Demonstrations By National Trainees

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31441, 7 August 1967, Page 10

Demonstrations By National Trainees

Rifle-fire crackled and charges thumped at Burnham Military Camp yesterday when the march-out demonstration of the sixteenth intake of national servicemen was held.

About 300 persons saw demonstrations and displays of infantry tactics and weapons, and an Iroquois helicopter of the Royal New Zealand Air Force bringing: troops into the “battle area.”

The clearing of mines and booby traps was shown, and there were demonstrations by the Royal New Zealand Army Service Corps and the Army Medical Corps. The New Zealand Army had been on a war footing for more than 10 years, with troops going overseas to Malaysia, Korea, and now to Vietnam, said Brigadier D. A. Caughley, reviewing officer for the parade. New Zealand troops bad been in all parts of South-east Asia, and the New Zealand infantryman and gunners

were remembered with gratitude and affection in many jungle villages. The afternoon's demonstration showed what could be done with good training and enthusiasm. The greater part of New Zealand’s order of battle was national servicemen, Brigadier Caughley told the parade, and the trainees would be ready if the need arose, although everyone hoped it never would. It was vital to have men ready to go in case they had to, he said. It was like keeping an insurance policy up to date: it was no good buying insurance after the house had been burned. After the demonstrations many of the visitors inspected the static displays, the most popular of which was the Iroquois helicopter.