HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 March 1941, Page 6

HOME GUARD

FIELD MANOEUVRES YESTERDAY AMBULANCE AND SIGNALLING WORK. ARCHDEACON RICH ADDRESSES MEN Mr. C. A. Burling's property adjoining the Mahunga golf links, was the scene of great activity yesterday morning when the Masterton Home Guard Battalion staged its fortnightly daylight manoeuvres. About 250 men paraded. Diversity was the keynote of the activities and bright sunshine made them most enjoyable for all concerned. Platoons of A Company displayed great energy with picks and shovels constructing weapon pits and other defensive works and erecting barbed wire entanglements. Other platoons did rifle work and platoon drill. Probably the most realistic stunt of the day was an attack on a defended line of railway carried out by C Company in full dress order with all necessary appurtenances in the way of signallers, ambulance units and scouts. From a vantage point the attackers could be seen advancing by a series of “section stalks" over a wide front and valuable expeiiencc was gained both by attackers and defenders. After completion of the manoeuvre all those participating took part in a discussion, when company and platoon commanders were able to drive home the lessons learned. • The stretcher bearers under Sergeant Parsons, and the signallers under the instruction of Signaller R. M. Hancock, had good practice.The Battalion Commander. Lieutenant A. L. Hibbs, D.C.M.. addressed the men and congratulated them on their performance. He stated that the keen- . ness displayed was very satisfying to , those in charge. In his capacity as , umpire, he stated that he considered ; the attacking force must be considered ( to have achieved its objective and so , won the mock battle. j An outstanding feature of the parade . was an address to the men by Arch- ( deacon E. J. Rich during the course of j a short service. Archdeacon Rich took j as the subject of his address, Mr. Winston Churchill’s speech some time ago on the "unfolding purpose" of the British Comonwealth of Nations. The Archreacon stated that it was his unshakeable belief that the Commonwealth was serving an unfolding purpose and that this purpose was becoming clearer as time w®’t on. Because Britain was fighting for the higher values in human life, she would be granted the victory,

but it was necessary for the nation t< keep touch with the source of it; spiritual power. A tree could not live when cut off from its roots and so i was with a nation. He recalled tha' last Sunday had ben observed as a da., of national prayer by millions throughout the Commonwealth. It had beer followed by a week of successes botl in arms and diplomacy, which was unequalled in brilliance durjng the whole course of the war. The Archdeacon’s address was much appreciated by the men. During "smoko” a group of ladies organised by Mrs. C. C. Cook, provider: morning tea. This and the brilliant sunshine gave quite a picnic air tc the parade and the ladies were accorded three resounding cheers by the men. The. Battalion Commander reports that a successful daylight parade was held at Tinui on Saturday under the command of Captain A. W. Don assisted by Regimental Sergeant-Major H. Nuttall.