WEEK'S TRAINING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 19, 24 January 1927, Page 10

WEEK'S TRAINING

15th BATTERY CAMP,

ANNUAL INSTRUCTION

AN ENJOYABLE "AT HOME"

Sun-tanned and healthy after their week's training at Fort Dorset, Seatoun, the members of the loth (Coast) Battery, N.Z.A., broke camp yesterday. Without exception the men showed clearly that they had benefited greatly as a result of their spell in the open air, and in spite of the early reveille and the-bustle required to put things in good order before parade time, there were many who would have enjoyed two or three days longer. Everyone had become accustomed to the rules, regulations, food, etc., and when mention was made of the return to work this morning there Was a marked change in the expression on the faces of the "young men.. ' ■ The Battery, which was under the command of Major J. Abel, went into camp

on the afternoon of 16th January, and- ec training was commenced in earnest the af next morning. The various sections of the k< battery underwent a comprehensive course to of instruction, and a high standard of tl efficiency was attained. The weather „. throughout was excellent, but the gun f C crews found the teat somewhat trying at V times. Nevertheless, they did fine work "■' and their shooting was of a good order. x* KEEN LEWIS GUNNERS. f c A noteworthy feature o£ the training w this year was the excellent display given ft throughout by the Lewis gun detachment, w which won the cup for the most efficient section in the battery. This is regarded as a high honour, and much credit is re : „ fleeted on the N.C.O. in charge, Lance- T Sergeant K. Mace, who only recently re- P ceived his stripes. The Lewis gun detach- P ment comprised 19 men. Some o£ these t! being new recruits-had had little instruc- "V tion. on the gun before going into camp, o Mace, however, soon had these men -well I schooled in the mechanism and the drill, and in two or three days they were, to c use a colloquialism, as "keen as mustard." A high tribute was paid the * Lewis gunners by Major-General Young, , General Officer Commanding New Zealand Military Forces, who with LieutenantColonel Symon made a thorough inspec- i tibn o£ the camp on Tuesday last. .Major- I General Young saw the section undergoing 1 gun drill on the range, and requested t Lance-Sergeant Mace to question the men ou the mechanism and action of the gun. c Each man had a ready answer to the ques-. x tion asked him, and not one mistake was j made. He congratulated Mace and the gunners on the excellent Showing they gave. Not. for some time has such a fine J Lewis gun been in the battery, and their keenness was most noticeable ' tlujughout the camp. Not only did the j cup for the most efficient detachment go ( to the Lewis gunners, but Mace also won the medal for the most. improved N.C.O. ; Further honour was brought the squad when-Gunner C. Duthie won the championship belt for rifle shooting. COLONEL POWLES IMPRESSED. Among other visitors to the camp during the week were Colonel-Commandant C. G. Powles and Miss Eileenl Norwood, : who is the artillery candidate in the queen carnival being conducted in connection with the Grand Military Tournament and Searchlight Tattoo to be held at Newtown Park in March next. Colonel Powles expressed himself as being well satisfied with the work he saw and made special mention of the good shooting by the 12-pounder battery. Miss Norwood, who was accompanied by maids of honour, was introduced to the members of the battery by Major Abel, and was heartily cheered. SUCCESSFUL "AT HOME.", An event which is always looked forward to by parents and friends of members of the battery and many others is the ".it home" given at the end of each camp. This function took place on Saturday afternoon, and was. well attended. Anion;; those present were the Hon. J. A. Young (Minister of Health) and Miss Norwood. Besides .the usual attractions of big gun shooting and exhibitions of gun work, there ■ were side-shows and other events specially arranged in support of the Artillery Queen. Prom 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. the searchlight emplacements, with engines and searchlights in operation, were open for inspection, and at 3.15 p.m. the two 6-mch guns were seen in action, being engaged on two towed Hong Kong targets, which represent the bow and stern of a ship. As the targets were towed back two Lewis gun crews provided some interesting minutes with rapid shooting. At 3.45 p.m. a 12-pounder shoot took place, and then afternoon tea' was served in the various huts. From 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. section teams were engaged in tabloid athletics, and the splendid. displays of team work given provided the finishing touches to a very enjoyable function. -»,. The battery was addressed by the Minister of Health, who congratulated the men on the efficient manner in which they had carried out their various drill movements. He briefly explained that discipline and team work, which played so essential a part in their military training, had its influent on their character as men. Miss Norwood was then called upon to present the various trophies.