answered a large number of questions.

All those present, comprising members of Class Two of the National Military Reserve and others who had not joined this unit signified their intention of giving their personal support to the Home Guard movement. Mr Birch expressed his pleasure at this decision and said he hoped the bulk of the company leaders and instructors for the Home Guard would be drawn from the ranks of the returned soldiers. He said he felt sure the decision arrived at would have a particularly good effect on the Home Guard movement throughout the Wairarapa. Reference was made to the good work carried out by the officers of Class Two since its formation nearly twelve months ago, especially to the services of Lieut. Raymond Lee, who had been elected commanding officer and had devoted much. time and energy in the interests of the unit.

PARADE TOMORROW. MASTERTON HOME GUARD. A parade of the Masterton unit of the Home Guard will be held in the Drill Hall tomorrow night at 7.30 o’clock, when an opportunity will be provided for intending members to attend. Members of Class Two of the National Military Reserve are requested to attend at the Drill Hall tomorrow night at 7.30 o’clock with a view to the unit being incorporated in the Home Guard.