ARTILLERY CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 59, 13 March 1929, Page 16

ARTILLERY CAMP

19TH BATTBKY AT WAI-

PUKURAU

The 19th (Medium) Battery, N.Z.A., held its annual camp at "Waipukurau last week. Major Haughton was in command, and he had with him Captain Pentou and Lieutenants Jenkins, Anderson, and Powles. The camp site, on the racecourse, is t considerably better than tho one at Foxton, and all ranks much appreciated the change. The first few days were, spent in training and instruction in preparation for, the shoqt,i.and all ranks found the life, a very strenuous but nevertheless enjoyable one. On Thursday the battery spent the day in the field, holding a shoot of great instructional value, but on Friday, when it was reasonably to be expected that the mistakes of the previous day would bear fruit, the weather became steadily worse, and the battery had to return to camp after firing only two small rounds. In spite of this disappointment, the camp was a very successful one as far as work was concerned. , The cup for the best section in the battery was won by the headquarters section (Lieut. Jenkins)., The work of this section was, excellent, and their steadiness and smartness on parade were remarkable, considering their heavy" duties. The cup for the best sub-section was won by "D" subsection (Sergeant Fitzgerald), and that for the best gunner by Lance-Bombar-dier Packard. First-class layers' badges were awarded to Bombardiers Redgrave and Pendray, Lance-Bombardier Tasker, and Gunner , Miller; first-class tractor driver's badgo to Gunner M'Grath; and second-class tractor drivers' badges to Gunners Bohn, Virtue, and Hunter. , , The social side of the camp was by no means neglected. Through the good efforts of. the battery's padre, Rev. F. Walton, of Foxton, a concert party from : Waipukurau visited, .the camp on the Wednesday night, and the men much appreciated the excellence of the items and the kindness of the local residents in giving, up their time. On Friday evening, the officers gave a dinner to Major Haughton, who is .relinquishing his command at the; end of this training year. Major Haughton entered the battery as a gunner nearly twenty years ago, and has been connected with it ever since. The occasion was fittingly marked by the presence of Lieut.-Col. Symon, Director of Artillery, and many eulogistic references to the Major's services were made. , The same evening a dance, was held in the main hall of the town, and proved a most . enjoyable function. With; the. assistance of the Waipukurau Ladies'. Hockey Club and the enthusiastic support of,, all ranks, the battery was able to proyide : what 1 was. generally judged to be the most successful social evening the battery has ever held. ,', " For the success of the'camp as a whole, thanks are due to Captain Park, the camp commandant, Lieuts. Gallagher, Weir, and Joyce, and the members of the R.N.Z.A. personnel, ■ who spared no efforts where the interests of the battery were concerned.