The Story of The Volunteer Defence Corps

A History of the Corps

Australia's situation in the Second World War has been very curious and at times almost uncanny. The shadow of everything that has happened to the people of Britain has hung heavily over those of Australia and from gin earlier period than many imagine. For instance, the threat of invasion did not first come from Japan. Now that we can afford to look back and say openly what we felt in the dark days of 1940, we remember that at one stage, when Hitler was carrying out with devastating success the first part of his programme for marching round the continents, it looked very much as if the world, as we knew it, would go to pieces, and Australia would be left as one of the fragments, hanging precariously from the tip of southern Asia, with no defence left except the national will to hold on.

Then a new and nearer shadow loomed up. To those who listened to the promptings of their instincts (and no race of men can have real national vigour unless its instincts have remained strong and alert) it was obvious that one day Japan would strike. She would come into the war either as a fisher in troubled waters-after long practice in calmer waters in the days when her pearlers were busy charting Australia's northern and north-western seas-or else in fulfilment of her pact with the European members of the Axis.

Thus, even before the Japanese struck at Pearl Harbour', before Malaya passed into the terrible shadow of enemy occupation, before Singapore fell and the Dutch East Indies were overwhelmed, those long threatening shadows reached across the world towards this island continent of ours, which had never felt the direct impact of war and which had once seemed so happily remote from the violences and the fierce social stresses of an older and less fortunate world. By a curious decree of destiny nothing more than the edge of these shadows has ever reached us; but they have come so close that we have been able to discern the sinister shapes that projected them.

We have been like men watching through a glass wall a host of savages peering through the fragile partition, uttering fierce cries and threatening at any moment to shatter the glass. And yet it has never been broken, though small portions of it have been cracked at Darwin and elsewhere in the north. The savages are still outside there to-day; and though we feel surer now that they will not break through, we know that we still stand in the very midst of war.

THE VETERANS

It was natural that the men who had fought in the Great War of 1914-18 should realize from the beginning what all these shadows meant; and some years before Japan launched her first treacherous attack they had begun to prepare for invasion. Their experience had taught them that in a world war anything can happen; they had seen the Germans break through early in 1918 and knew what power lay behind that thrust.

Thus it came about that in the initial stages of the war the nucleus of the present Volunteer Defence Corps had already been provided by the Returned Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen's Imperial League of Australia, which body, from its inception, had consistently advocated the maintenance of a defence force in Australia adequate for the needs of the country.

At the Twenty-Second Annual Congress of the League held at Hobart in November 1937, the following resolution was adopted and submitted to the Minister for Defence:

"That Congress deems it necessary that a national volunteer defence force be raised from ex-servicemen and others between the ages Of 41 and 6o years for local defence and to relieve existing forces from certain necessary duties in the event of a national emergency."

In January 1938 the Minister advised the League:

"That as funds for defence purposes are limited it is in the interests of the security of Australia that the Government should give priority to the training of men of military age and to the provision of weapons and ammunition. The need for the utilization of the services in war of all fit males up to 6o years of age is fully recognized and is provided for in the Defence Act. The duties which the older men can perform to relieve the existing forces are of a comparatively simple nature and ex-servicemen and members of rifle clubs should find little difficulty in becoming reasonably proficient with a very short period of training."

This reply was considered at a meeting of the Federal Executive of the League in Sydney in April 1938, and early in June of that year the abovementioned resolution was re-affirmed and again submitted to the Minister for Defence, who, in reply, stated:

"That the circumstances governing this matter are unchanged and I am still of the opinion that while funds are limited it is better to concentrate on the training of the younger men rather than refresh the older whose experience in military matters should enable them to take over such duties as they might be called upon to perform with comparatively little training."

Notwithstanding the fact that the League's proposals were unacceptable to the Government at that stage, it is significant that in December 1938 the Minister advised the League that he had approved of the appointment of a Committee to examine the possibility of making extended use of the services of experienced men of 1914-18 as a potential reserve for war and to suggest a suitable method of organizing such personnel if the proposition appeared feasible.

The Minister outlined the proposed composition of the Committee, which was to be under the chairmanship of the Inspector General of the Australian Military Forces (the late Lieutenant-General E. K. Squires, C.B., D.S.O., M.C.) and asked the League to nominate a representative of the Federal Executive as a member. General Sir Harry Chauvel, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., was appointed accordingly as the League representative and the Committee's recommendations, having received Government approval, were announced in a press statement in March 1939.

