THE DEFENCE FORCES

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 2

THE DEFENCE FORCES

NOTES FROM THE SERVICES [By Sam Brown*.] ■ WEEK’S WAR ANNIVERSARIES. November 30_ (1917). —Otago . and Canterbury Regiments combined m a practice attack on a facsimilie of Polderhoek Chateau area. . December 1 (1914). —Main Body arrived at Port Said; (1917) First Battalion of the Otago and Canterbury Regiments took over the front line system west of Polderhoek Chateau; (1918) Church service at Bavais, King and Prince of Wales attended. December ,2 (1914).—Main Body arrived at Alexandria; (1916) Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, relieved Wellington troops, Cordonnerie sector. December 3 (1914). —Main Body left Alexandria for Zeitoun Camp. R.N.V.R. In spite of the unfavourable weather conditions which prevailed on Saturday afternoon, the Otago Division, R.N.V.R., gave a fine display of ceremonial drill. This was the first public parade the division lias held, and many complimentary remarks were made by the onlookers. The parade was held with the. object of preparing the officers and ratings for an inspection to be carried out by Commodore Geoffery Blake, C. 8., D. 5.0., next March. Music for the marching was provided by toe Highland Pipe Band and the Tnimpet and Bugle Band of the 2nd (Cadet) Battalion, Otago Regiment. Training for the year was brought to a conclusion on Tuesday night, when both sub-divisions paraded before Commander E. F. Watson, R.N.R., officer commanding the division, for iho presentation of trophies. EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. The need for practical experience was stressed by Major-general R. Young, General Officer Commanding toe New Zealand Military Forces, when opening the Non-commissioned Officers Club Rooms at Wellington recently. “It is on you lads that we depend to carry on the old traditions, and anything we can hand down to you,” said Major-general Young. There was nothing Tike actual experience; reading about things was not the same as gaining ‘ practical experience. As an example, he instanced football. All could read about football, he said; but until one played the game and got into it he could not get the experience. And so with the Army, and those who had the experience wished to hand it on. He did not wish to make them blush, hut on looking round he had been most impressed with the good type and solid cut of the officers and non-commissioned officers present. General Young referred to a lecture; given recently at Oxford by the Hon. Sir John Fdftescue, writer of a history of the British Army, Sir John had commenced his address by saying that trials and endeavours, the traditions of service, sacrifice, and obedience were handed down 1 to the Army. And that was so. They had the traditions of their units throughout the. war, but it was the traditions of toe soldier that had carried the nation a tremendous long; way. pud would carry it a Jong way lurtpef yet. From his own Experience, iff their training was never used, the friendships that a man made in the club rooms and in camp were some of the happiest that could be made. Some of toe best friends he had were made in the old volunteer days. They were “ stickers.” In conclusion, General Young advised the l men to stick to the “show ” and tighten up their girths. O.M.R. The Otago Mounted Rifles will parade at the Drill Hall at 19.30 hours on Monday to discuss the tactical scheme which is to be worked out in conjunction with other units on toe following Saturday. COMBINED TACTICS. On Saturday week all units in Dunedin will combine in a tactical scheme to be worked out on the hills .at the back of Kaikorai. The units participating will be the Otago Mounted Rifles, toe 12th and 14th Batteries, and the Otago Regiment, It will he assumed that a force has landed and is approaching Dunedin from the south. The 3rd N.Z, