DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 185, 4 May 1935, Page 24

DEFENCE NOTES

News of Rank and File ON PARADE AND OFF Anzac Day at New Plymouth

(By

Liaison.)

Anzae Day.—The Ist Battalion, Taranaki Regiment, was well represented at all centres where Anzac Day celebrations were held. At New Plymouth the parade state was 15 officers and 90 other ranks. The troops, under Major F. S. Varnham, M.C., paraded at the Coronation Hall and, with the Regimental Band and the Ist (C) Battalion Taranaki Regiment (New Plymouth Boys’ High School Cadets), marched to the assembly position near the Post Office, where the South African veterans and the returned soldiers were drawn up. After marching past the cenotaph, and placing thereon a wreath from the regiment, the march was continued to the Pukekura Park, where the Anzac Day service was held. On entering the park, the South African veterans, the returned soldiers and the regiment marched past General Sir A. H. Russell, K.C.8., K.C.1 The Ist (C) Battalion, with a strength of nine officers and 441 other ranks, was under the command of Major V. E, Kerr. This parade was the first occasion on which the New Plymouth Boys’ High School Cadets had paraded in public with their new cadet uniforms. The school hatband, surmounted by the school badge, proved most effective in appearance. The smart turn-out and good inarching of the cadets was the subject of much favourable comment. ' On the afternoon of Anzac Day the officers of the regiment were entertained With the returned soldiers at afternoon tea by Mr. and Mrs. C. 11. Burgess, of New Plymouth.

Hawke’s Bay Notes. The annual camp of the Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles is taking place at Napier, the commanding officer, Lieut.Colonel 11. B. Maunsell, E.D., being the officer commanding the camp. The advance party commenced pitching camp on Tuesday and the officers and non-commis-sioned officers are now undergoing the preliminary course. The main body is due to march in on Monday. May 1~ will be a big day for the regiment. The new guidon will be consecrated and presented during that afternoon. The people of Napier will have an opportunity of seeing the impressive ceremony, which means so much to a regiment. At the conclusion of the camp on May 15 the W.E.C.M.R. and First Hawkes Bay are to hold a combined ball at the Napier Drill Hall. If the preliminary work of the committee is any criterion, the ball should be a great success The First Hawke’s Bay and Cadet Battalions of the Hawke’s Bay Regiment will parade at the various centres throughout the district on Monday to take part in public celebrations of his Majesty s silver jubilee. At Gisborne, Napier. Hastings and Masterton the parades are to take place during the morning, while at Dannevirke it will be early in the afternoon. Members of the D .E.C.M.R., already in camp, are to take part in the parade at Napier.

Medical Corps. Within recent months the 2nd Field Ambulance has been called upon several occasions to detail medical orderlies tor duty on occasions of a military or semimilitary nature. These have included the arrival of H.R.H. the Duke of Gloucester, the departure of Lord Bledisloe, and the arrival of Viscount Galway. The main purpose has been to provide first aid assistance to the various guards of honour on these occasions. - On Anzac Day the several stretchersquads posted at different points among the territorials and cadete were able to render assistance to those requiring it. An advanced dressing station was erected in the grounds of Government Buildings and to this, the casualties, which were all of a minor nature, were conveyed. A similar procedure will be adopted 011 Monday during the Jubilee parade. This service should be fully utilised by those requiring first aid. The advanced dressing station is easily recognisable by the Geneva Red Cross flag flown in its vicinity. Lecture to Engineers.

