War Commentary
| Published date | 01 January 1943 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X4301600101 |
| Date | 01 January 1943 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
VOL.
XVI, No.
1.
POLICE JOURNAL
JANUARy-MARCH,
1943
War
Commentary
THE
CIVILIAN ROLE IN BATTLE
MUCH confused thinking exists on the
"battle
role"
of the
civilian in the event of military operations taking place in this
country. From some quarters the assertion is made
that
the police and
civil defence services, and indeed every civilian, should be armed and
trained in the use of arms with which to repel and destroy the enemy.
The
ruthless tactics of the enemy and the incontrovertible fact that the
nation is fighting for its life provide widespread support for this point
of view.
It
is widely felt that all able-bodied men in every branch of
the public and civil defence services, as well as those engaged in war
industry generally, should be ready, trained and equipped to
playa
fighting role in the battle.
Astudy of all aspects of the problem;however, shows thata fighting
role can only be undertaken by those who are enrolled in units of the
Armed Forces, disciplined, organised and trained in the use of modern
weapons and led by officers trained and skilled, with a knowledge of
the enemy's tactical aims and the possible disposition of his forces.
That
this fact is recognised is indicated by the role assigned to Invasion
Committees, and the task entrusted to them in every locality to bring
the resources of the civil population to the service of the military
authorities. On many occasions it has been pointed out that whereas
in the war of
1914-18
the maintenance of every
rifleman
in the front-
line trenches required six or more men behind on the line of com-
munications, supply depots, the shipping and transport services and in
the munition factories, this number is quite inadequate to serve
the
needs of the armoured forces and the much more elaborately equipped
infantry-men who now, with the men of the Royal Armoured Corps,
form the spearhead in attack and an obstruction in defence.
The
Army perforce must carry on its establishment large numbers of men
engaged on supply, maintenance
and
transport services, not primarily
fulfilling a fighting role, nor indeed, in many cases, provided with
weapons with which to fight
if
need be.
I
B
IHE
To continue reading
Request your trial