THEY ENDURED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1940, Page 5

THEY ENDURED.

GUARD DUTY MEN.

GRIM STORM EXPERIENCES.

NEW ACCOMMODATION PLANI,

Plana are under consideration by Army headquarters in Wellington for the erection of semi-permanent accommodation for the men engaged on guard duty at strategic points in the Auckland area. This fact was revealed this morning by Lion tenant-Colonel S. H. Potter, when it was suggested to him that the. men, although uncomplaining, had sobered unnecessary hardship dining the recent storm ill their present' tent, accommodation. Until headquarters has approved the project., it is impossible to give details of the proposed accommodation. Colonel Potter emphasised that the Army was doing everything it could. The story of the experiences endured by the guard duty men in Saturday night's storm particularly, and in rainy tvualher generally, emphasises the need fo* liett.er accommodation. Still more, Jfc emphasises the spirit of service ♦ hicli these men, mostly middle-aged returned soldiers, are giving, fhe.ir duty at present is unspectacular, but the men are anxious to prove they nie a« tit to-day for active service as they were in the Great War.

When tin inquiry was made from one gnniiNiimii this morning regarding thcii i'ori<lit ion". )iirt first reaction was to| dfi'lii ri' that the men were perfectly sutUliol. and that they bad no comprint . Ife admitted that they had had "n. t• >11"j-11 time on Saturday nijjht," but aviih eajjer to have it known that the men were not complaining about that. It, wan found elsewhere, however, that the phrase "tough time" hardly covered the actual situation.

Soaked by Rain. The worst aspect was at a post which is situated on reclaimed ground which juts out into the harbour and has sea on three sides. During Saturday's easterly storm the wind drove straight up the harbour and about the tents in which the men were accommodated. There are about 50 men at the camp and there are 22 tents. The men worked four-hour reliefs at the various sentry posts and there they have no sentry boxes or shelter of any kind. They are equipped with the ordinary military ground sheet cape and great coats; but the rain drove under the capes and the men came down from their posts wet through.

They had their tents then for shelter, | but most of these were damp and as there are no drying facilities, the men had again to put on their wet clothing the following day. Yet there were no complaints and—a tribute to their one man has yet reported sick.

The events of the night were not comjileted with the experiences of the men g on actual guard duty. At the height of the gale the big marquee began to give before the wind. The eastern side started to lift and the *nen were called , out to hold it down by main strength. However, the wind got underneath it and the eastern side was tattered. It , appeared that the whole tent would be blown away, when suddenly the wind ' changed round to the west. That saved it. Until then the west side had been protected, and it stood up to the further buffeting. The eastern side of the marquee was badly ripped, but, patched up the following day, it is still giving service. Tent Pegs Replaced. All the tents stood up to the storm, due largely to the initiative of the men in replacing the ordinary army tent pegs, which are about 9in long, with pegs they cut themselves about 3ft in length and 3iti by 2in in other dimensions. Some of the tents are fairly aged, and, with driving rain, they were damp on the windward side. Somewhat similar experiences were , suffered by the men at other guard) ; duty points in the Auckland area; but I none of these is as exposed in position as that the oil tanks. |