HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1941, Page 4

HOME GUARD

i PAST YEAR’S ACTIVITIES PLANS FOR FUTURE. 200 NEW RECRUITS WANTED. With the approach of summer, the Masterton Home Guard Battalion is making plans for intensive outdoor field training which should greatly promote the physical welfare of the men and the military efficiency of the unit, as well as being interesting and enjoyable to those concerned. The highlights of this programme will be indicated taler this week. It is of interest to review the work already done. The Home Guard here, as elsewhere, has laboured under difficulties, particularly through lack of equipment and necessary funds. This initial handicap has been surmounted through the keenness and improvisation of the men, supplemented by ready assistance from private citizens, the Press, business firms, the Borough and County councils and oilier local bodies. QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS. It is only in retrospect that the extent of the training already received is realised. The groundwork has been laid in the officers' and N.C.O.’s. classes held every Tuesday night, coupled with the special refresher courses in camp which a good proportion of these officers and N.C.O’s. have also undertaken. The instruction provided has been of the best, and provided by highly qualified instructors, including the local army staff, special Territorial officers and N.C.O’s., officers of high rank recently returned from abroad and even officers from the Army School, Trenlharn. The subjects covered include strategy and tactics, Vickers machine gun. Lewis gun. Thompson sub-machine gun, map reading, work- with compass, messages and reports, patrols, bombing, transport and many others. The attendance at these classes has been very large—(it) to 70 N.C.O’s. per class, and 20 to 30 officers —and the opinion has been expressed by those in a position to know, that any trainee'who lias regularly attended, should have attained a standard of knowledge approximating that required for overseas troops. The approaching summer training will give the opportunity of putting this knowledge into practice. Other specialist classes have included those for snipers, range coaches, signallers, ambulance, army intelligence and physical training instructors. DEFENCE & OFFENCE. As regards the general training of the battalion, the above instruction has already been passed on to the men to some extent, but the full fruits will be seen in the coming season. It was stated at the outset that, while a certain amount of drill and discipline was, of course, essential there was no intention or desire to train the men to be barrack-square soldiers, but rather to obtain the maximum of military effectiveness, both in defence and offence by the quickest possible way. It was therefore realised that evening parades were insufficient, and the halfday Sunday parades were instituted. Those have always included a short church service, for the conduct of which thanks are due to the local ministers. The ladies' committee have unfailingly provided the picnic touch with afternoon tea. At these Sunday halfday parades Held manoeuvres in attack and defence were at once instituted. Highlights ' were the several mockbattles at the Mahunga golf course and the full battalion manoeuvres staged at Blairlogie. Colonel Becre, the Wellington District Commander, was present at several of these manoeuvres, and on one occasion stated that the work was equal to anything he had seen. Range practice also has commenced. a certain amount of ammunition having been received. In tomorrow's issue an outline will be given of the new equipment and facilities now or shortly to be at the disposal of the Home Guard. To make full use of these, new recruits are urgently needed, and it is to be hoped that those available men who have not so far enrolled will lay aside all excuses and join up and do their share. I A ready welcome will await them.