October 1940
The 8th of October 1940 had seen the official beginning of the Home Guard movement in Cambridge, but now even with Government backing and Council funding, it would be some time before any real difference could be noticed from the early days of the Auxiliary Reserve. However in the first week of the Home Guard Company's existence, growth and expansion meant the organisation of the platoons had to be changed, splitting the Company into four platoons, as opposed to its previous three.No. 1 Platoon, commanded by Alf Swayne, now consisted of men 41 years of age and over.
No. 2 Platoon, commanded by Arthur Richardson was also complemented with men aged 41 years and over.
No. 3 Platoon, under Willie Webber consisted of men 24-40 years of age
No. 4 Platoon was new and under the command of Dave Lundon, and its ranks were made up with the younger men aged 16-23 years old.
Specialists were to be raised in the Company, consisting of 16 signallers, 16 machine-gunners, 8 observers and 8 stretcher-bearers. These men would be divided equally from the four platoons. Parades would now be held weekly on Tuesday evenings, with a new training programme which had been drawn up to include musketry and rifle exercises, bridge building, platoon drill, physical training and squad drill as well as the other specialist skills the men were being taught.
On the 11th of October a conference of local body representatives was held in Hamilton to organise the boundaries for the No.4 (Hamilton) Military Area, which included Cambridge and its districts. Cambridge Mayor Edgar James attended and was accompanied by the Town Clerk Frank Ray, with Frank Green representing the Cambridge Borough. To represent the Leamington Town District, which was at that time under a separate council jurisdiction from Cambridge, were Messers. John Garland and Robert Hanna. The Cambridge region of the military area consisted of the Cambridge Borough, Leamington town and all neighbouring ridings of the Waipa, Waikato and Matamata County Councils.
Hamilton Mayor Harold Caro presided over the conference, and he explained that committees should be set up for each of the Home Guard units in the No. 4 Military Area which would be responsible for:
• Recommendations of members of the Home Guard for appointment as commanders
• The subdivisions of the Home Guard and their location, having regard to local requirements in the event of an emergency
• The times and places of assembly of the Home Guard or subdivisions thereof for training, parades or service
• The provision by the local authorities in the locality of office accommodation, clerical assistance, stationary, and services for the Home Guard
• The co-operation by the Home Guard with any emergency precautions organisation or any other branch of the Corps or any other authority or organisation requiring the services of the Home Guard
• Generally all matters not inconsistent with the regulations that may be deemed necessary or expedient to promote the most effective use of the Home Guard.
Mr Caro said that any of the committees could appoint sub-committees if necessary, and that every committee and sub-committee would keep a record of its proceedings, which would at all convenient times be open to inspection by the Director of National Service.
Caro stressed that it had been laid down by the Minister of National Service that the committees were to consist of representatives of the local bodies concerned, together with a representative of the Returned Soldiers Association, a representative of the Trade Unions and any other local organisations such as the Farmers Union that might be able to give assistance.
Meanwhile, whilst the politics were being sorted out, the men of Cambridge's Home Guard had already begun training in their specialist skills. A party of twelve signallers and three observers of the Home Guard, and twelve members of the Legion of Frontiersmen and demolition squads spent an interesting and instructive day at French Pass on the weekend of the 12th and 13th of October 1940.
The signallers took up positions on several hills in the district, which is rolling farmland at the foot of Maungakawa (also known as Sanatorium Hill) to practice signalling techniques. The observers meanwhile traversed the roadway from Maungakawa Road junction to the French Pass.
While this was going on, the bridge builders erected a single span bridge across a stream below the Pass, and afterwards they were instructed in the method of bridge demolition with explosives. When the squad reassembled they were given afternoon tea, provided by Irene Green (wife of Frank Green) and Mrs F L St John.
