N.Z. SEA CADET CAMPS

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24160, 20 January 1944, Page 6

N.Z. SEA CADET CAMPS

FOUR DIVISIONS IN TRAINING CENTRE

OFFICIAL INSPECTION YESTERDAY

For the first time the four divisions of the New Zealand Sea Cadet Corps are in camp together. The site is the training centre on Quail Island in Lyttelton Harbour, where, yesterday the 15 officers and 75 cadets were inspected by Commander T. S. Critchley, Naval Officer in Charge, Lyttelton, and by Mr T. M. Charters, chairman of the War Council of the Navy League, Mr A, S. Taylor, president of the Canterbury branch, and Mr R. L. Ashley, secretary. The arrival of the official party was signalled to the “ship” before the launch arrived at the jetty, and when Commander Critchley went ashore he was piped on to the “quarter deck” with full naval formality. He was met by Lieutenant-Commander H. B. Anderson, R.N. (retired), who is in charge of the camp. After a general salute had been taken to the accompaniment of bugles and drums,, officers of the Sea Cadet Corps were presented to Commander Critchley and he inspected the guard. Immediately afterwards the “ship’s company” was inspected. The Sea Cadet Corps had recently received full official recognition from the Navy, Commander Critchley said, speaking to the gathering. As many cadets would be going on into the Navy he felt that their training would be very valuable and that their spirit and keenness would do much to ensure successful service. Between this war and the last the Navy was allowed to get into a poor state and duty in any of the services was not popular. The Navy League Sea Cadets could help to maintain interest in the activities and traditions of the Navy. It was admitted that the Air Force saved Britain in the darkest days of the war, but .without the Navy after the fall of France, Britain might have been conquered. New Zealand’s insular position made it equally dependent on the naval services for its security. Activities on “Ship”

During the day the visitors had an opportunity to watch all activities of the camp. The training centre has a group of buildings recently completely remodelled by the Navy League at a cost of £7OO, Full cruiser routine is practiced throughout the day and naval terms are used. In the morning “divisare given on the quarter deck when first and second parts of the port and starboard watches are assigned duties for the day. Prayers are taken by the ship’s chaplain. Syllabus of Instruction

Apart from general maintenance about the “ship” instruction includes rifle drill, squad drill, shooting, practical seamanship, knots and splices, wire and hemp splicing, blocks and tackle, signalling in semaphore, Morse, and the international code of flags, heaving the lead, boatwork and sailing in the two 25-foot whalers and three skiffs, and swimming. A competition is being held between the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago Divisions in boatwork, signalling, shooting, swimming, and practical seamanship for the Fitzgerald Cup. During the afternoon one division was handling stores, another was on the rifle range, and two parties were signalling between two points on the island. The fourth division was delighted when Commander Critchley and Lieutenant-Commander Anderson each, took command of a whaler for a sailing race. Tiie “ship” has an officer's wardroom and duty officer’s quarters, stores, messdeck (where self-made service hammocks are slung by the boys at night), a well-equipped galley, pettyofficers’ quarters, and sick bay. On a recent evening recreational activities were varied from the usual forms of entertainment and talks by a mock commando raid from the sea with attacking and defending forces. A canteen provides many supplies popular with the boys. Meals are provided by three members of the Red Cross Cooking Division, and the health of the cadets is supervised by Mr R. Bailey, of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. . The Sea Cadet Corps in New Zealand has recently been granted a distinctive flag—a blue ensign with the sea cadets’ crest on the fly. There are nearly 500 sea cadets in New Zealand and each division has a waiting list. Applications for admission to the camp were restricted to the quarters available.