MOTORISED UNIT AT BLENHEIM

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22245, 9 November 1937, Page 16

MOTORISED UNIT AT BLENHEIM

FIELD-TRAINING OPERATIONS [THE PRESS Special Service.] BLENHEIM, November 8. Field-training operations were undertaken during the week-end by the re-cently-formed motorised mounted rifle squadron in Marlborough, the first of its kind to be formed in the South Island. The squadron’s complement comprises 23 motor-cycles, seven cars, 14 light trucks, and one heavy truck, and its present armament is four heavy machine-guns, eight light machineguns, and rifles, giving a concentrated fire of more than 5000 rounds a minute. The operations were undertaken largely as an experiment and proved highly successful. A great deal of valuable information was secured. There was a parade of more than bu under the command of Major W. K. Pigou. The squadron assembled in the town and the first portion of the programme was devoted to drill in tne movement of the vehicles, working up from troop to squadron drill. The remainder of the day was taken up by an advance guard scheme which necessitated the holding of the Wairau bridge, beyond Renwick, against an imaginary force. With a light car troop acting as the vanguard and the motor-cycles scouting ahead, the squadron took up positions at the bridge. . A similar movement was undertaken along the Tuamarina track to luamarina, from where the whole column moved together into the town. Similar exercises are to be undertaken in the future, including a concentration for the defence of Pmton harbour and for the defence of tne Blind. river cable station.