MAKING SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 127, 26 November 1923, Page 7

MAKING SOLDIERS

ACTIVITY AT TRENTHAM '

FIRST BATTALION IN CAMP.

Splendid weather conditions, represented by bright sunshine and an almost en-, tire absence of wind, favoured the commencement, under . the command "of Lieut.-Colonel R. St. J. Beere, D.5.0., at Trentham on Saturday, of the first camp under the new military regular, tions, of the First Battalion, Wellington Regiment.

The trainees, numbering some 350, paraded in the morning at Lambtbn Station, and arrived in camp about 10' o clock. Men from Petone and the Hutt entrained en route, and fully 20 members of the Army Service Corps, with several recently-attached Cadets, also were included in the battalion. All trades and professions are represented, with; perhaps 'Varsity students in the majority.

Most of the first day was spent in organisation, the forming of platoons and special sections, allotting quarters, issuing rifles, bayonets, table utensils, bedding, etc., with the many other details requiring attention when troops are en-: camped. To meet with the wishes of." tile trainees, an endeavour was made to keep those from the same districts, and' also companions, in the same hutments, but, of course, this was practically possible only to a certain extent. However, all preliminaries had been arranged by evening, and general leave was granted until "lights out," A similar privilege was extended to all ranks yesterday, after a compulsory'church parade had been held.

One gratifying feature of the "administration" is the firm stand which has been taken by the officers in'regard to the careless handling of bayonets. • Reference was made to the recent sad fatality at Trentham, when one young Territorial was stabbed through the body- b'v a comrade, during '.the course of an' absolutely friendly piece of horse-play in the dark, and the authorities are determined that there will not be a recurrence of this sad incident. A definite warning has been issued to the effect that any man found without reasonable excuse with his bayonet unsheathed ■will be very_severely dealt, with";' " ■" ."'•'',■" Standing orders announce the following officers and instructors:—Commandant, Lieut.-Colonel R. St. J. Beeire, D.5.0.; adjutant, Lieut. C. W. Butterfield, N.Z.S.C.; camp sergeant-major, Sergeant-Major J. S. King, N.Z.P.S:; camp Q.M.S., Sergeant-Major A. Collins, N.Z.P.5.;.. instructors, SergeantMajors W. Colbert and E. D. Clough (infantry),, Lieuts. J. Thomson and E. J. Shearnie (musketry), Sergeant-Majors C. H. Kidman, M.M. and C. H. Ritzema (physical and recreational training),' Sergeant-Majors .J. Corkill and 'C. ' E." Rogers (Lewis' gun), and SergeantrMajoi. J. S: King (Vickers gun). •■•■—-.'-- . :^ Work in accordance with the prescribe ed syllabus was commenced to-dayl ...