RIPA ISLAND “CAPTURED”

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25676, 13 December 1948, Page 3

RIPA ISLAND “CAPTURED”

SEA CADETS EXERCISE WITH AIR TRAINING CORPS A combined exercise which took the fenn of a mock battle was held by the Christchurch branch of the Navy League’s Sea Cadets and the Air Training Corps during the week-end. The sea cadets “attacked” Ripa Island, *mch was strongly held by the Air Training Corps, and reduced the defence of the island. With the Air Training Corps inposfession of the island, the Sea Cadets . jent ashore a landing party at Dia- ! mond Harbour under the command of Leutenant W. U. Bryson. Undetected «y the island’s defence, this party ®ade a forced march into the hills •hove Ripa Island and Purau Bay. The island’s defenders were deployed on a perimeter on the mainland toout 800 yards from the island and *ere under the command of Flying • rp c . er R. Ziegler. Flying Officer Zieg- *' «<? m a P os *tion in the crags above ‘battlefield,’’ conducted - a system ?• fluid defence,” moving his group oy using a walkie-talkie set. Three of attackers’ simultaneous thrusts J* 61 ® ® et » and a decoy party was capintact; but the fourth sea cadet T ni \s L . commanded by Lieutenant M. “Newman, penetrated the defence captured the island. ■jne operation was organised and cogomated by Lieutenant-Commander ■ Box, officer commanding the Navy Cadet Corps, Canterbury; Lieutenant N. Kinsett, ol Squadron, Air Training Corps.