BRITISH HOME GUARD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1942, Page 4

BRITISH HOME GUARD

HONOURED BY THE KING HIS MAJESTY BECOMES COLONEL-IN-CHIEF. SERVICES OF FORCE WARMLY APPRECIATED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) RUGBY, May 13. The King has honoured the Home Guard, on the occasion of its second anniversary, by assuming the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the force. The following message from his Majesty has been issued as special Army Order: “The second year in the life of the Home Guard which ends today has been one of marked and continuous progress. I have watched with satisfaction the growing efficiency of the force in training, equipment and co-operation with the Regular Army, as well as with Civil Defence services. Many of the original volunteers by now have unavoidably left the Home Guard, many having joined the Regular forces. They leave behind them a great tradition of service and comradeship which will inspire the new recruits now enrolling for the defence of their country to spare no effort to make themselves ever more ready for battle. In order to mark my appreciation of the services given by the Home Guard with such devotion and perseverance, I have today assumed the appointment of Colonel-in-Chief of the force, and I send my best wishes to all its members.” It will be recalled that the inauguration of the Home Guard, under its original title of Local Defence Volunteers, was made in a dramatic broadcast by Mr Anthony Eden, then Minister of War.