Briefly, these recommendations, as far as they affected the eventual formation of the V.D.C., were as under:

(a) That the terms of reference be extended to cover consideration of the whole problem of reserves for the Australian Military Forces.

(b) That ex-servicemen of British and other Dominion armies be included in the proposals.

(c) That a reserve of two classes be formed: Class "A", comprising physically fit men between the ages of 18 and 45 for front-line units. Class "B", comprising men between the ages of 45 and 6o for garrison battalions and for line of communication, administrative, and training units.

(d) That both classes of the reserve be open to ex-soldiers who have served since the war in any of the military forces of the Empire, as well as to ex-servicemen.

(e) That class "A" be recruited by existing Militia units.

(f) That ex-war-servicemen who are still under the age of 45 be permitted to enlist direct into class "B" should they prefer to do so.

(g) That personnel for garrison battalions be nominated exclusively by the League.

(h) That other personnel in class "B" be recruited normally by the League but that direct acceptance by units of certain classes of men be permitted.

(i) That the sole outside authority recognized by the Defence Department in recruiting for the reserve should be the League.

(j) That, for the present, no limit be placed on numbers to be enrolled.

wherever required and almost immediately the garrison battalions were used to replace units of the A.M.F. on such duties, thus relieving the latter for service in more active theatres.

Thus was effected the object of the resolution adopted by Congress in 1937

THE R.S.L. VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS

With the enlistment for active service of garrison and reserve garrison battalions from the Army Reserve, the League's responsibilities and activities in regard to the Reserve, as such, were perforce considerably lessened if not, in effect, terminated.

Whilst it was realized that, because of limitations in regard to age and degree of physical fitness, the number of ex-servicemen capable of again serving abroad under active service conditions was relatively small, it was thought that a very great number would be prepared, in a purely voluntary capacity and on a part-time basis, to undergo training with the object of assisting in the defence of this country from invasion should the necessity arise.

Shortly after the appointment in March 1940 of the late General Sir Brudenell White, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., K.C.V.0., D.S.O., as Chief of the General Staff, the Federal President interviewed him several times concerning the matter and advised him that there was ample evidence from State branches, sub-branches, and individuals that a ready response would be forthcoming immediately such a scheme was inaugurated.

With this in mind the Federal Executive of the League at a meeting on the 3 1 st May, 1940, had no hesitation in deciding that a Commonwealth-wide organization of ex-servicemen for home defence purposes be established and that a scheme with that object be formulated forthwith.

Such decision was immediately conveyed to the Prime Minister.

As is generally the case when any really worthwhile scheme is put forward, particularly one to which the Government and the citizen is not asked to contribute financial support, criticism followed the announcement of the League's decision.

To allay such criticism and to disperse any thought that there might be a "nigger in the woodpile" in connection with the scheme, the Federal President on the 4th June issued the following statement to the press:

BRIG.-GEN. L. C. WILSON,
C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., VD.

"As the objects and ideals of the Returned Soldiers' League are synonymous with the principles of constitutional government its actions and conduct will continue to be in strict conformity with the laws of the Commonwealth; therefore any plan designed to ensure the preservation of the security of Australia, formulated by the Federal Executive, will not be implemented unless it is approved by the Federal Government."

The League's proposal met with instant approval by the Commonwealth Government and, on the 5th June, the Minister for the Army made the following press announcement:

"A scheme has been drawn up by which it was thought the League could best help Australia's war effort. The scheme, in which all the preliminary arrangements would be carried out within the League itself, was as follows:

"The League would arrange with its sub-branches to organize members into two classes, 'A' and 'B', the 'B' class being those less physically fit.

The 'A' class -would form an Army Reserve to be classified into specialist groups; for example, signallers and machine gunners. Once established, these groups would merge into battalions on an establishment which the Department of the Army would provide. The Army could then, as required, provide for the absorption of a considerable number in home defence, including the manning of forts. "The Commonwealth Government cannot provide any quartering, arms, uniforms, pay or instructors for these men unless conditions make it necessary for the battalions actually to be absorbed.

"To get the organization into actual being, not on paper but in fact, should, I think, be the first task of the League so that if the need arises the Department of the Army can look to the League with assurance to provide certain classes of men who can be sent to instructional courses so that they may themselves be used as instructors in A.I.F. or Militia camps to release men for the A.I.F. overseas. For this there may well be an increasing demand.

"The 'A' class men should in the meantime try to increase their physical fitness. Continued support of the organization and the interests of their fellows generally might be the best task of the 'B' class men in the meantime.

