HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1941, Page 6

HOME GUARD

DEFENCE MANOEUVRES YESTERDAY

PARADES IN OUTLYING DISTRICTS.

THIS WEEK'S ARRANGEMENTS.

The Masterton Home Guard Battalion paraded yesterday morning. A route march was held from the town to the Hood Aerodrome where the morning’s work was carried out. After a short service by Major Victor Dick, of the Salvation Army, the Companies fell in for the morning’s operations. These consisted in the construction of entrenchments and barb-wire entanglements on a site overlooking the Waingawa River, together with field craft and general company drill. Mr H. B. Hamilton Irving presented a shield for inter-platoon competition. It was announced that there would be no battalion parade on Thursday of this week, but that instead the Home Guard would take part in the Anzac Day parade on Friday next. There was a good muster yesterday of about 250 men and when those men are taken in conjunction with the companies and platoons which have been formed in the outlying areas, and which are now in full operation, it will be seen that the strength of the Masterton Battalion is now very substantial. and that it is being welded into a unit which should give a good account of itself, if called on.

In pursuance of the policy of assisting the outlying districts the Battalion Commander, Lieut. A. L. Hibbs, D.C.M., and Captain A. W. Don, have recently visited the Wainuioru unit at Brancepeth, the Homewood Mounted Platoon and the Mauriceville Company. At all these places good work was done. At Mauriceville a particularly fine defensive operation was carried out and Captain F. W. Parry, vzho watched the manoeuvres, afterwards addressed the men and complimented them on their performance. On Saturday afternoon. Lieut. R. L<\ visited Rangitumau and yesterday he visited Kopuaranga and To Ore Ore. At all these places good progress is being made.