FIRST DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 154, 1 July 1940, Page 3

FIRST DAY.

TRAINING SCHEME.

AUCKLAND BATTALION.

OPERATIONS AT EPSOM. The Epsom Showgrounds -was a hive of military activity this morning when the first territorial unit in the city to be mobilised under the scheme of three months' intensive training commenced operations. In all, there were about 550 men drawn from the city and suburbs, from Pukekohe in the south to Avondale in the north, and more will be joining the unit, the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment (Countese of Ranfurly's Own), during the next two weeks when results of X-ray examinations of recruits become available.

Of the 550 troops, only about 212 were in uniform and the others are to be issued with, uniform and equipment as organisation is completed. The niorning was bitterly cold and the men in civilian clothes were warmly dreesed. Football jerseys and pullovers predominated, and here and there were to be seen some men wearing plus fours. By 10 o'clock some of the organisation had reached the unit stage, men having been allotted to companies, and this was where junior officers came into the picture. To keep the eoldiers-to-be warm they were directing elementary physical training and carrying out some marching. That some of the recruits were quite raw was evident from a number of facts.

The civilian has little idea of tha scale of organisation before a unit can settle down in earnest to training. It is expected that two days at least will 'be occupied in posting men to companies, and in turn to their platoons ajid sections. While this is proceeding, rolls will be made, details taken as to pay and allotments and then will follow the issue of uniforms and equipment. On assembling thus morning the men were addressed briefly by the adjutant, Captain M. N. Wallace, on the training that lay ahead and what was required of them. Transport Tickets Issued. The first and most important detail to be attended to was the issue of transport tickets to the men—some came by tram, some by both boat and tram, and others travelled by train. Special trams carrying the destination sign "Show" left the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets at intervals from 8.10 to 8.30 a.m. to transport troops to the main gates of the showground, and at 4.40 p.m., from Monday to Friday, special trams will take the men back to the city. On Saturday mornings training will be completed so that the troops will connect with trams leaving the showground gates at 11.40. Most troopcarrying trams are to travel via Symonds Street.

Troops from the south will come by train to Green Lane station and march from there to the showground, as also will men from Howick who are brought to the Great South Road by bus. Men from. Pukekohe and Papakura are to leave their respective stations at 7.18 and 7.17 a.m., and so that those from the former district and Opaheke will reach their homes as early as possible, they will be taken by special bus to Otahuhu station to connect with the 4.20 p.m. Auckland-Frank ton train which travels via Orakei. Those whose homes are between Penrose and Papakura are to leave by train from Green Lane at 5.5 p.m. Feeding the Men. Even busier than the battalion staff in the orderly room this morning were some 20 women volunteers under the direction of Mrs. E. N. Gould. Their task was the feeding of the officers and non-commissioned officers, and judging by the preparations being made lunch was to be a good one. In addition to supervising the morning and afternoon teas and lunches for the officers and noncommissioned officers, Mrs. Gould has also to attend to similar arrangements at the Drill Hall, Rutland Street. The women volunteers have specific days on which their services are required. I

A charge of one shilling a day is made to officers end non-commissioned officers. The men are supplied with tea at one penny a cup and «they provide their own lunch. These arrangements are under the control of the Territorial Association, the secretary of which is Captain H. J. Gilmore.

On Saturday some 10 Boy Scouts assisted in clearing the dining hall and 20 women were engaged in washing crockery, teapots, jugs and so on. Beneath the main stand is situated the battalion orderly room, and full use is being made of other buildings for company orderly rooms and stores. A guard is on duty nightly.

Commanding the battalion is Lieu-tenant-Colonel C. P. Worley, V.D., who has as his second in command, Major L. M. Blyth, M.M. The company commanders are Major W. H. Fortune, Captains J. F. Hewitt, H. A. Wernham, R. Jones and Major A. R. Munro. The regimental sergeant-major is Sengeant-Major S. F. Wilson, and Sergeant-Major H. C. Stevenson is regimental quartermastersergeant.

Men who have enrolled for the battalion and have not yet been notified to attend training are advised that they should not report until notices are forwarded to them. As records from X-ray examinations come to hand notices are sent out. For instance, men who were X-rayed last week will not be sent notices until this week.