HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1941, Page 6

HOME GUARD

DETAILS OF ORGANISATION EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE. POSITION REGARDING UNIFORMS AND BOOTS. The strength of the Masterton Battalion of the Home Guard is probably not realised by many members of the public. The battalion covers the territory from Mauriceville to Gladstone and comprises some 800 men. Eketahuna to the north and Carterton to the south are separate units. The Masterton Battalion is- divided into seven companies as follow: A. C and Headquarters companies. Master ton; D Company, near country districts; E Company, Mauriceville; F Company, coastal district; and G Company, Gladstone. As the average attendance at parades ranges from 75 to 80 per cent, it will be seen that the battalion represents the effort of a very considerable and solid section of the community. The town companies parade each Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Municipal and Drill halls, with a half day parade each alternate Sunday at 8 a.m. Classes arc held each Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. Country members sometimes travel over 50 miles to attend these classes. Recruits will bo enrolled at any of the-foregoing times, or during the clay at the Borough Office, or at Battalion Headquarters, Messrs Robinson and Cunningham's Office, Perry Street. The country companies each arrange their own parades to suit the convenience of the district. EQUIPMENNT AVAILABLE. The shortage of rifles was met by the commandeering of all private .303 rifles and the battalion armoury now presents a large and impressive array of arms. Vickers machine guns, Lewis machine guns, and Thompson submachine .guns have long been available for training; soon the Home Guard will have its own weapons of this type. Mills bombs are already in hand. The miniature rifle range has been operating during the winter months. As soon as the weather is suitable, full day Sunday parades will be held once each menth, and the .303 range will receive its full share of attention, as ammunition. is already in hand. The signallers, ambulance and Pipe Band, each have their own appropriate equipment. UNIFORMS & BOOTS. As is well known, these have been promised but are not yet to hand, and it must be admitted that the delay has caused some disappointment. However the average member of the Home Guard is fully prepared to keep to the course he set himself on enrolment, namely, to help increase the defensive efficiency of the country to the maximum extent of the material available without asking that some other quarter be robbed for his benefit. The few exceptions which are always found have no doubt long since retired from active interest. TRANSPORT. Until recently the battalion has had to rely on entirely outside arrangements generously made available for its transport requirements. Headquarters Company is now, however, endeavouring to make its own transport arrangements. These details are given so that the public may be aware of Home Guard matters generally, and thus give its support to this week’s drive for 200 new recruits to bring the battalion up to the strength required to carry out its plans for intensive summer training in outdoor field manoeuvres. Further details and plans for the future will appear in later issues this week.