"Unofficial defence forces cannot be considered but this organization suggested for the League is one (approved by the Department of the Army) which can have a very real place in the home defence organization. The League, I have not the slightest doubt, will answer promptly and effectively, as its members did to their everlasting renown twenty years ago."

Resulting from a further consultation between the Federal President and the Chief of the General Staff, held on the 6th June, it was decided to appoint a sub-committee, comprising representatives of the General Staff, the Adjutant-General's staff, and the General Secretary of the League, to meet under the direction of Sir Brudenell White for the purpose of expediting finalization of the scheme and ensuring its inauguration at the earliest possible date.

With definite action assured, the Federal President, on the 6th June, issued the following press statement:

"The Returned Soldiers' League eagerly and proudly embraces the opportunity to arrange for the returned men, including their ex-Imperial comrades, to render such vital, in fact, indispensable service for the defence of Australia.

"These men will enthusiastically welcome the chance of resuming their service to the Empire, which the order 'to cease fire' terminated over twenty years ago. The details of the scheme, authorized during the discussions with the Minister for the Army and the Chief of the General Staff, are under consideration, and when determined the approved plan will be sent to State branches for promulgation and appropriate action by the 1300 sub-branches of the League.

MAJ.-GEN. H. G. BENNETT,
C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.

"The experience and knowledge of warfare, derived from their participation in the last war, will enable ex-servicemen to make the Army Reserve an effective force in the defence of this country.

"The Government, which has always had the organization and the resources of the League at its disposal for the successful prosecution of the war, can rest assured that the League will prove worthy of its trust and responsibility to promote and safeguard the security of the Commonwealth.

"The Sub-committee met at Victoria Barracks on the 11th June, 1940. Its task was to formulate plans for the Australian Army Reserve, to include principles, proposed methods of employment, organization, establishments, administration and training, and its recommendations were:

MAJ.-GEN.
SIR J. GELLIBRAND,
K.C.B., D.S.O.

1. That class "A" and class "B" of the Australian Army Reserves as constituted at present remain so constituted.

2. That the age limits for class "A" reservists be extended to 48 years; that no person belonging to a reserved industry or occupation be included in class "A" unless he is required for a tradesman's appointment in the unit; and that all class "A" reservists be medically examined. The standard of medical fitness required for class "A" be "fit for active service". Class "A" reservists

should be posted to definite sub-units and units of the Citizen Forces and carry out such home training as is laid down for the units with which they are serving.

3- Class "B" reserves to be subdivided into
two portions:

(a) Garrison battalion reserves.

(b) R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps.

4. Garrison reserves to consist of reserves for existing garrison battalions and for the formation of reserve garrison battalions. Personnel in this portion of "B" class reserves are to enlist for the duration of the war and to be definitely allotted as reserves to active garrison battalions or to reserve garrison battalions. Reserve garrison battalions should be linked with active garrison battalions for training and administration. Training should be of the same duration as is prescribed for the home training of the Citizen Forces.

5. The "R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps" to be organized by the R.S.S. & A.I.L.A. on flexible establishments approved by Army Headquarters and should carry out such voluntary training as can be mutually arranged between G.O.C and State branches of the League in association with the existing area organization.

The League, when the organization of these units is completed, to advise areas with which they are associated of personnel available and eligible for posting to units of the active forces on mobilization in accordance with their qualifications and standards of physical fitness. A distinguishing), badge or armlet should be worn by personnel of the R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps when attending parades or carrying out other duties required of them. Instructions for training for the R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps should be issued by Army Headquarters after consultation with the League,

BRIG.-GEN. R. L. LEANE,
CB, CMG, DSO, MC, VD.

That the League be asked to nominate as early as possible personnel with specialized and other instructional qualifications with a view to their appointment as instructors at A.I.F. and other training depots.

On the 14th June, 1940, the Federal President of the League received advice that the Minister for the Army had approved of the formation of the R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps in terms of the Committee's recommendation.

State branches were informed by telegram on the same day and organization commenced forthwith.

On the i5th June the following communication -,vas received from the Prime Minister:

"I desire to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 1st June, conveying the terms of a Resolution adopted by the Federal Executive of the League at its meeting on 1st June, having reference to the proposal to establish a Commonwealth-wide organization of ex-servicemen for home defence purposes. I wish to express the Government's appreciation of the spirit which prompted the proposal of the Federal Executive. This action is in keeping with the manner in which the League has invariably approached national problems. You will have noticed the announcement of a scheme prepared by the Department of the Army in relation to this matter."

As a result of the Prime Minister's message from this period onwards a fresh impetus was given to the League's activities and the organization of the Corps grew apace.

