DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 69, 14 December 1935, Page 18

DEFENCE NOTES

News of Rank and File ISLINGTON CHALLENGE CUP

(Bt

Liaison.)

Word has been received that the Stratford Technical High School are this year's winners of the Islington Challenge Cup. This cup is awarded annually and is open to all secondary schools in New Zealand for .303 shooting. Stratford High School are to be congratulated on their excellent effort tliis year in winning this competition with an average score of 73.45. A money prize of £lO goes with the trophy, which will be formally presented by the officer commanding Central Military Command, Colonel I. T. Standish, C.JLG., D. 5.0., to the school early in the New Year. Secondary School Cadets.

Secondary school training of cadets for the year 1935 has now ceased. The musketry has been of a fairly average standard only, mainly due to the tact ot inclement weather. Training in general was quite good, and owing to the course for secondary school officers and u.c.o. s to be held at Trcntham in January lJ3b, it is anticipated that training will show a marked improvement next year. School barracks for 1936 are as follow L’etone Technical High School, February 10 to February 14; Wellington College, lebruary 17 to February 21; Scots College, February 24 to February 28;. Itongotai College, March 2 to March 6; St. Patrick’s (Silverstream), March 30 to April 3; St. Patrick’s (Wellington), April 6 to April 9. . , The following promotions and appointments have been approved: Ist (C) Battalion, Wellington Regiment, J. 1. Beckett to be second lieutenant (on probation) ; 2nd (0) Battalion, Wellington Regiment, Lieutenant C. Jacobsen is retired; 3rd (C) Battalion Wellington Regiment, Captain G. J. McNaugh to be major; Second Lieutenant, (on probation) W. W- Mason to be second lieutenant.

Artillery Activities. The 2nd Artillery Brigade group was favoured with fine but dull leather for the week-end camp held at 1 rentham. Some 160 members of the group were present under Lieut.-Colonel It. W • henton, N.Z.A. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning were devoted to brigade control practice for officers, battery, staff and gunners. This practice, which is a recent addition to artillery work, was carried oiit under Captain C. S. J. Duff, L.N.Z.A., who has recently returned to New Zealand after a two years’ artillery course in England. The brigade control ot artillery fire demands a high standard of efficiency among the signalling personnel of the brigade, and the week-end afforded a very useful opportunity of training under an approximation to the conditions which will prevail during tne annual camps to be held after the holidays. Major W. G. Ashbridge and Lieutenant E.'l. MarshalL of the New Zealand Corps of Signals, were present and . assisted with the telephone communications between the various batteries. A short inter-battery sports n lcet "’S was held, resulting in a win for the LHh Medium Battery, which gained hist place in all events. During the sports meeting the officers held a six-horse team driving competition, in which teams from the R.N.Z.A., sth. 17th, and 19th batteries drove a tricky course through a fi"ure of eight network ot pegs and gates, to” the aptmrent distress of the latter. This was won by the sth Battery team, with the 19th Battery secondThe Central Command Artillery Land, under Bandmaster W. 11. Bowman, was with the batteries, and aroused the eamp with a burst of melody at 5.30 a.m on Sunday It was generally agreed that music at this hour definitely lacks charm. However, the band’s eftor.s later in the dav were appreciated by the troops, and all ranks were pleased to listen to them.