DEFENCE SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 47, 18 November 1932, Page 15

DEFENCE SERVICES

News of Rank and File I ON PARADE AND OFF Topics of the Moment

(By

“Liaison.”)

Indications point to the presence at the annual eamps at Waipukurau, of at least one aeroplane from the New Zealand Air Forces, in which case co-operation with the Air Force will be a feature of annual practice. As this is the first occasion on which air co-operation will have been carried out in the Central Command it will be interesting to compare the results obtained from each battery. The successful engagement of targets using air observation, provides in great measure a criterion of the efficiency of the battery, not only in fire direction but also in fire discipline and gun drill. To this end battery parades of the Coast Artillery Group from now on will include drill series using air co-operation procedure. On Wednesday the 15th Coast Battery was inspected by the 0.C., Central Command, Colonel F. Symon, C.M.G., D. 5.0., 8.N.Z.A., at its station, Fort ■ Dorset. During the evening searchlights were run and fort manning carried out. The 19th Medium Battery held a battery staff ride on Saturday, November 12, when reconnaissance and occupation of positions, using both visual and telephonic communication, was practised under Captain Jenkins, battery captain, and Lieut. Powles, gun position officer. A similar programme has been planned for the forthcoming Saturday afternoon. On the afternoon of Saturday,.November 19, the 17th Medium Battery, N.Z.A., are holding a parade, at which more advanced training will be carried out. Only the keenness of all ranks enables this battery to overcome the disadvantage of the woefully restricted training area available at Petone. Horses are at {present available at Trentham camp, and ■the battery staff, despite having to arrange its own transport, has. taken the opportunity to avail itself of riding school practice thus presented on Sunday mornings. Lieutenant J. B. Page has recently been transferred from the New Zealand Staff Corps to the Bofal N.Z. Artillery, and is stationed at Fort Dorset. Lieutenant Page is well known to all ranks as one of the All Blacks who visited Australia lust winter. The Wellington Begfanant A tactical exercise with a battalion, and attached troops, acting as an advanced guard, and in the attack, was carried out on the sand model during the regimental officers’ monthly meeting held on Tuesday. November 15. For this exercise the officers were:—O.C. advanced guard, Major McClurg. M.C.; O.C. A Company (vanguard). Captain MantellHarding; O.C. B Company. Lieut. Love; O. C Company, Lieut. Maciver; O.C. D (M.G.) Company, . Captain Gorton,. M.M. Many lessons were brought out. The tactics employed with a battalion in trench warfare will not anply in open . warfare. The organisation and establishment of a battalion have changed since 1918, and officers must understand how to apply the principles of tactics set out in the latest manuals. The weather on Sunday. November 13, was such as to prevent a number, especially from the Hutt Valley, from attending the Armistice Sunday church parade, held in St. Mark’s Church, in memory of those old members of the Wellington Beg>ment who made the supreme sacrifice. General appearance, and the marching of the men of the regiment were favourably commented upon by his Excellency the Governor-General, who took the salute on Cambridge Terrace as. the battalion was returning to the Garrison Hall. ■ The hope of forming an Old Boys Company within this unit and thereby assisting to continue the traditions of the old "St. Patrick’s College Bifie Volunteers’’ and “Wellington College Bifles,” is now almost an accomplished fact. fjt. Pat’s College Old Boys have recruited one, pintoon and are continuing the good work. A meeting of old boys is being held in the study of St. Pat’s College at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, November 24, when it is hoped to'increase the number of recruits and to have at least two “St. Pat’s Platoons.” It is possible that 'Wellington College Old Boys will complete the company and have platoons .they may call their own. . • . The Kegimental Signal Section is at present undergoing a continuous course of instruction in the Garrison Hnll and the keenness shown is very marked. At the end of the course the test for regimental signallers will be curried out. The results will determine who is to wear the coveted crossed-flags badges. Captain B. J. Wells and Company Sergeant-Major Swift are to be congratulated on their promotion to higher rank, and also Captain Mantell-Harding and Lieutenant Maciver on passing their examinations for promotion. Major Puttick Transferred. The transfer of Major E. Puttick, D'S.O., N.Z.S.C., staff officer in charge of No. 1 Bcgimental District and brigade major to the Ist New Zealand Infantry Brigade, to the Southern Command, Christchurch, as general staff officer, will take place early next year. It was previously announced that Major Puttick would be leaving Auckland on transfer about the middle of November, but these arrangements have been altered. He will go to Christchurch on duty at the end of November to attend the Southern Command refresher course at Burnham camp, and will then return to Auckland, completing his transfer about the second week of January. Gisborne News. Headquarters Wing and “B” Company (Gisborne), Ist Hawke’s Bay, are endeavouring jo arrange for a week-end camp before Christmas. The dates under consideration are December 17, 18. and 19. Captain A. Blackburn will be in command, with Captain J. G. Nolnn assisting him. These officers hope to find a suitable place where direct and indirect machine-gun fire may be practised. The competition for the most efficient section in Headquarters Wing and “B” Company, Ist Hawke’s Bay, at Gisborne, still creates a keen interest. The last figures given by the judges (Captains Blackburn and Nolan) place Corporal C. W. Taylor’s section in the lead, with Corporal Bartie’s section next. Corporal Bartie took charge of this section in place of Sergeant W. F. Smith, who has moved to Wellington. The Gisborne High School machinegun platoon completed the firing of the machine-gun course on Saturday, November 12. Of the 23 who fired the course, 17 were classifier! as marksmen, scoring over 100 points, while the remaining six qualified, scoring over GO points. The highest scores were registered by Cdt. W. McLean. 1(19; Cpl. Tawhiri, 157: Cdt. D. Moore, 152; Sgt. E. Grant, 137; Cpl. J. Stokes. 132; Cdt. P. Poole, 135; Cdt. W. H. Holmes, 134. Promotions and Transfers. The following promotions and transfers were announced in the Gazette last evening:— Staff.—Mapor 1). E. Bremner, M.C., N.Z. Staff Corps, relinquished the appointments of Staff Officer tn Charge, No. 10 Regimental District, Christchurch, and Brigade Major, 3rd N.Z. Mounted Riffes Brigade. N.Z. Staff Corps.—Major D. E. Bremner, M.C., Is transferred to the Reserve of Officers. Class I (b). Lieutenant E. R. V. Tdtrie to be Captain. Regiment of Royal N.Z, Artillery.—Captain G. B. Parkinson to be Major. The Wellington Regiment.—Lieutenant G. It. Snelling, Ist Battalion, is transferred to the Reserve of Officers, Class I (b), R.D. 5. The Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles.—2nd Lieutenant L. B. Ballantync, the Canterbury Regiment, is attached under the provisions of para. 141, General Regulations, 11127, and is posted to the Regimental Supernumerary List. N.Z. Army Service Corps.—The undermentioned to be 2nd Lieutenants, and are posted to the 2nd Composite Company: Francis John McWhinnle, Terence Christie Warner, Kenneth R-amsden.