Its training, however, was severely handicapped for a considerable time to come by lack of instructors and essential equipment. This lack of equipment, however, gave members a grand opportunity to display their initiative in the production of improvised equipment of all types while awaiting the advent of the real thing. The spirit and energy with which this matter was tackled from the outset has remained an outstanding feature of the Corps to this day.

LEADERS

To give prestige to the Corps a great name was needed. Nor was it hard to find. That fine old soldier, General Sir Harry Chauvel, G.C.M.G., K.C.B., who in the Great War had led the largest body of cavalry in modern history was appointed by the League, with the concurrence of the Minister for the Army, to be Inspector-in-Chief of the Corps and his interest in it has never waned since the date of his appointment.

Similarly a number of notable soldiers of the last war were selected to be Corps Commanders in the various States: Brigadier General L. C. Wilson, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., was the first Corps Commander in Queensland; Major-General H. Gordon Bennett, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., in New South Wales; Major-General Sir John Gellibrand, K.C.B., D.S.O., in Victoria; Brigadier-General R. L. Leane, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.C., V.D., in South Australia; Brigadier-General A. J. Bessell-Browne, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., in Western Australia, and the late Lieutenant-Colonel L. M. Mullen, C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D., in Tasmania.

BRIG.-GEN.
A. J. BESSELL-BROWNE,
CB, CMG., DSO., VD.

With leaders such as these the successful establishment of the Corps was assured from the outset and to them and their successors and their subordinate leaders of all grades a debt of gratitude is due, not only from the members of the Corps, but from the people of Australia for a duty well done.

INAUGURAL PARADES

Up to this time the formation of the Corps had gone steadily onward in an unobtrusive way and the community generally had little knowledge of its growth. It was felt that the organization was far enough advanced and that the time had come to bring its activities more in the public eye. A series of ceremonial parades was held in each State at which the Inspector-in-Chief took the opportunity of making personal contact with members.

In October 1940, at the first parade held in Adelaide, 5,000 men marched past and in the following month 6,000 were reviewed by His Excellency the Governor-General, in Sydney, while the Inspector-in-Chief took the salute from 2,000 men on parade in Perth. The attendances at these parades, in view of the fact that the greater part of the Corps was then, as now, raised in the country centres, were a clear indication of the universal desire of ex-servicemen to join up and augured well for the future.

The public recognition of the efforts of the Corps was shown by press reports and otherwise to be all that could be desired and the parades did a great deal to weld the Corps into a firm organization and to offset the disappointment which then prevailed among all ranks that uniform, equipment, and training facilities were far short of what they desired; and more important still that the role allotted to the Corps still remained far short of what members generally felt they could perform if the means were made available to them. By the definite evidence thus provided also recruitment for the Corps was stimulated and despite all difficulties the Corps had quite a large membership by the end of 1940, at which time the League supplied to the Army the following figures as to the membership in the various States:

Queensland, 6,000;

New South Wales, 12,000;

Victoria, 6,000;

South Australia, 8,000;

Western Australia, 4,000;

Tasmania, 1,000;

Australian Capital Territory, 120;

TOTAL, 37,120.

All this time Army Headquarters was pressing the War Cabinet for a big call-up of troops. Only the 18 to 25-year old classes had been called up for service. It was not till Japan had struck that the Government decided to extend the call-up to the older classes of men. Consequently, the military authorities had so many pre-occupations in respect of the A.I.F. and C.M.F. that they were not able at that juncture to undertake the additional responsibility of raising the V.D.C.

The Corps asked for uniforms but the Military Board could not grant them until the A.I.F. and C.M.F. had been fully provided for. The V.D.C. was thus advancing on little more than the sheer enthusiasm of its personnel. Its aims and its needs were continuously kept under the notice of the Army and the Government, in season and out, by the Federal President of the League, and also by the various State executives and local branches and by the Inspector-in-Chief.

Its cause was continually brought to notice of the public by the press, which was quick to sense the potential value to Australia which would arise from full encouragement of the scheme, and has continued to give it wide publicity.

LT.-COL. L. A MULLEN,
C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.

Early in 1941 the leaders of the Returned Soldiers' League realized that if the maximum value was to be obtained from the R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps it should become an integral portion of the Australian Military Forces. Accordingly the League requested that consideration be given by the Government to its being taken over by the Army.

Consultations to that end took place between the Federal President and the Chief of the General Staff (Lieutenant-General V. A. H. Sturdee, C.B.E., D.S.O., who had succeeded to that appointment on the untimely death of General White) as a result of which a scheme was prepared for consideration by the Government which approved "That the R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps be constituted as adjunct to the A.M.F. under the operational and administrative control of the Army".

