TERRITORIALS

Evening Star, Issue 18061, 31 August 1922, Page 8

TERRITORIALS

[By Skirmisher,]

Items of interest, concerning Corps (Town and Country), shooting, and 1 erritorial notes generally will be accepted. Copy, addressed to “ Skirmisher ,” should be in hand not later than Monday morning.

Captain M. M'P. Watt, Otago Eagiir.ent, has been, attached to 3rd C Battalion with, the rank of major. Captain T. M‘Carroll has been transferred from tho Reserve of Officers to 7th 0 Bttalion, Otago Eegimefit, with seniority as from March 11, 1921. The undermentioned second lieutenants to bo lieutenants as from July 7 last D. F. C. Saxton. sth C Battalion; W. Connor, 6th C Battalion; D. A. Solomon, 4th 0 Battalion; J. Parcel!, 4th C. Battalion. _ The undermentioned to be second lieutenants (on probation) Ist Battalion as from Jane 28 last Frederick Stanley Arthur, George Gibson Black, and Robert Irvine Rutherford. Second Lieutenant (temp.) C. Edgar has been transferred from the Canterbury Regiment to tho Bth C Battalion, Otago Regiment. Second Lieutenants N. W. M'G-orliick and A. T. M'Naughton have been attached to the 2nd Battalion and 3rd C Battalion, Otago Regiment, respectively. Second Lieutenant H. C. Sid ford, from Canterbury Regiment, has been transferred to tho 4th C Battalion, 0.R., and A. St. Clair Macgregor has been appointed to the rank of second lieutenant (bn probation) and attached to 7th C Battalion, O.R. According to -a recent gazette, sub-para-graph 12, appendix ix., N.Z. Regulations, has been revoked, and the following concerning Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration has been substituted " Applications for the decoration shall ho made on N.Z. Army Form, No. 76E, and will bo forwarded through the usual channel to General Headquarters. The Minister of Defence will recommend to the GovernorGeneral for approval the application of those officers who have qualified for the award. Where officers have served part of the necessary qualifying service in the Auxiliary Forces of the Empire (other than those of Now Zealand) proof <?f such service, in the form of certified true copies of certificates or other documents, must accompany Hie application.” My ‘ Diary Extracts,’ published in my last notes, were evidently road with much interest, as T have received several letters of appreciation. One correspondent sn enjoyed the course that he has asked me to publish a. few sidelights in my column. The following is an extract from his letter :

I attended -right through the course, and can. honestly sa-v that- I had one of the best times going. Of course, it did not quite come- np to the standard of our n.c.o. camps at Oamn-ru and Burnham —and many .readers will ho reminded ofytho'good (and noisy) times we had there—but still wo had the best time possible. “Bobby." our Vickers squad mascot, became famous in a- week, and proved himself a rattling good sort. One day ho started an argument with the sergeant about the futility (or necessity) of war, and soon had a good crowd of intent listeners, who were amazed at some of tho terrible “jaw-breakers” he was using. It was then that we found out that “ Bobby ” was a staunch pacifist. Rather a humorous sequel to his “egg shooting” happened during our route march on Friday. On being congratulated on his good “shooting,” “Bobby” quietly confessed that ho had hit the wrong fellow ! Tho route march round tho Lower Portobello road was very much enjoyed by all the men, and they were divided as to whether tho march or the “community singing ” was tho better. The part songs were snug with igreat gusto. The chap conducting our section’s singing used his bayonet as a baton, and leapt all over the road roaring; “Sing, you beggars, sing!” The last song we had on the march—just -as we were reaching the hall —was ‘ Home, Sweet Home,’ and then a haka. On Thursday many and varied were the speculations regarding tho result of the machine gun versus rifles competition; hut- before it was all over I think we Vickers gunners convinced the others that our gun was an easy first. Tho pun -behaved itself as every good gun should, and we didn’t have a stoppage all clay. Tire “runaway” gun mentioned in your notes was really great; it was spitting ten rounds into a fourinch ring without any holding. Before the course finished I managed to squeeze opinions out of some ■of the men, and I did not find on© d.iscontended fellow, The general opinion was very aptly expressed by one chap, who said : “I wish old Billy Massey’would send us up to Burnham for a week or two now. We’d show the other South Island ‘Terries’ how to drill.” Them’s my sentiments, too. I wonder if “ W.F.M.” will take tho hint? On Saturday, after the dismiss, a still small voice piped for “ Three cheers for the adjutant,” and ho got them—good, roaring, British -cheers. Then came the call for cheers for the sergeants-ma-jor, and tho others were repeated fortissimo. We were all sorry it was over—officers, n.c.o.s and men—but wo knew it could not last for ever, so some of us said to ourselves : “Mo for the next- one,” and wo’ll be there, tod! From tho foregoing it may be considered that the six-day courses are going to be very popular with trainees; and they certainly afford instructors a better chance of turning out good soldiers than do the hour and a-half weekly drills. On Saturday last- the Artillery and Ist Battalion Bands met for a game of Rugby, a challenge having been thrown out by tho former. After a good wallow in the mud, the match ended in a draw, with a score of 6 all. In the evening tho Artillery Band were the guests of tho Ist Battalion Band at a smoke concert held in the Ist Battalion bandroom. The function was a most successful one, and a credit to all concerned. There was a fine show of talent, including vocal, elocutionary, and instrumental items by members of both bands. -Sergeant Bartlett, W. 0., acted as chairman of the evening. It is good to see the two regimental hands meet on such friendly and brotherly terms, and -it is to be hoped that this will bo tho forerunner of many such happy gatherings. The toasts of the evening included “The Referee” (Mr Marsden), whoso efforts were very highly appreciated.

