N.Z. CORONATION CONTINGENT

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26986, 11 March 1953, Page 8

N.Z. CORONATION CONTINGENT

ARMY COMPONENT’S TRAINING

DAILY ROUTE MARCHES AT TRENTHAM

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 10. The second week of training for the New. Zealand Army Coronation Contingent began at Trentham Military Camp'this morning. Every day for the last week officers and other ranks have had a seven-mile route march to harden their feet for their 15-mile march in London.

Breaking in new boots with soft feet, has produced blisters on the feet of almost every member of the contingent. Today they also began training to smarten up their drill. Major G. F. McCulloch trained them for an hour before morning tea. He will continue the training for a week.

Major McCulloch said after the drill period: “They are not bad. I am worried about weapon drill. There is such a short time to smarten that up.” Lieutenant-Colonel J. W. Moodie. of Dunedin, commander of the Army contingent, has also been out on the parade ground and on route marches with the contingent.

Because H.M.A.S. Sydney, in which the contingent will travel, is an air-craft-carrier, members may not be able to drill in the ship on the way t o England from Australia. Men who are riding in the Queen’s escort will not have any riding practice in New Zealand, as they will not get their horses till they reach England. At Trentham they are smartening up their sword drill. Colonel Moodie said the compulsory military trainees were taking the course best. Some of the returned servicemen’s representatives had not seen a parade ground for a long time, but they were shaping well. All ranks were very keen, Colonel Moodie said. They were working well, and should be in good trim by- the time they left for Auckland to flv to Australia.