Just prior to this, it had been decided to appoint a Director of the R.S.L. Volunteer Defence Corps on the staff of the Adjutant General (Major-General V. P. H. Stantke, O.B.E.) and at a meeting of State Presidents on the 27th February it was resolved that the name of Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. Murphy, C.M.G., D.S.O., be submitted as the nominee of the League for this appointment, which was approved by the Government.

Colonel Murphy, who was at the time President of the League in New South Wales, was an officer who had served with distinction in the last war, and applied himself to the problems of the change-over from League to Army control with characteristic energy and ability. In no small measure it was due to his work at this period that the change-over was so successfully made and the foundation laid for the future progress of the Corps.

COLONEL G. F. MURPHY, C.M.G., D.S.O.

TOWARDS A "HOMEGUARD"

In May 1941 a Military Board instruction was issued constituting the "Volunteer Defence Corps" with the alternative title of the "Home Guard" as an integral portion of the A.M.F. It gave the V.D.C. a definite operational role. It was to give timely warning of enemy movements to higher formations; to be responsible for the immediate defence of home localities, including places of employment; and it was to be trained in guerrilla warfare. Nevertheless a long period was to elapse and many details as to special conditions of service, equipment, and training still had to be "thrashed out" before the Corps achieved full recognition and became accepted as part of the Army by all staffs and units of the A.M.F. and A.I.F. and by the Government and the people in the full and complete measure that
exists to-day.

Events overseas brought about a very drastic change in the outlook towards the Corps and its employment. Lack of adequate defence in depth on the part of the Allies had given Hitler immense advantages everywhere. In every system of defence there is a weaker spot. If the enemy can make a gap there and widen that gap, the stronger points can be isolated and reduced at leisure.

The stronger areas are necessarily far in advance of the threatened city or district and often the goal can be more easily reached by the attacker if he by-passes the stronger areas.

One way of countering the Nazi technique-and the Russians have demonstrated it admirably-is to have all areas provided with guerrillas or their equivalent, who can harass the enemy when he has broken through and force him to pay a bitter price for every foot of ground.

That had been realized by the British when, after the fall of France, an extempore Home Guard had been organized on the spot in Great Britain. Every man became a potential soldier and was asked to provide himself, if he could, with at least a shotgun.

This was no longer war between armies but a fight to the death between nations, and all the citizens in the nation had to be ready to defend their native soil.

BRIGADIER
T. E. WEAVERS,
O.B.E.

That was how the British Home Guard came into existence; and as the Japanese menace came nearer it was obvious that we should be compelled to take advantage of Britain's drastic experience.

AFTER JAPAN STRUCK

Let us take a look at the progress the V.D.C. had made three months after Japan had entered the war. The establishment and strength had increased by nearly two-thirds and such was the desire to join up that eventually the original establishment was doubled. The corps and group commanders with their staffs had been called up for fulltime duty. Each battalion also had been given a full-time nucleus staff. The character of the organization had completely changed.

From being regarded merely as a means of recruiting for the Militia and the garrison battalions, it had become part of the Citizen Military Forces with well-defined operational roles. But it was still a voluntary organization, with many points of contact with the civil community not experienced by other branches of the Australian Military Forces and there were many problems peculiar to it.

Thanks to their close association with ex-servicemen's organizations and long military experience, the leaders of the Corps were able to counter to a considerable extent the impatience and distrust of members (which were freely expressed in many letters to the press and their local members of Parliament), arising from the very great delay which had elapsed in fully implementing the approvals given by the War Cabinet for issues of clothing, equipment, etc. This delay arose not, as was alleged, from lethargy of the authorities but rather from sheer inability at the time to produce the goods. The deep-seated reason had of course to be found in lack of provision and preparation for war by the whole community in past years.

Things had to move, and they moved at last. Before another year had passed practically all the causes of complaint had been removed. The Corps was slowly but surely receiving adequate supplies of uniforms, arms, and equipment, and was being efficiently trained. It had its own officers and its own full-time staff (mostly recruited from members who previously served in the normal voluntary way), not only for Corps, Group, and Battalion H.Q. but also for schools, courses, and mobile training cadres. In addition, vacancies at many of the Army Schools of Instruction were allotted to V.D.C. men, where they trained side by side with A.I.F. and A.M.F., and thus were enabled to achieve higher standards of skill in all subjects required by their role.

