TERRITORIAL CAMPS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 126, 31 May 1939, Page 7

TERRITORIAL CAMPS

THE TRAINING YEAR

ATTENDANCE RECORD

Over 77 per cent, of the Territorial Force attended camps during the training year just completed, MajorGeneral J. E. Duigan, C.8., D.5.0., Chief of the General Staff, stated yesterday. The camp attendances for the year were 7296, compared with 3125 for the previous year, an increase of over 100 per cent.

The attendance at camps, which was the largest since the abolition of universal training, represented 73.6 per cent, of the peace establishment of the Territorial Force and 77.3 per cent, of the strength of the force as at February 28, 1939. Since then there had been a substantial increase in the strength of the force. Most units had reached peacetime establishment and many had exceeded it.

A feature of the training had been the success of the six-day courses held at the schools of instruction at Narrow Neck, Trentham, and Burnham, said General Duigan. These had enabled large numbers of new recruits to go to camp with sufficient knowledge and experience to allow their units to carry out more advanced work than would otherwise have been possible.

The enthusiastic manner in which all ranks had tackled their work and the fine spirit shown by units in undertaking arduous training had been very gratifying.