HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1941, Page 4

HOME GUARD

MASTERTON BATTALIONS

ROUTINE ORDERS.

CLASSES, PARADES & OTHER

ACTIVITIES

Routine orders for the Masterton Battalion of the Home Guard for this week arc: —

Classes.—Officers: Tonight at the Municipal Hall at 7 o'clock, Captain R. P. Wakelin to lecture on tactical handling of machine guns. N.C.O’s, at Municipal Hall at 7 p.m.; Lieut. Wood will lecture on messages and reports. P.T., al College at 7 p.m. Signallers, parades as arranged by Signal Officer. Ambulance, country details: Tonight at St John's Rooms, at 7 o'clock. Town details: Thursday, at 7 p.m. Parades—A Company at Drill Hall, Thursday, at 7 p.m.; C Company at Municipal Hall, Thurs, at' 7 p.m.; other units as arranged by unit commanders. Owing to E Company being unable to supply a platoon, F Company Commander will detail a platoon to parade at Malmo’s Garage, Chapel Street, on Thursday at 7.15 p.m. for range practice. Rifle platoon to make arrangements and supervise and arrange for coaches. With a view to avoiding a repetition of the misunderstanding which occurred on Tuesday last, unit commanders will read weekly routine orders to all ranks to ensure that they fully understand the intention of the commanding officer. Rifles are classified in three classes: Class No. 1, fit lor firing; No. 2, fit for drill purposes only; No. 3, dismantling only and must not be used under any circumstances. Rifles classified as No. 2 are branded with a one-inch white band around the middle of the butt. Rifles classified as No. 3 are branded with two one inch white bands around the middle of the butt. Home Guardsmen are to understand thoroughly that under no circumstances are rifles classified under either classification No. 2 or No. 3 to be used for firing. If injury is sustained by a Home Guardsman through his having attempted to fire a rifle issued under classification No. 2 or No. 3, the Government cannot be held responsible for the payment of compensation for such injury.

Rifles classified as Class I (fit for firing) are not marked by the gunsmith. However, to distinguish these rifles from those not yet examined, the battalion armourer has placed a white paint mark on the bottom of the magazine.

A very limited amount of funds is now available for financial assistance of units. Assistance will be considered in respect of the following items: Rent of halls, lighting, small grants towards travelling expenses in connection with N.C.O’s attending classes in Masterton. Only in very special circumstances can other items be met. but if considered warranted these matters may be submitted for consideration. Applications accompanied by vouchers are to be submitted to battalion headquarters at the end of each month. Promotion: C Company—D. A. Hunn to be Corporal, No. 10 Platoon.

Marched in: Three recruits. Marched out: Platoon Commander N. M. Irwin for overseas service.