On the 5th April, 1942, Colonel Murphy having been appointed Provost Marshal, his place was taken by Brigadier T. E. Weavers, O.B.E.-the present Director-an officer of the Australian Staff Corps, who brought to his new duties the regular officer's grasp of the military situation, coupled with a rare capacity to appreciate the peculiar problems of the V.D.C.

The remainder is current history; we can now leave the question of the Corps' general evolution and pass on to some of those more intimate close-ups which are not only more interesting but characteristic of an organization based on individual effort, co-operative comradeship, and the cheerful will to serve. The real history of the V.D.C. is a history of men rather than of conferences and controversies and military memoranda.

CAPTAIN A. C. DIBDIN

THE HUMAN ELEMENT

In other words, what matters most in this summarized review of V.D.C. activities in Australia is the human element. And what a fine element it has been in every way. The growth of the movement was spontaneous and the men who fostered it in its infancy and provided its first personnel, the men of the R.S.S. & A.I.L.A., belonged to a generation that had had admirable training in the art of being human and efficient simultaneously. They still constitute the backbone of the Corps and include the great majority of its officers and non-commissioned officers.

Nevertheless, owing to the effluxion of time, the enlistment of thousands of the original members on full-time duty in garrison battalions and other portions of the A.M.F., and the fact that the original establishment of the Corps had been doubled to cope with the additional responsibilities allotted to the Corps as its role was extended with the increasing threat to the homeland, it was obviously necessary to open the ranks to men who had not seen previous service. Accordingly, approval was given for the enlistment in the Corps of younger men engaged in reserved occupations and protected industries.

Volunteers of this type were readily available, consisting of men who would undoubtedly have been the first to apply for the A.I.F. if they had not unhappily been prevented from front-line service by the restriction imposed by their civil avocations. This extension, however, has had an excellent effect by reducing the average age and physical attributes of members of the Corps and thus enabling the standard of training to be progressively increased to within reasonable physical measure of that carried out by the active forces.

Moreover, in town and country alike, it is the human element that has given the V.D.C. its greatest value and its most enduring attractiveness. In it men from all walks of life meet on a footing of equality and true comradeship. In country towns and districts particularly it often provides the best sort of meeting ground that could possibly be found, where the lonely worker from the one-man farm can become fast friends with the local doctor or the banker or the curate; where the mayor is possibly a private and the editor of the local newspaper a commander; where the man who has never worked with his hands learns to crawl on them; where superfluous avoirdupois is worked off by contact with one's hard native soil; where men cease to be mere representatives of the various social and professional categories and become what their ancestors were in the early days: simple Australians facing primitive problems and finding in themselves the necessary initiative to cope with them.

You may have seen an illustrated booklet published in England and entitled The Home Guard of Britain.

It shows men at one moment minding sheep and at another moment marching through a picturesque village with tin hats on their heads and rifles slung across their shoulders; men training at one stage with broomsticks and at another with the most modem military weapons; a mechanic working a heavy machine in an arms factory and then parading as a corporal in the Home Guard unit attached to his factory; a chemical engineer with a test tube held up to the light, appearing on the same page with a rifle held in most aggressive fashion and the three stripes of a platoon sergeant on his arm; a vegetable gardener lying beside an artist, in the full panoply of war and covering a road with a light automatic; a respectable British citizen disguised as a shrub; men of various professions climbing an obstacle with ropes, in much the same way as a Pacific islander climbs a coconut tree.

BRIGADIER
E. H. W. MEYERS, M.C.

Make the necessary changes and adaptations and there you have a close-up of the V.D.C. at work.

HONORARY COLONELS

From the very early stages of the development of the Corps Their Excellencies the Governors, in all States, had shown the keenest interest in it and took every opportunity of giving encouragement to it during their visits to the various centres in their States. On being invited by His Excellency the Governor General to accept appointments as Honorary Colonels of the Corps, their response was immediate and it was a proud day for the Corps when, on the 6th May, 1943, their appointments as Honorary Colonels were notified.

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

In July 1943 the Corps reached its third anniversary, when approval was given to mark this event by the holding of ceremonial and church parades at all convenient centres throughout the Commonwealth. This provided the first opportunity for the State Governors to make contact with many units of the Corps in their capacity as Honorary Colonels by taking the salute at the important parades in the capital cities. They were much impressed with the turn-out and bearing of the men and the tremendous progress that had been made in clothing and equipment since the holding of similar ceremonial parades in 1940.

LEADERS AND MEN OF THE V.D.C.

