SOLDIERS FOR OVERSEAS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23807, 28 November 1942, Page 4

SOLDIERS FOR OVERSEAS

LAST DRAFT FROM CANTERBURY CONDUCT OF MEN PRAISED The behaviour while on leave in Christchurch of the last draft of men for the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, trained at a mobilisation camp in Canterbury, was reported by the provosts to be superior to that of any earlier draft. Not one case of drunkenness or disorderly behaviour was reported in the whole draft, the men being from 21 to 37 years of age and representing a complete crosssection of the community. Camp officials believe that the wearing of the red badge of the New Zealand Expeditionary Fprce was responsible for the good demeanour of the men. A 12 weeks’ course with other units was undertaken by the men before they were drafted to the overseas unit for further training, which lasted six weeks. The exact length of time was not known at the beginning, and training was therefore concentrated on field craft, tactical handling o$ units, marching, the obstacle course, and bayonet fighting. Parade ground drill was kept down to a bare minimum—just sufficient to keep the men steady on parade and to teach them how to behave when on leave. The men showed a spirit of willingness to carry out the training, under Major E. E. Lloyd, and they were so fit that two companies, after a fortnight away on manoeuvres, marched 32 miles back to camp and dashed over the assault course, finishing extremely fit after that arduous exercise.

The course comprises a three-feet jump, getting under a 12-inch rail, running along 12-inch planks two feet above the ground, climbing a 10-feet wall, vaulting nine-feet railings, and running up, a ramp, jumping over a trench eight feet below, and then dropping to a firing position. It is a solid test of a man’s physical fitness to negotiate obstacles which he may meet when attacking. Although the, weapons training course for New Zealand troops does not turn out a marksman, the training, the officers believe, makes the soldier able to shoot sufficiently well, at least. The soldiers of this draft carried out the prescribed practices for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on the range of 30 yards; there are many men in the Army who maintain that the expeditionary force soldiers should be trained over longer ranges. A point often made by critics of training for battle is that too much time is spent on barrack-square drill. The answer by officers responsible for the training of mentor overseas is that a measure of this drill for “spit and polish” is necessary, for, no matter how fast the training for warfare, a considerable part of a man’s life in camp is spent on leave. It is then that he comes before the public, who judge the efficiency of the soldier on his bearing in the city streets. Consequently, the drill is considered of value in making the men smart.