16th January 1942
ARMY COMMANDERS DAY WITH HOME GUARD

The G.O.C. of Northern Command, Lieutenant General Eastwood, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., on Sunday spent a full day with the Home Guard in the Pontefract, Castleford and Hemsworth districts, watching their training in progress, and seeing the preparations made in the localities to meet possible emergencies. He was accompanied by a Staff Officer; the G.O.C. of the West Riding District; and the Commander of the sub-area; and with him on tour were the Commanding Officers of the local zone of the Home Guard.

Taking one centre with another, some 1,200 men altogether were undergoing training in every aspect of activity laid down for the Home Guard. The hampering role to be undertaken in case of need was exemplified in the construction of obstacles, and the active combatant part of musketry training, bayonet fighting, grenade throwing, camouflage of mobile columns and dispatch riders, and signalling; as well as first aid work. Medical Officers enrolled in the Home Guard in the districts, were on duty with their first aid sections. Anti-Tank and similar new and heavy weapons were in use, and were handled with some confidence by their teams.

The visit was not made the occasion of a parade in any sense. The regular training of the Home Guard was in progress everywhere, and was pursued during the visits. The tour started in the Knottingley and Ferrybridge districts, and took in Castleford and Pontefract in the morning. In the afternoon, the Hemsworth district was visited and training suited to, and possible in that district, was seen.

1942 INDEX