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Above: Members of the bridge-building section stand proudly on the seemingly rickety bridge they have constructed over a stream near French Pass. They later demolished it, presumably with dynamite. Note that several members wear the uniform of the Legion of Frontiersmen, and at least one small boy was present to help. The man standing on the far left of the photo has been identified as Henry Mayston, but the remainder are unknown. The Frank Green Collection, Cambridge Museum
On Friday the 18th of October, at the request of the Home Guard's Auckland District Commander, Colonel Max Aldred, the following message was published in the Waikato Independent - and probably other publications - for men who were trying to decide whether to join the Home Guard or the Emergency Precautions Volunteer Organisation:
"The Home Guard will be the civilian fighting force to assist the armed forces of this country in its defence should it ever be invaded. It will be, apart from the armed forces, the only volunteer fighting force allowed by law to train its members to bear arms. All applicants will be required to take the oath of allegiance. The only time the Guard will ever be called up for service will be if there is an invasion or threat of invasion.
The Emergency Precautions Volunteer Organisation has been established to make provision in an emergency for the maintenance of law and order, and supplies and services essential to life of the community. It will not train its members to bear arms in the defence of their country. All those men, therefore, over 16 years of age who wish to commence training to bear arms in their country's defence should join the Home Guard. Those who desire to assist in the maintenance of the social and civil services should join the Emergency Precautions Volunteer Organisation."The parade on Tuesday the 22nd of October had an attendance of 150 men, and regular training was carried out. About 40 new members signed attestation forms and were sworn in for service in the Home Guard by a Justice of the Peace. In just a fortnight since the Cambridge Auxiliary Reserve Company had become the Home Guard, a total of 152 men had enrolled. The parade was concluded with a route march.
On Wednesday the 23rd it was announced by Major-General Young, Dominion Commander of the Home Guard, that the Guard was to be split into three classes, to suit all its applicants in the forms of training required.
• Class I was for young men of ages 16 to 18 and men who were eligible to serve in the Armed Forces but not yet called up to do so. Their training syllabus, it was announced, was to consist of largely physical and recreational training, drill and elementary weapon training, with the object of readying them for later absorption into the regular forces. Instructors for the most modern type of physical training were themselves being trained by the Physical Welfare Department and were shortly to be available for the Home Guard.
• Class II were to be men who were reasonably fit, with actual experience of war in the field or had previously trained in the Territorial Force, in rifle clubs or in the Legion of Frontiersmen. This class would be given a refresher course in drill and weapon training, before going onto more advanced training work. They would be taught methods of obstructing and delaying the advance of an enemy, the use of cover, camouflage, siting of trenches, and construction of air-raid shelters and dug-outs.
• Class III would consist of men who, owing to their age, could not take part in strenuous forms of training. The duties proposed for them were that of guarding bridges and viaducts, helping in the evacuation of women and children, billeting schemes and field ambulance duties.
This concluded the main activities of the Cambridge Home Guard for October 1940, and was really the end of the first phase. The unit was now well established, they had a clear path forward. They knew what was expected of them, and what they could and couldn't expect from the Government. The men were eager, many had signed up and they were still flooding in. The next phase would be readying themselves for the expect fight, should it come.
The Cambridge Home Guard Company
Rank Structure And Organisation
Structure when formed 8 October 1940, from the existing
Cambridge Auxiliary Reserve Company
Commanding Officer
Captain Edward Kennedy
Company Sergeant Major
Frank Green
Platoon Commander
Alfred Swayne
Men aged 41 & over
Platoon Commander
Arthur Richardson
Men aged 41 & over
Platoon Commander
Willie Webber
Men aged 24 to 40
Platoon Commander
Dave Lundon
Men aged 16 to 23
November 1940
The Cambridge Home Guard Company was inspected by the Area Commander, Lt. Col. R. D. McFarland, on the on 19th November, who was reported as being very pleased with the efficiency and progress of the company.Following a special invitation, the Cambridge Home Guard took part in a church parade on Sunday the 24th at the Cambridge Racecourse, where Territorial soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 16th Waikato Regiment were encamped. Around 50 members of the Home Guard company attended. They assembled at the Taylor Street-Victoria Road intersection to form up into ranks and then marched to the camp. It was a proud day because for the first time, the Home Guard members were issued with brassards to wear on their arms. The armbands were white with a red crown above the letters 'H.G.' also in red.
Despite many of the Territorials being away on leave, a good crowd turned out in the main racecourse grandstand for the service, which was conducted by chaplain Major H.H. Jeffreys. After the parade, the band that had provided the music for the singing, marched the Home Guard platoon back to the intersection where they dismissed.
