HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 June 1941, Page 4

HOME GUARD

TRAINING IN BOMBING LIVE CHARGES USED. PROGRAMME AT YESTERDAY’S PARADE. There was a very full programme at yesterday's half-day parade of the Masterton Home Guard Battalion at the Hood Aerodrome, and valuable training was obtained. Bombing, Molotov cocktail throwing, bayonet fighting, erecting wire entanglements, physical drill and company drill followed each other in quick '■accession. The most interesting event was bombing practice. Preparations had been made on the previous afternoon by a working party which had erected a. sandbag shelter to represent | a section of a trench and in front of this a Structure resembling a Rugby goal-post to test for direction and height. Each man first practised with dummies, and later a dozen live bombs were supplied to a special squad, the remainder of the battalion watching the demonstration from a safe distance. A later examination of the target showed clearly the destructive power of the grenades. During the last few parades a start has been made on bayonet fighting and this occupied a prominent place in yesterday's training. A short service was conducted by the Rev., John Davie. His straight-from-the shoulder talk on present day responsibilities and the courage necessary to meet them was much appreciated by the- men. Morning lea was served by a ladies’ committee. The thoughtfulness of these ladies is even more appreciated now that the weather is becoming colder.