It is fitting here to say a little more about the men and their leaders. Only one State, South Australia, has its original Corps Commander. In other States, owing to commanders having reached the age for retirement or received other appointments, etc., the original command has changed as indicated hereunder:

In Queensland, Captain A. C. Dibdin was in command from 1st June, 1941, to 9th December, 1941. Brigadier E. H. W. Meyers, M.C. and 2 bars, took over on the 13th March, 1942, and remains in command.

In New South Wales, there have been several changes, Brigadier-General J. Heane, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., Major-General J. D. Richardson, D.S.O., V.D., and Brigadier V. T. England, D.S.O., E.D., the present Commander, who was appointed direct from an A.I.F. brigade, have in turn held the appointment.

Sufficient space is not available to mention by name officers on the staffs of Corps H.Q., group commanders and their staffs and battalion officers. The Corps has been rich in leadership throughout all grades and one and all have rendered yeoman service.

We mentioned earlier that the V.D.C. was constituted by ex-servicemen. The unusual conditions imposed upon Australia by the Pacific war have brought about a profound change. The reservation and protection of certain industries and professions left many younger men out of the fighting services but eager to serve; and the dangerous position in

which Australia found itself made it necessary to have all points guarded, particularly centres of production (including farms as well as factories). For this reason the older men have been greatly outnumbered and the average age of V.D.C. men to-day is 35 - of those enrolled, probably nine-tenths are in reserved or protected industries. The others are mainly older men, ranging as high even as the sixties (the retiring age is 65)

Thanks to the preponderance of younger men, it has been possible to intensify the training and bring it on the same lines as that of the A.I.F.-and they now have the same weapons, which is most heartening when you think of the "ersatz" arms of the Corps' early days, the "dummies", the improvised mortars and machine guns, the ingenious imitations of military vehicles. All these substitutes, however, were produced by human enthusiasm, and deserve recording in any history of the V.D.C. just as any history of Australia would be imperfect and ungrateful if it failed to dwell lovingly on the work of the pioneers.

Of the Corps' present officers and N.C.0s, the greater majority have successfully completed Army courses of instruction under instructors: belonging to the A.I.F. or the A.M.F.; and during the year 1943 the V.D.C. has been allowed an active part In the country's defence system. It has provided personnel for manning in emergency anti-aircraft guns, guns for coast defence, and searchlights. Eventually nearly all the metropolitan units of the Corps will be thus engaged and will in this way relieve many thousands of full-time duty personnel engaged on this work, so that they can be transferred to service in operational areas, as has been done in Britain. The work of V.D.C. men *in this respect has been excellent and has earned high praise from the officers in charge of the guns and searchlights.

JUSTIFICATION

There is no need here to go into details of the varied types of training undergone by members of the Corps, which are set forth from various angles elsewhere in the present publication. Suffice to say that the V.D.C. has done its job and done it well, adapting itself admirably to the special requirements of home defence in a country like Australia, with its vast areas and its inadequate means of transport; with its lonely places and its limited manpower.

The Corps will continue to render the national service required of it with the same enthusiasm and efficiency as long as the necessity exists. It has acquired a true esprit de corps soundly based on that type of self-discipline which springs from the spirit of unselfish service combined with a full measure of that intelligence and initiative which has made the name of the Australian fighting man famous in every theatre of war.

BRIGADIER
V.T.ENGLAND,
D.S.O., E.D.

It is of interest to note that punishments are foreign to the Corps and are entirely absent from the special conditions of service under which it is constituted. The V.D.C. is highly appreciated by the active front-line A.I.F. and C.M.F. units, whose co-operation has been generous and magnificent throughout. Wherever a V.D.C. unit has found itself near such a unit the latter's instructors have put themselves at its disposal and non-commissioned officers of A.I.F. units have in many cases even become so interested in the work of the V.D.C. that they have given up their week-end leave to help in the work of instruction. The same remarks apply to the R.A.A.F., which, has cooperated in a way that goes beyond possibility of description in the scope of the present article. Needless to say the benefits have been mutual and many a unit has to thank the V.D.C. for help in solving local problems.

Nevertheless, the movement has not lacked critics: people who accused it of wasting its time (whether they were wasting their own time or not is another matter); and this sort of criticism has become more widespread in recent months, now that the danger of invasion seems more remote.

Let the men of the V.D.C. go back to productive occupations, these carping critics say.

They forget that a large proportion of V.D.C. men are farmers and farm workers. Surely the latter are engaged in productive occupations. And surely even the farmer has to have some leisure. If he is willing to find his recreation in V.D.C. training, who among the critics is entitled to cast the first stone? Moreover, the Corps is doing what some of these critics fall wholly to do: its work serves to remind the people of Australia that though the Japanese menace is now more remote, it still exists.

