THE DEFENCE FORGES

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 14

THE DEFENCE FORGES

NOTES FROM THE SERVICES

[By Sam Bkottni.]

fixtures,

November B.—Reunion of ; Canterbury Regiment, N.Z.E.F., at Christchurcb.

November 10.—N.Z.F.A. and N.Z.E reunion at Timeru.

November 22. Otago Division, R.N.V.R., route march.

April 14 (1931). —Mounted Rifles camp (Burnham).

WEEK’S WAR ANNIVERSARIES

November 8 (191G).—First Battalion, Otago Regiment, relieved in the line by Wellington troops and moved back to billets near Bac St. Manr.

November 9 (1914)'.—Emden destroyed at Cocos Island.

November 9 (1918). —Organised enemy resistance abandoned, and retreat over the ■western front became general.

1 November 10 (1918) —Otago Regiment contributed to guard of honour accorded to M. Poincaifo at Lo Qucsnoy.

November 11 (1918). —Hostilities suspended under terms dictated by Allies. Otago Regiment left Lo Quesnoy ■ for Beauvais. November 12 (1916). —-First Battalion, Otago Regiment, relieved First Battalion, Auckland Regiment, in support. ■ - .November 12 (1917). —Lieutenantcolonel A. B. Charters presented medal ribands - awarded for gallantry during the Passchendaele operations. . November 12 (1918) .—Otago Regiment arrived at Beauvais. November 13 (1916). —N.Z. Mounted Rifles camped at Mazar. ■November 13 (1917). —Otago Regiment returned to Ypres area. November 13 (1918). —Major-general Sir A. H. Russell addressed all officers of the N.Z. Division. • November; 14 ; (1917).—N.Z. Mounted Rifles iri action at Ayun Kara. November 14 (1918). —N.Z. Mounted Rifles memorial service at Ayun Kara. N.Z. Division attended thanksgiving service at Beauvais. AROUND THE MESS TABLE. Lieutenant C. Shuttleworth, N.Z.S.C., and Corporals P. G. Monk, N-Z.P.S., and W. K. M'Donald, N.Z.P.S., proceeded to Trentham on Tuesday morning to .attend a staff course. In the A. examination for promotion of second lieutenants to lieutenants, which was held last week, three out of the five candidates were successful in passing. 1 Captain M. J. C. De Meric, M.V.0., R. has been lent to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, and will take command of H.M.S. Diomede for her voyage out to the dominion. The intention is that he should then transfer to the command of, H.M.S. Dunedin for the latter’s voyage to Chatham for recommissioning. He will be in the pay of. New Zealand pbobably for about eight months. Paymaster .Lieutenant - commander, Hubert P- Chapman, R.N.. who left for New Zealand at the end of the month, was previously in .the Malaya. He served in H.M.S. Lion at the outbreak of war, and subsequently with the Albion, the Sutlej, Juno, and Royal Sovereign. During hostilities he held the position of interpreter in French and German. In 1920 ho served with the Rhine flotilla, and also went on a mission to Rumania. In 1921 he served at Gibraltar. In 1923 be was chief clerk to Admiral Sir M. E. Browning, and from 1928 he lias been in the Malava in the Mediterranean. In October. 1916. be was mentioned in despatches by the officer commanding the India Expeditionary Force, and he was awarded the Order bf the Star of Rumania in 1921. CHANGE OF DUTIES. There have been a number of changes of duty amongst the local Defence Department officers. Lieutenant C. Shuttle worth, N.Z.S.C., who has proceeded to Trentham for a staff course, has relinquished the ‘ posts of adjutant of the Otago Mounted Rifles and area officer, area 118. Lieutenant A. H. L. Sugden, N.Z.S.C., has been appointed adjutant of the mounted regiment, and Captain S. M. Satterthwaite, N.Z.S.C., has been appointed area officer, area 118, in addition to their previous, duties of area officer, area HA, and adjutant of the Otago Regiment respectively. OTAGO REGIMENT. A and C Companies commenced their class firing with the Lewis gun on the Pelechit Bay range on Monday last, and continued throughout the week. The attendances were good, and when the short time that some of the men have handled the gun is taken into consideration the scoring _ was quite satisfactory. These companies will parade at the Drill Hall next week. D (M.G.) Company paraded at the Drill Hall on Monday, and spent the greater part of the evening in preparing the guns for firing, and later carried on with aiming. This company wall parade at the butts on Monday next for shooting. Mufti will be worn, and the machine gunners are advised to take a light snack with them; hot tea will be provided. The parade is timed for 6 p.m., but any one who can attend before that time could give valuable help in making the final adjustments to the guns R.N.Y.R. The parade of the Otago Division, R.N.Y.R., lias been postponed for one week, and will now bo held on November 22. With the coining of more congenial weather, the unit is turning its attention to boat pulling and sailing. Great keenness is being manifested, and from present appearances the local lads should bo able to give a good account of themselves iii the case of a competition against a crew from any of the vessels of tho New Zealand Division eventuating! , HIGH SCHOOL COMPETITIONS. The company and platoon competitions held to select the most efficient non-commissioned officers in the Otago Boys’ High School unit will take place on the afternoons of -Monday and Tuesday of next week. BAND NOTES. Tho Bugle and Trumpet Band of tho 2nd (C) Battalion, Otrtgo Regiment, is practising assiduously under tho direction of Lieutenant J. L. Napier in preparation for sounding the ‘Last Post’ and ‘ Reveille ’ at St. Paul’s Cathedral on November 11 (Armistice Day). Up to the present the band has received no request, as has been tho case in previous years, to sound the calls at the Cenotaph in the Queen's Gardens. Word has been received from headquarters that the ucw uniforms will be issued to the personnel of the band on Monday evening. The members of the band are looking forward to parading witli the Otago

