MILITARY EXERCISES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 70, 15 December 1932, Page 6

MILITARY EXERCISES

Manoeuvres at Trentham WORK WITH MACHINE-GUNS Military exercises of an interesting nature were carried out by officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps and warrant officers and N.C.O.’s of the New Zealand permanent staff, at present undergoing a course of instruction, before Colonel F. Symon, C.M.G., D. 5.0., A.D.C., O.C. Central Command, at Trentham camp yesterday. Captain F. L. Hunt was in charge and the manoeuvres consisted of a machine gun platoon, representing the forward guns of a machine gun company withdrawing on the defence. Two sections in strategic positions covered a forward line of infantry some 600 yards in front of the platoon, and during occupation of the position an enemy gas attack took place, which required the donning of anti-gas respirators, while the guns were kept in action. Supporting guns of the company, placed in position on a hill about 1200 yards to the rear of the forward guns, covered the latter during the withdrawal movement to a position some 2000 yards to the rear. J

The surroundings would not permit the firing of ball ammunition during the withdrawal, so when the retiring section got into position, the forward section was notified by a Verey light signal, which represented the firing of guns. The enclosed nature of the country necessitated a fairly lengthy carry of machine gun equipment, each gun, with tripods and the necessary accessories, making a total weight of about 601 b. This, in addition to full war kit, made heavy work for the officers concerned. The present course of instruction organised by and under the direct command of Colonel Symon, will conclude to-day. Most of the work has consisted of training tie leaders for fire direction and fire control duties.

“A great deal of valuable work has been done in the short space of two weeks,” said Colonel Symon to “The Dominion.”

The chief instructor of the course was Captain R. J. D. Davis, N.Z.S.C. With him were associated Major A. E. Conway, Captain F. L. Hunt, Staff Ser-geant-Major King, all of New Plymouth, and Staff Sergeant-Majors O’Sullivan, Bauer, and McMurray, of the Small Arms School’s staff at Trentham. The quartermaster duties were in charge of Captain Jervis, of G.H.Q., Wellington.