MAJ.-GEN.
J. D. RICHARDSON,
D.S.O., V.D.

While ever Australia fights, her defence in depth has to be assured and the V.D.C. exists to guarantee it.

GENERAL BLAMEY SPEAKS

But an abler pen than the present one has eloquently defended the V.D.C. against doubts and criticisms and we cannot do better than quote from a special letter addressed by General Sir Thomas Blamey, G.B.E., K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. (Commander Allied Land Forces in South-west Pacific Area and Commander in Chief, Australian Military Forces), to all V.D.C. commanders at a time some were beginning to think that our improving military situation made the Corps and its work superfluous.

In July 1943 the Commander-in Chief wrote:

BRIG.-GEN. C. H. FOOTT,
C.B, C.M.G.

"I have been somewhat concerned to hear that members of the Volunteer Defence Corps are raising the question as to whether the Prime Minister's recent statement concerning the safety of Australia from invasion implies that they may relax the splendid efforts which they have been making to carry out the important duties allotted to them. It is my desire that all members be assured that the Volunteer Defence Corps, by its very existence, has contributed directly and in no small measure to the state of affairs which enabled the Prime Minister to indicate his satisfaction with the comparative state of safety from invasion which now exists....

"This state of security can only remain while we have and maintain adequate forces in this country to preserve it, and if we are to make ourselves entirely safe from any threat which the enemy may make it can only be by the taking of offensive action on a steadily increasing scale. Before any such offensive action can be undertaken it is obvious that our own base, Australia, must itself be firmly held and the V.D.C. is one of the forces we rely on to keep it free from danger.

"While under present circumstances threat of invasion of this country has been reduced, the uncertainty of war and its surprises are such that the threat may come again. Until the enemy is entirely defeated the security of the Australian Commonwealth must be constantly assured and we must allow none of our essential defence measures to deteriorate through a false and self-satisfying sense of safety.

"Whatever course the war may take, the purpose and responsibility of the V.D.C. remain as important as ever and consequently the need to increase its morale and fighting efficiency to the highest possible level.... On the approaching third anniversary of the formation of the Corps I desire that you will communicate to all ranks my true appreciation of the great part they have played towards maintaining the morale and determination to win of the community in general.

LT.-GEN. J. L. WHITHAM,
C.M.G., D.S.O.

This they have done by the steady increase in their fighting efficiency, by their commendable standard of self-discipline and, most of all, by their example of unselfish service."

TO-DAY AND TOMORROW
In a public statement on the occasion of the third anniversary of the Corps the Prime Minister of Australia emphasized to the people generally what the Commander-in-Chief said to the Corps, and it still holds good to-day; for the Japanese enemy has not yet been defeated; he has only been checked. It will hold good for a long time. And in a special way it will hold good even after the pride of the Japanese warlords and their European allies has been completely humbled. We do not wish to imply by this that the V.D.C. will have to continue after the war; but its example must live on.

For it would be dangerous to imagine that all our difficulties will vanish with the passing of war's black shadow. The post-war period will for long be a period of conflict, a struggle against all the problems created by the most devastating war in history. We went to war unprepared; we cannot afford to move back into peace with a similar lack of foresight.

We have to solve social, economic, and cultural problems that in the sleepy days of a precarious peace we were all too ready to shelve, thinking that time was on our side and that history could wait. History will not wait, and all the things for which we are fighting will still have to be defended when the military conflict is over.

Those things cannot be defended unless we are, as a community, alert and unselfish and eager to serve. Democracy is being tested at present and is successfully, if painfully, enduring the test as far as defence is concerned. But there is a further test to come.

COLONEL W.B. ROBINSON,
D.C.M, ED.

Morale is largely a matter of self-forgetting for the the sake of something greater than one's self and the men
- who have given up their leisure to V.D.C. training,
- who have left their week-end lawn-mowing or their golf to crawl through long grass and dusty paddocks and handle weapons of war;
- who have walked miles to a training centre and then walked home again; who have spent their spare time watching in lonely places;
- who have stood guard over crashed planes; who have rounded up enemy prisoners; who have repaired damaged aerodromes;
- who have taken all these things in their stride and still carried on with their civil occupations;
- who have, above all, learnt to appreciate the deep humanity of men different from themselves in a multitude of ways and have proved to themselves the truth of Robert Bums's dictum that "a man's a man for a' that"

LT-COL D CAMERON,OBE, MC