NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME

Evening Star, Issue 16908, 4 December 1918, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME

ARTILLERY AT EWSHOT. THE MEDICAL CORPS. [By H. T. B. Drew, Second Lieutenant.] In no unduly envious spirit does the New Zealand infantryman say that the artillery have the best rime of it in_ England. He merely states what is perfectly obvious, and what the artillerist- smilingly admits is true. As in New Zealand, the artillery have to be trained in 'a, special camp of their own. where there are “ fittings ” for the purpose, and where the country is suitable for their work. Our batteries in England were fortunate enough in August. 1917, to bo able to lake over a section of an artillery camp at Ewsliot. Being a permanent camp established for the Regular Army, it has all the personal comforts and conveniences that soldiers in residence can require, and this camp in particular has the additional attraction of being placed in very pleasant surroundings. Kwshot is in the Aldershot command, and is only a few miles from that very famous military depot. On the south-western run from London, about o5 miles from the Waterloo Railway Station, von pass a small Hampshire station called iFleet. beside which is a- pretty sedgy lakelet, accommodating swans and wild fowl. This is the railway station for the Ewsliot Camp, which is three and a-hr.lf miles i.tf: and the way is through a bright old English village, and thence along a good road heavily treed on either side. Around the camp, at which yon suddenly emerge, are thick pine woods, with here and there broad green meadows, which arc chu-fly used for the purposes of cultivation and for playing-grounds for the sporting enthusiasts of the surrounding camps.

Kwshot Camp, strange to say, rejoices—or rather blushes —under the one-time name of “ Lcipsig Barracks.” having been opened some years ;\go, on one cl hi? visits to England, by His Impend Majesty the Kaiser. Little Hi? Imp'.-.ial Majesty

guessed tint It would hitcr be orenpieci bv troops training against biro fn-m one ot the most distant part* of the oirili ! It covers an extent of 30 a ores, I'cmir compact and- of excellent design. Jt will accommodate 1,500 of all ranks and about- 1.000 horses. though there were 1.000 there-be-fore the war. In the Aldershot, comma;'-.!, just after the outbreak of war. (To.COO men wore In training. Tn Ami hir-t- we had 25 artillery officers and 55- 1 - men quartered at Ewsiiof. and 14-8 horses; and our Medical Corps, which has its chief depot in the same camp, had three officers and 170 men.

The headquarters buildings look out over a large barrack “ square.” on one side <-t which are the 18-poiinder gun sheds, and on the other, and at the top. the stables. The men’s quarters extend away ni ‘’streets” behind the stables; and the officers have their more pretentious building? some few hundred yards away on the other sole, behind the gun sheds. Twostoried brick houses—you car. scarcely call them hnt?—are the married men’s rewards in peace time, but now they are occupied by men who have not the' privilege of that state of bliss. Tine buildings they are indeed, with every possible convenience. The smaller edifice? are also of brick, with stucco ends for appearances’ sake. Each has its lavatory and bath, and tbey are all well heated, sow of them having ns many a- three fireplace?. I’cth houses, of course, arc also available for all band?, with hot water—big plunge hatha, which in camp? are almost- unheard-of luxuries. It is unnecessary to elaborate on the cleanliness of these quarters under our regime, or upon the way flower gardens are maintained for their adornment. The- officers’ quarters are altogether elaborate. Incomprehensible privilege? rov theirs—a long brick building, with pretty verandah front, skirted with ‘lower gardens. possessing mess room? to match, and lounges or ante-rooms, bnlbionns. ami lavatories! The Commanding tlnicer (at-: present Colonel fjtnndLsh) is endowed with a large, ornate, two-storied hiick h-use. SUPERIORITY IX Sl’DItT.

In the general surroundings and villages round about, the Xew Zealand <u!illcrist has more to attract- and interest him than his less fortunately camped infantry brethren, but nevertli dess he has all tile devotion to his welfare, amusements, and education that our other more isolated camps provide. Recreation tiguu-s prominently in the daily life, for we vie in spans with the other camp? round about, including a laiye O.T.C. depot. The Xew Zcahnd camp not- only mure than held its own in this district- last season in all sport, but appropriated the boxing championship cup for the .Southern Command, which also includes Sling, and did the same in Rugby, Both these large silver challenge cups stand on the headquarters mantelshelf. '1 he artillerists have aLso an unbeaten record against the other Xew Zealand military camps.