On the evening of the 26th of November the platoon commanders of the Cambridge Home Guard met to arrange a new training schedule for the company. It was decided that when the current training schedule came to an end after the next parade, which was to be held on the 3rd of December, the unit would once again be reorganised. The new training schedule was now planned to run from the 3rd of December till the end of April 1941. It was also decided that the final parade for the year would be held on the 19th of December, and after a break in training over the Christmas holidays, the first parade for the coming year would take place on the 9th of January 1941. It was agreed that from then on parades were to continue to be held weekly.
Company Sgt Major Frank Green announced that the Legion of Frontiersmen had now been recognised officially by the Home Guard nationally, and members of the Legion were authorised to join the Home Guard but still retain their identity. He put forward his desire to have the local Legion of Frontiersmen unit, which he ran, to continue parading with the Home Guard as they had already been doing, but now in Legion uniform and as a stand-alone platoon. As the Legion contained signalling specialists, Green suggested that this Legion platoon become a Headquarters platoon, and three other platoons should be formed from the other Home Guard members. This was agreed and Green was appointed as Platoon Commander of Headquarters Platoon.
It was then decided to merge the present members of No's 1 and 2 Platoons, with Arthur Richardson as Platoon Commander of the merged platoon. The other two platoons, under Dave Lundon and Willie Webber were to remain the same. Frank Green then saw it necessary, given his new position as a Platoon Commander, to resign as Company Sergeant Major.
On a more national level some progress was being made to improve the Guardsman's lot. Following much protest and many letters, a decision was taken in November 1940 by the Government to accept responsibility for any injuries incurred by a Home Guardsman while on duty and wearing his brassard. This decision was a great boost to morale, considering previously the Home Guardsmen were responsible for themselves and the Government and Home Guard organisation had accepted no liability.
December 1940
On the night of Thursday the 19th of December 1940, the Cambridge Home Guard's last parade for the year took place at the Drill Hall. At this parade the re-organisation, previously discussed at the November platoon commanders' meeting, took place and the Legion of Frontiersmen formed Headquarters Platoon under new Platoon Commander, Frank Green. Other than this reshuffle and the usual training, very little happened in Cambridge throughout December 1940.Around the district the Home Guard gathered pace however. Colonel Max Aldred, Auckland District Commander of the Home Guard, completed an extensive tour of the area that he governed. His inspection had revealed that everywhere, especially in the country districts, the recruiting for the Home Guard was progressing very well. In some towns recruiting booths had been established, and the response for enrolment had been very satisfactory. He was particularly pleased to note that more and more younger men, who had originally been disinclined to join the Home Guard, were now joining up.
Two areas east of Cambridge doing well with new members were Tauranga and Paeroa. It must have been morale boosting for many Cambridge citizens to read in the Independent on the 16th of December that Tauranga had enrolled 60 new members at one rally, and at a meeting in Paeroa some 63 new recruits signed up. If an attack should occur on the coast east of Cambridge, there would be Home Guard men to meet them.
To the west also they were being reinforced. A platoon was being formed in the tiny rural area of Kawhia and H.C. Rainey JP, was inspiring the men of Te Awamutu while in charge of the recruiting booth, by shouting the slogan "Get Into It!" He told the men at the Home Guard recruitment meeting that he had "got into it!" so that he could "do his bit". Now was the time to prepare and it was imperative that the Home Guard be ready. Similar words were no doubt being spoken everywhere.
The Home Guard was soon to become more professional following an announcement by Brigadier P.H. Bell, officer commanding the northern military district. Courses were to be set up for Home Guard officers and NCO's to train in modern military skills and tactics. The courses would probably be run by instructors drawn from the National Military Reserve, who were soldiers with a wide experience of military knowledge. However, before men of the Cambridge Home Guard would attend such courses, the company stood down after the parade of Thursday the 19th of December for more important matters - Christmas.
The Cambridge Home Guard Company
Rank Structure And Organisation
Structure when formed 8 October 1940, from the existing
Cambridge Auxiliary Reserve Company
Commanding Officer
Captain Edward Kennedy
Company Sergeant Major
Frank Green
Alfred Swayne
Men aged 41 & over
Arthur Richardson
Men aged 41 & over
Willie Webber
Men aged 24 to 40
Dave Lundon
Men aged 16 to 23
