2nd Battalion Exercise Near Lake Tekapo

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29734, 30 January 1962, Page 17

2nd Battalion Exercise Near Lake Tekapo

About 741 officers and men of the 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Regiment, left Burnham Military Camp yesterday for Tekapo and “Operation Shakedown”—the battalion’s first major training exercise since returning to New Zealand from Malaya last month. The exercise situation has a strong enemy force advancing into Canterbury from Westland by way of mountain passes through the Southern Alps. To contain this move the battalion is moving to positions near Lake Tekapo. Using the back road through the Rakaia Gorge, and moving in independent company groups, the troops expect to meet strong opposition from insurgent groups which have alreadv infiltrated from the high country One company from the battalion comprises the enemy. Because of the fire risk the troops are camping on river beds. Last night they camped near the Rakaia river bridge and the Ashburton

north river bridge. Tonight they are expected to camp close to the Rangitata, Orari and Ashburton South river bridges. Tomorrow the battalion will regroup at Lake Tekapo before moving towards the high country passes. Waterborne Assault

During the night of February 6-7. a waterborne assault across the lake will be made It will be opposed by an enemy on the opposite bank

The battalion did several assault river crossings while in Malaya as part of its major war training. On those occasions it was opposed by troops from the 17th Gurkha division of which the 2nd Battalion formed part. Features of the unit’s summer training will include exercises in counterinsurgency operations, flotation rock climbing, and cliff assault training on Banks Peninsula. There will also be anti-guerrilla patrolling using wild deer in the Lake Sumner area as “guerrillas." u