ARMY TRAINING FOR YOUTHS

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26814, 20 August 1952, Page 10

ARMY TRAINING FOR YOUTHS

MANOEUVRES BEGIN AT BIRDLING’S FLAT

About 900 youths undergoing their period of compulsory military training at Burnham Military Camp began the final phase yesterday, when at 8 am. a large convoy of trucks ‘ carrying the troops left Burnham Camp for Birdling’s Flat. Here, under canvas, the recruits will spend a week on manoeuvres under field conditions. The present draft will complete its training next week. Manoeuvres actually began as the trucks were travelling towards Birdling’s Flat. Trainees of the Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers established recovery posts at Kaituna and Tai Tapu to keep the convoy moving. Once at Birdling’s Flat the trainees lost no time in digging slit trenches and erecting their two-man pup tents which, to them, will be home for a week. Night training exercises were held by each corps last evening, and ordinary corps training work will be held to-day. Night training exercises under realistic conditions will be held this evening, when the trainees will combine to hold a defended position, against attack. The main manoeuvres will be held on Thursday, when demonstrations will be given by the various units, using live ammunition. The programme for Thursday is as follows: 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 ajn.. talk by the officer commanding Burnham Camp (Colonel F. L. H. Davies); 11.30 a.m. to noon, shoot by gunners. 25-pounders and mortars; noon to 12.10 pjn.. Royal New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, tank driving mobility demonstration; 12.10 p.m. to 12JO D.nL, infmtry, six-pounder anti-tank shoot, 2in and 3in mortars, Vickers machinegun shoot; 130 p.m. to 230 p.m.. move to Lake Forsyth for demonstration by engineers of watermanship and Medical Corps demonstration of evacuation of wounded: 2.30 p.m., move back to Birdling’s Flat