Division, R.N.V.H., on November 22, when they, in conjunction with another band, will provide the music for the route march. 1

Application Ims been made for extra trumpets,' bugles, and drums, and as soon as these instruments come to hand there will bo vacancies for a number of bandsmen. Good drummers will be specially welcomed, as the band is weak in them this year. Anyone wishing to join the band should communicate with the area officer at the Drill Hall or direct with Lieutenant Napier at Ford Motors Ltd. The band is indebted to Sergeantmajor M'Kcmsie,, who has donated a medal to be competed for by members of the band. Two other medals will also bo donated to the band for competition amongst the members.

BENEATH THE WINDSOCK. DOINGS AT THE ’DROME. The. commencement of a tri-weekly air service between Christchurch and Dunedin is a definite indication of- the gradual assimilation of modern ideas by New Zealanders. The development of air-mindedness is a slow process, but it is by no moans unsteady, and this is but the preliminary to more extensive operations by a larger company. When the machine arrived on her maiden trip with Squadron-leader- M. C. M'Gregor at the joy-stick, ho was met over Port Chalmers by Flying-officer Olsen in the Otago Aero Club’s plane, who escorted the big Do Haviland to the air port at North Taion whore an official welcome and congratulations were extended by Mr 11 E. Barrowclough and other members of the Aero Club. A ground engineer lias now boon appointed by the Aero Chib, who have selected Mr A. W. Burbidgc for the position. Mr Bnrbidgo was previously with the Canterbury Aero Club, and is a fully-qualified and certified ground engineer. Ho will commence bis new duties on December 1. As the club cannot possess two machines until a ground engineer has been appointed, Flying-officer Olson will bring the now plane down from Wigram about the same date, when he hopes to have some of his pupils, on solo flying. PLANES FOR BUSY MEN. The, increasing utility of commercial aviation in Now Zealand was convincingly demonstrated by Mr A. 1). Short, the well-known judge of shorthorn cattle, who, in order to carry out nidging engagements at Gisborne and Blenheim shows, chartered a plane to'convey him from Wellington to the shows. Without this rapid means- of transport it would have been impossible for Mr Short to have included With shows, but the Hermes engined SimmondsSpartan plane, piloted by Flightlieutenant J. Buckridge, transported Mr Short rapidly and comfortably to Gisborne, and from there on to Blenheim.