MOUNTED RIFLES CAMP

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22662, 17 March 1939, Page 18

MOUNTED RIFLES CAMP

RECORD ATTENDANCE AT WINGATUI

GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO PRESENT GUIDON

The Third Composite Mounted Rifles Regiment, with an attached motorised i squadron of Nelson-Marlborough ; Mounted Rifles, which is now holding : its annual camp at the Wingatui racecourse. Otago, has the largest concen- ! tration of troops and horses in camp in New Zealand for many years. The regimental strength is 41 officers and ; 515 non-commissioned officers and men—an exceptionally large attendance, and easily a record since the scheme of voluntary training was introduced. Attached officers and other ranks of the New Zealand Staff Corps, New Zealand Permanent Staff, Royal New Zealand Artillery, New Zealand Army Service Corps, New Zealand Medical Corps, and employed staff bring the grand total in camp to 625. Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Nicoll, of Ashburton, is in command, with Major O. L. Ferens, E.D., second in command. The squadron leaders are Majors W. R. Christie, F. J. Brook, W. R. Pigou, Captains G- W. Logan. G. Brown, and A. Mclntosh. The regiment is formed of three rifle squadrons, two machine-gun troops, and two signal troops from the Canterbury Yoemanry Cavalry Regimental Depot and the Otago MountedRifles Regimental Depot. The latter also, supplies the light car troop. The motorised squadron of the NelsonMarlborough Mounted Rifles, which is this year attached for annual camp training, carried out part of its annual concentrated training during the trek, from Blenheim to Wingatui. It travelled in the Defence Department’s lorries and vans, bivouacing during the trip at Parnassus, Burnham, and Timaru. This squadron has recently received its first instalment of the new Bren light machine-gun, which supersedes the Hotchkiss light automatic formerly used. Governor-General to Present Guidon Next Sunday his Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, will present a guidon to the Otago Mounted Rifles. The spectacle of nearly 400 horses on parade will prove interesting to all former members of the units concerned and the general public alike. To-morrow, Colonel P. H. Bell, D.5.0., A.D.C.. N.Z.S.C., Officer Commanding the Southern Military District, will inspect the regimenf. Tactical training will be carried out next Monday, which will be the concluding day of the camp. Troops will depart by special train in the evening and the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry troops will reach Christchurch early on Tuesday morning.