TERRITORIAL NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 19774, 26 January 1928, Page 14

TERRITORIAL NOTES

[By Skirmisher.] Training for the second half of the military year commenced when the 12th Battery, N.Z.A., entrained to undergo a week’s training at Matarae on Saturday, the 14th inst. Last Saturday 12th Field Battery (B Battery) returned from the camp. The weather throughout the week was perfect, so a full programme of training was carried out, and the effect of the continuous sun was to be seen in tho tanned faces of the men. The battery was commanded by Captain L. A. Rhodes, and under him were Lieutenant H. M. Taylor and Second-lieutenant J. C. M'Farlane, who has recently been appointed to commission rank. Major A B. Williams, D. 5.0., R.N.Z.A., was chief instructor, with Captain G. B. Parkinson, R.N.Z.A., who has recently returned from England, as instructor in gunnery. The camp was inspected on the Tuesday by the General Officer Commanding N.Z.M.P., and on Thursday by the Colonel Commandant of the Southern Command. On Friday, the Director of Artillery, Colonel F. Symon, C.M.G., D. 5.0., inspected the battery at its live shell practice. The effect of training with permanent horses during the year, as many as fourteen being available on night parades, was very marked in camp. What the men may have lacked in horsemanship they made up for with confidence and enthusiasm, and one could truly say that the battery was mobile. Sixty horses were available in the camp, and of these the gun teams have had continuous artillery training for nearly eighteen months. There was none of the old difficulty of teaming and reteaming horses hired for the one camp. It was found that “ Reveille ” could not bo timed for the usual time of 5 a.m., so the day began at 6 a.m. After the first two days the battery paraded mounted at 8.45 for inspection by the battery commander. Sunday was a quiet day, on which there was no drill apart from the parade for Divine service in the morning. On Monday and Tuesday tho training was carried out in and about the camp. On Wednesday -the camp was left behind, and the battery was practised in the work it would Imve to do on Thursday and Friday at live shell practice. If there was one feature more marked than any other during the shooting of the battery it was the efficiency of the gunners. _ At all times the guns responded quickly and accurately to the able command of the battery officers. During the evenings there was the Y.M.C.A. recreation marquee for the men, Mr C. E. Postgate being the representative in camp. A much appreciated adjunct to this marquee was a wireless set controlled by Mr F. Whipp, who also acted as official photographer of tho camp. There were two concerts and two sports evenings, one of which was with horses. Before dinner each evening bathing parades were held in the Taieri River, which flows by tho camp.

Saturday morning was given to battery competitions, after which the camp was struck and the battery returned to town. Following are tho competition results Sub-section Competition.—B Sub. 1, C Sub. 2. Layers’ Competition.—Bdr. Gi. M. Thom 1, Bdr. A. M. Quennell 2. Drivers’ Competition.—Gunner F. Fraser 1, Bdr. W. S. Harbrow 2. —Battery Staff Competitions.— Morse Flag.—Gunner A. A. Marshall 1. Bdr. W. Clntterbnck 2. Lucas Lamp.—Bdr. W. Clntterbnck 1, Gunner A. A. Marshall 2. Semaphore.—Gunner T. C. Ritchie 1, Gunner D. L. D’Arcy 2. Telephone.-—Bdr. K. Clntterbnck 1, Gunner D. L. D’Arcy 2. Except for a. small staff of E.N.Z.A. personnel the camp is vacant until February 4. when the 11th Battery (0 Battery), from Invercargill, will travel up for the week’s training. They will be followed by the 14th Medium Battery on February 11. To-morrow (Friday) the Maniototo Troop of the Otago Mounted Rifles is to carry out a shooting competition with the members of the Maniototo Rifle Club at Rnnfnrly. Some of The exmembers of the old Volunteer Mounted Rifles in this district have very generously donated trophies for this competition, and an enjoyable day’s shooting is being looked forward to. W.0.l (Staff Sergeant-major) W. R. C. Mbyte left to-day to conduct the shoot. Ist Battalion (Otago Regiment) held is first evening parades this week, and the Cadets are to commence training early next month.