i The first of the secondary school annual barracks was held by the 'M'Glashan College Senior Cadets at tho college from. August 18 to 24 inclusive, and fifty hoys were present. Lieutenant IS. M. Satterthwaite acted its officer commanding barracks, assisted by Lieutenant G. M'Cornuick, who instructed the Cadets in drill, S..S.M. Leamuont and S-.M. ’ Hayman in musketry, and S.M. Johnston, in physical training. During the barracks the annual musketry course was .fired on tho school ,25yds range, and a remarkable “shot” ', came to light. Cadet JB. Gray established ; what I understand is an easy record for : the district, if not for the dominion. This lad put on the phenomenal score of fiftylive consecutive “ bulls,” registering a possible of 240 in two practices of 25 and 50 rounds respectively. Cadet Gray’s future career as a rifle shot should be well worth watching. The daytime was taken up with drill, physical training, and musketry, and tho evenings were devoted to lectures. Possibly in order to put the hoys in happy mood before starting on solid training, a danoe was held on the Friday evenong, after the barracks was well established. On Sunday the assembly attended church parade at tho Maori Hill Presbyterian Church. On Monday evening the officer commanding barracks delivered! an interesting and instructive lecture on ‘ Intelligence Work in Franco ’; and Lieutenant Gillman occupied Tuesday evening with an equally interesting talk i on ‘ Eoyal Military College, Dimtroon.’ ' AVednesday evening was treated as an j “ oft ” night. On Thursday before breaki ing barracks a school team of ten Cadets fired for the ‘ Weekly Press ’ challenge! shield competition. They put up a fine performance indeed, scoring a team average of 64.7 in a possible 68. The competition last year was won with a 66

average, so the M’Gkshan College Cadets should bo pretty close to top score this season. The individual scores for tho team in the two practices exclusive of “grouping” are as under-Cadet P. M‘Skimming 28, 40 (possible); Cadet C. Wilson 28, 39; Cadet B. Hankinson 27, 59; Cadet S. Gilldson 26, 59; Cadet 0.. Thomson 24, 39; Cadet B. Gray 27, 38; Cadet R. Greenslado 28, 37; Cadet C. Flesslles 27, 37.,; Gadot H. -Spedcn 24, 37; Corporal R. Ross 27, 36. The time allotted for tho firing of this competition is between August 1 and December 13. At tho conclusion of tho barracks the officer commanding presented tho Lady Godlcy challenge cups won by the college. Tho senior cup wont to Sergeant T. Cappcll, and tho junior to Cadet B. Gray. The first of tho Cadet six-day courses will take place at tho Kensington Drill Hall from September 11 to 16, and will be attended by about 125 Senior Cadets. Those lads who have already completed their evening drills, and who are attending one of the three six-day courses, will be gran ted'leave until the commencement of their course. A fortnightly instructional class for Cadet officers has been inaugurated by the area officer (Lieutenant Satterlh-waite), and is held at the Drill-Hall on alternate Thursday evenings. Instruction and lectures are given on map-reading, topography. and tactics. I believe I was in error In stating in my notes recently that the Lst Battalion officers’ ball was tho first military ball held since the war. I have been reminded that the 12th (B) Battery held last- year what used to ho an annual fixture before the war. On Wednesday next, the 6th inst._, the 12£h and 14th Batteries purpose holding a military ball, and with their combined efforts it should-surpass all previous functions. All the committees are working hard towards a successful issue. Tho programme lias been designed to meet all tastes as far as possible, and fox trots are not included to the exclusion of other forms of dancing. The regimental colors, red and blue, will naturally form tho basis of a decorative scheme, which promises to out-do in conception and appropriateness anything yet attempted in. Dunedin. ft- is hoped that as many nx N.Z.E.F. Artillerymen as possible will attend, as the function may thus become a form of -reunion ; also, of course, all infantry and mounted people and cxgunnera of the various batteries. That all present members will be there goes without saying.