MILITARY CAMP

Evening Post, Issue 51, 29 February 1936, Page 14

MILITARY CAMP

WELLINGTON REGIMENT

FIELD TRAINING

The Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment, together with the 2nd Field Company N.Z. Engineers, completed their annual camp at Waipukurau on February 15. Although the week's work was a strenuous one, it was voted, a huge success by all ranks. After church parade on Sunday, general leave was granted, and a sacred concert given by the military band in the Municipal Theatre. This was particularly well attended by the citizens of Waipukurau and surrounding districts. So popular were the items that a second concert was given the last night in camp, in aid of the Waipukurau Municipal Band. Visits were also paid to the hospital and sanatorium, where the patients greatly enjoyed the items. KEENNESS OF TROOPS. It was a matter of some pride to see the enthusiasm displayed by every man in the regiment, those selected for guard duties even practising in the lunch hour and after parades, so that these duties could be carried out in the smartest possible manner. At the soldiers' own request several additional voluntary parades were held during the evenings, when such phases as gas drill, range finding, and bayonet fighting were demonstrated by expert officers and Non-Commissioned Officers. Possibly the hardest worked unit in the battalion was the regimental drivers who stood up to their tasks in a praiseworthy manner, and were singled out for special praise by the commanding officer, Lieut-Colonel J. L. Saunders, D.5.0., V.D. A touch of realism was added to the battalion manoeuvres by the actual firing of the new trench mortars, which have been recently added to infantry regiments. Although the mortar platoon had very little time to learn the features of the gun, their drill and their manner of coming into action'were praiseworthy. While the camp was an immense benefit from a military training, physical, and disciplinary point of view, the consensus of the troops was that it was the best holiday they had had for years. The regimental medical officer was Major W. F. Shir'er, N.Z.M.C.,' and Lieutenant -McKenzie, N.Z.D.C, was dental'officer.-.-The Rev. Boyd-Bell was camp chaplain. V During the week the camp was visited by the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Forces, MajorGeneral Sir William , Sinclair-Burgess, K.8.E., C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., and senior officers from headquarter staff.