The New Zealand Home Guard during World War 2

National Army Museum, Waiouru

World War 2 in New Zealand provides many examples of what New Zealanders were doing through the war years. One good example is the Home Guard, which was used for defence and I have come across several mentions of family members who were involved with the group while looking through the newspapers that are available from the Paperspast website.

New Zealand entered the Second World War in 1939 and conscription was introduced in 1940 with the passing of the National Service Emergency Regulations. There were grounds for people to object to conscription along the grounds of hardship, essential employment and conscientious objection. Men could also be sent under the guise of manpower conscription to work in specific workplaces that were considered essential.[1] The makeup of the Home Guard was a Dominion commander, three military district commanders and 16 area officers appointed by the government. It was to be set to males who were over 16 years. The Home Guard’s roles sounded something similar to the Militia that were active during the New Zealand Wars in the 1800s.[2] There was the fear of Japan attacking New Zealand, so defending the country from a Home Guard perspective would have been promising. The defence of home was the job of the Home Guard. Some communities like Kohukohu in Northland, New Zealand there were discussions about the formation of the Home Guard.[3] I have included a link to a  whole newspaper page that talks about the various Home Guard groups in in northern New Zealand that provides an overview.[4]

The Home Guard was established in 1940, using the British version as an example. The Home Guard were localised to the specific areas they lived in, while there were some who patrolled the beaches. They were provided with training and weaponry, although many had to make do with their own.[5] The Home guard would be from their own districts and would be physical training and would be open to those who were not part of the active defence force. The Home Guard was voluntary and unpaid.[6] Those who worked in essential industries could be exempted from service by appealing through a panel representing their interests and of their employer. From what I have read, the employers usually lodged appeals.[7]

Francis Gabolinscy (Frank) in 1942, was serving in the Home Guard while working for Lovatt and Son near Whangarei. At the time Frank Gabolinscy and Frank Sturge both appealed and their cases were adjourned when they were transferred to the units they were part of, including Gabolinscy to the Home Guard.[8] George F Lissington went before the military board and his case was adjourned as he had been already serving in the Home Guard in 1943. George was a farmer in Maungaturoto and represented by a Mr. Lamb.[9] There are other examples of people remaining within the Home Guard when they have been called for military duty that can be found throughout the newspapers during World War two.[10] These are just two examples of family members that I know of who I have come across that had involvement within the Home Guard during World War 2.

By the end of 1943 the Home Guard in New Zealand was slowly disbanded. Men who served six months or more were eligible for a medal for service to New Zealand.[11

 The National Army Museum  in Waiouru has information about the Home Guard in their extensive library and last time I was there they had a display about the Home Guard too.

Sources / Bibligraphy

 National Army Museum Waiouru https://www.armymuseum.co.nz/

Derby, Mark 'Conscription, conscientious objection and pacifism - Conscription', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/conscription-conscientious-objection-and-pacifism/page-1, accessed 7 January 2020.

Fryer, Arthur ‘Home Guard wielded their broomsticks with distinction’, Taranaki Daily News, 02 October 2012, http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/7746612/Home-Guard-wielded-their-broomsticks-with-distinction, accessed 07/01/2020.

McGibbon, Ian 'Second World War - Japan enters the war', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34574/home-guard, accessed 7/01/2020.

Sandler, Stanley World War II in the Pacific: An Encyclopedia, Garland Publishing, New York, 2001.

Taylor, Nancy M. The Home Front Volume 1, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington 1986, http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1Hom-c12.html#name-024736-mention, accessed 07/01/2020.

Unknown, ‘Don’t Panic! Northland had its own Home Guard, aka Dad’s army, during WWII’, Northern Advocate, 7 April 2018, https://www.nzherald.co.nz/defence/news/article.cfm?c_id=32&objectid=12027615, accessed 7/01/2020.

Unknown, ‘Home Defence’, Evening Post, 19 August 1940, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400819.2.14, accessed 07/01/2020.

Unknown ‘War Work The Second World War at Home’, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/second-world-war-at-home/war-work, accessed 07/01/2020.

Unknown, ‘Timber Workers’, Northern Advocate, 6 October 1942, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19421006.2.13, accessed 07/01/2020.

Unknown, ‘Additional cases before appeal board’, Northern Advocate, 13 May 1943, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19430513.2.64, accessed 07/01/2020.

Unknown, ‘Man-power committee’, Manawatu Standard, 27 March 1942, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19420327.2.69, accessed 07/01/2020.

Unknown, ‘Home guard at Kohukohu’, Northern Advocate, 20 November 1940, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19401128.2.101, accessed 08/01/2020.

Unknown, Northern Advocate, 26 February 1941, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/northern-advocate/1941/02/26/2, accessed 08/01/2020.

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[1] Mark Derby, 'Conscription, conscientious objection and pacifism - Conscription', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/conscription-conscientious-objection-and-pacifism/page-1, accessed 07/ 01/2020.

[2] Nancy M. Taylor, The Home Front Volume 1, Historical Publications Branch, Wellington 1986, http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-1Hom-c12.html#name-024736-mention, accessed 07/01/2020.

[3] Unknown, ‘Home guard at Kohukohu’, Northern Advocate, 20 November 1940, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19401128.2.101, accessed 08/01/2020.

[4] Unknown, Northern Advocate, 26 February 1941, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/northern-advocate/1941/02/26/2, accessed 08/01/2020.

[5] Ian McGibbon, 'Second World War - Japan enters the war', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34574/home-guard, accessed 7/01/2020.

[6] Unknown, ‘Home Defence’, Evening Post, 19 August 1940, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19400819.2.14, accessed 07/01/2020.

[7] ‘War Work The Second World War at Home’, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/second-world-war-at-home/war-work, accessed 07/01/2020.

[8] Unknown, ‘Timber Workers’, Northern Advocate, 6 October 1942, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19421006.2.13, accessed 07/01/2020.

[9] Unknown, ‘Additional cases before appeal board’, Northern Advocate, 13 May 1943, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19430513.2.64, accessed 07/01/2020.

[10] Unknown, ‘Man-power committee’, Manawatu Standard, 27 March 1942, https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MS19420327.2.69, accessed 07/01/2020.

[11] Arthur Fryer, ‘Home Guard wielded their broomsticks with distinction’, Taranaki Daily News, 02 October 2012, http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/features/7746612/Home-Guard-wielded-their-broomsticks-with-distinction, accessed 07/01/2020.