In other forms of attraction there is an excellent canteen equipped with tho usual games, com forts, cosy arm-chairs, ha vine a coffee bar. and stacked with tho purchasable things necessary to camp life. Mere also is a “regimental institute” with a good lending library-: similarly there is a sorseante’ and a corporal?’ mess, while •for non-commissionrd officers end men dances are hold in a largo hall once a fortnight. A rtcrcation-rnom, run by the War Contingent Association, is another very useful establishment: and the Wesleyan Soldiers’ Hama, iv most elahoxutAy fitted up plane, with everything comfenable, even to mirrors ou the walls, am “cosy corners. a dry canteen, and a piano, is under the charge of an Imperial Colonel Padre f ro;u Aid wdiot. Inst, but not least, is the übiquitous Y'.AI.C.A.. which has one of its usual popular branches run in it? capable way. This budding is a large out*, and it is here that concerts am! cutcrtaiarncrt? n-r held, chiefly by parties organised by tho New Zeeland War Contingent Association and Aliss Playfair, who dthis for most camps in the vicinity. Julius Knight i? amongst those who have performed here. 11 i? not ncec--ary to say anything tho meals here. Living % ou quite the same high level ns at the other New Zealand camps that have been described. The cooks, with, much enterprise, run their own sausage-machine and make their own sausages from old? and cuds that would otherwise be thrown away. THE DAY’S WOHK. The day is a long one at an artillery camp. Horses require to bo fed and groomed and the stables cleaned out. Reveille goes at 5.30 o’clock: “.‘tables” is from 6 to 7: breakfast at 7.30; parade at 8.30 till noon, and. then again from 1.50 p.m. till 4.30 p.tn. The course for the new men lasts six reeks. It is in some respect? a ropitidon of what has been learned in the Dominion, but with very considerable smartemng-up, for speed is everything at the front. But no actual firing is done until the troops go over to Prance. Bidiriff is brushed up at an Imperial ridingschool adjacent. The camp has its veterinarian shoeing-smiths. and saddler?. The signallers and other Artillery specialists are put through a complete course: and in this respect there is an ingenious and very valuable equipment in the camp, with tho help of which an observation officer for 0.P.) operating in one hut with signallers can lay, with the aid of a map, an imaginary gun in another on an object in a Hat model landscape, and his accuracy is tested, with the aid of mechanism, by smoke-puffs, which come up at the point- indicated. This gives practical training. Educational work is done in the evenings at classes held by officers and noncommissioned officers who passed qualifications therefor. These have been in full swing for some time, and will now bo added to and extended under the new scheme. They include at present bookkeeping, accountancy, language?, mental science, mathematics, and sketching; and lectures are also given under special engagements. Agriculture is earned on in Ehs grounds round about, where 10 acres are already under potatoes this year. More still is coming under tho plough, rnd this work will be a means ox education under the new scheme. TRAINING RED CROSS MEN. Medical Corps men when tliey land from the transports proceed, like the N.Z.F.A. units, direct bo Ewshot. Hero they are classified “A” or “B,” The

“ A ” class arc put at once training, and. “ B class supply the details in the Homo New Zealand hospitals, hospital ships, and the hospital fatigues at Ewshot and the other camps. _ Training is practical. It comprises, besides thq usual hold and hospital work, courses in gas (especially in the use of helmets on wounded men), water duties, and how testing of water-carts should be _ done, and general hospital orderly duties, in a little model hospital in. camp. Further. advanced dressing-station work is practised on certain “ field ’ days in a model dressing-station constructed in a trench system? where dug-out conditions are adhered to as much as possible.

T/'t it be recorded finally that_ Kwshot Camp prodim-cs at irregular intervals its own camp paper, which pays tor itself—a- brightly written little publication entitled tbs * Yoitshot.’ which besides its interesting records and camp tit-bits. liclos tii do mourt rate the keen interest, our artillerists take in their own affairs, au-.l the esprit de corps existing amongst all ranks.