Last Monday Major J. A. Edney, R.E., gave a lecture, illustrated by lantern slides, to the members of the unit on the latest bridging equipment in use in the British Army. Major Edney, who is on loan from the British Army to the NewZealand Government for the purpose of advising in engineering matters, has had a great deal of experience with all. the latest equipment and methods of bridge construction. He was therefore able to give a most instructive and interesting lecture on this work. He expressed a hope that some of the more suitable equipment for the conditions would soon be available iu New Zealand. This was good news to all members of the company, as the unit has been rather short of materials for bridge construction for some time. At the conclusion of the lecture, the officer commanding. Major H. F, Butcher, N.Z.E., thanked Major Edney on behalf of the officers, N.C.O.’s and men of the unit, and expressed a hope that he would give further lectures on sapper work and equipment. This Major Edney promised to do. Before the parade was dismissed Major Ednev presented the trophy won during the annual camp, for the best sapper in liontoon bridging, to Sapper T. G. Hutcheson; and to the winner of the knotting and lashing competition, Sapper W. J. Mullis. Cadets on Anzac Day.

On Anzac Day, both Wellington and Rongotai College Cadets paraded at the Wellington War Memorial service. Wellington College paraded about 4SO strong,

and with their band made a very tine showing. The sounding of the t “Last Post” by the trumpeters was very fav; ourably commented upon. Rongotai College paraded about 109 rank and file (the college was on vacation). Headed by the Port Nicholson Band, this unit marched past with remarkable steadiness. St. Patrick’s Colleges (We'lington and Sil'verstream) attended service during the morning at St. Mary’s, and then marched to the War Memorial, where the rectors placed 11 wreath.

West Coast Area. The Wellington-West Coast Regiment took part in the parade held on Anzac Day and then proceeded to Cook’s Gardens’. Wanganui, where an open-air commemoration service was held by the municipal authorities and conducted by the ministers' association. The address was given by Lt.-Col. C. H. Weston. K.C.. D. 5.0., V.D.. who gave a very interesting talk on “Defence.” The Wanganui branch of the R.S.A. was well represented on parade, over 400 returned men taking part in the service. The following respective units took part in the Wanganui Anzac Day service:—R.S. A.. Q.A.M.R.. 1/W.W.C. Regt., Legion of Frontiersmen, A ant, B Coys., Ist (Cadet) Bn. W.W.C. Regt. The regiments were congratulated on their steadiness on parade. A very fine display as guard to the colours was also made. At the invitation of the Mayoress all units taking part in the parade were entertained nt afternoon tea, and judging by the short address given by Mr. Cannon, president W.R.S.A.. and the expressions of the men. the Mayoress and her helpers were certainly “jolly good fellows.” On Monday night a full-dress rehearsal was held in view of the parade to be held on Monday in connect’on with the King’s Jubilee. The regiment’s part on Monday will be as follows: —Presentation and inspection by Lt.-Col. Turnbull, D.S 0., M.C.. V.D., inarch past in line, advancing in review order, and the firing of the feu-de-joie. As this is the first time since before the Great War that a parade of this nature is to be held in Wanganui, and with other items arranged by the municipal author’ties, should prove to be a very em'oyable entertainment to the citizens of Wanganui. The Turakina platoon are to be congratulated on the -• attendance on Anzae Day service in spite of the distance from town. Fourteen attended the parade, which helped to swell the numbers of the Wanganui companies. Some of the trainees at Turakina can show 100 per cent, attendance on all parades held, incllldin; the annual camp and week-end courses. . ocially the regiment is very active. On Monday the Garrison Officers’ Club will hold 11 dinner at Foster’s Hotel, the Sergeant Mess Club a social evening at the Rendezvous, and on Thursday a military ball will be held at the Turakina Town Hall. With other events which are being arranged the regiment should have some very enjoyable evenings during the winter months. At the annual meeting of the Regimental Badminton Club there was a good attendance of members'. The. report and balance-sheet was adopted. The election of officers resulted ns follows Patron. Lt.-Col. W. S. McCrorie; V.D... Officer Commanding the Regiment; president. Major D. A. C. Lilburnc; vice-presidents, Lt.-Col. F. K. Turnbull, D. 5.0.. M.C.. V.D., Lt.-Col. J. R. Cade. M.C., V.D.. Captain A. M. Rennie, and Capt. 11. E. Edmonson; club captain and secretary. C. S. M. Davidson ; vice-captain. Pte. D. Fisher; committee. Cpls. Roberts and Brandon, Pte. Davidson.