DEFENCE NOTES

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 5 (Supplement)

DEFENCE NOTES

Sports Equipment For Engineers REORGANIZATION OF A.S.C.

(By

Liaison.)

A record company attendance evidenced the interest in the engineers’ annual pay parade, held in Wellington last Monday week. In addition, travelling allowances for the past year were also paid out.

By unanimous vote each man contributed o/- from his pay to the unit funds committee, who will utilize it in the furtherance of social activities, sports equipment, and so on.

Competitive games are to be inaugurated with the aim of producing unit representative teams in miniature rifle shooting, basketball, badminton, ami table tennis, all of whigh can be admirably catered lor at the Garrison Hall. The training this military year, Captain E. I. Hubbard, the commanding officer, explained at a meeting of officers and N.C.O.’s, afterward, will be on a much more technical scale than hitherto. After inspection the fifteen minutes following would be devoted to section or company drill, and then sections would proceed to individual rendezvous where lectures by section officers and N.C.O.’s would be given on subjects of immediate urgency. Files would be issued to the N.C.O.’s and in these would be kept precis of lectures given by themselves or the officers and also notes on field work they would carry out, their attendance, reports on the personnel of their sections and sb on, so that at any time the question of promotion or other points arose a reference to the files would show at a glance the state of the N.C.O.’s training and that of his section and their general efficiency. It was further explained that it was incumbent on each N.C.O. to see that his sub-section was up to full strength and good attendance maintained. No man not willing to help in this respect could lie tolerated in a higbly-technical unit such as the engineers, as the resultant breaks in the continuity of training would militate against unit efficiency. L.-Cpl. Wood's, of No. 2 Section, was the recipient of an engineer tie donated by the section commander for the consistently best-kept equipment in the section throughout the year. TJie presentation met with the hearty acclamation it undoubtedly deserved. At this week’s N.C.O. class the assistant adjutant (depot), Lieut. R. Harris, delivered an important and interesting lecture, one of a series to be continued, on organization, administration and orders.

This was later illustrated in two cases presented at a mock court which fully demonstrated the administration of the orderly room in respect of crimes, and proved not a little diverting. Corporal Mexted and Drivers Coe and Weymouth, of the transport section, have just completed a drivers’ i/c course at Trentham Camp. A.R.P. lectures to local body representatives, it may be noticed, have been given weekly by officers of the Second Field Company—recognition of the importance of the engineer in anti-gas training. Army Service Corps.

The Second Composite Company, N.Z. A.S.C., held the first parade of the new training year on Tuesday night, June 20. The first portion of the evening was devoted to the reorganization of the unit necessitated by the increase in the peace establishment. Instead of the three sections, as in 'previous- years, there will from now on be four, namely. Petrol Section, Ammunition Section. Supply Section and Reserve M.T. Section. On completion of the reorganization a short address was delivered by the officer commanding, Major- A. C. Dickson, in the course of which he stated that as increasing numbers of men were offering themselves for service he had decided to place the membership of the unit on a competitive basis. With this end in view he had appointed a selection board composed of two officers and the C.S.M. It will be the duty Of the board to interview prospective recruits; incidentally, recruits are required to measure up to a very high standard indeed. It will therefore be necessary for those men at present in the unit to display increased diligence both in the discharge of their duties and their deportment both on and off the parade in order to ensure a continuance of membership in the unit. On July 11 the Director of Supplies and Transport, Lieutenant-Colonel Crump, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., will attend the parade for the purpose of presenting trophies won during the past training year. After the presentation supper will be provided, and it is hoped that friends and relatives of members of the unit will avail themselves of the opportunity to see the company on parade. At the close of the evening a team from the Second Field Company, N.Z.E., will play basketball against a team from the A.S.C. The following recruits will go to Trentham today for one week to undergo a course of recruit training. Privates Brown. Ellis. Fulton, Green, Noble, O’Keefe. Sandle. Shearer, Skelton, Taylor, Templeton, Waddle, ’ Young, Morrell ana Eades.

As the Territorial Army is rapidly becoming completely mechanized the neyv regulation providing for the wearing of trousers on parade instead of pantaloons and puttees will be an advantage as regards comfort.

Corps of Signals. The N.C.O. classes for infantry training concluded recently and the signal training section is scheduled to begin next Monday evening in the G.P.O. Building. The various sections will be taken by the following officers: —Map reading, Captain L. Marshall; signal office organization. Lieutenant J. C, Mclntosh; No. 1 wireless set, 2nd-Lieutenant G. Holms; procedure, 2nd-Lieucenant W. R. Schdroski; instruments. 2nd-Lieutenant H. W. Wilkinson; cable, 2ud-Lieutenant D. McFarlane. The classes yvill be held each Monday evening. The signals ball will be held in St. Francis Hall on August 11. Tickets are now available from members of the committee at the following branches: —Lieutenant J. C. Mclntosh, chief engineer’s office; 2nd-Lieutenant 11. W. Wilkinson, General Post Office; Sgt. H. Hodgson, Public Service Garage; Sgt. Murphy, mailroom ; L/Cpl. N. Dunning, dead letter branch ; Sgm. W. G. Wilson, Records ; Sgm. Brennan, Motor Registration. Sgt. 11. Roatz, wireless section, and Opl. Handley, transport: section, have resigned. Both of these men have had a number of years of service in the Central District Signals. Sgt. Roatz has been the senior N.C.O. of the wireless section for a number of years, and was the only member of the unit to possess the coveted yvireless badge. Cpl. Handley, yvho was one of the unit’s most capable drivers, yvas renowned for his wit and his natural ability to entertain. Both men will be difficult to replace in their particular trades and yvill be greatly missed by their fellow members.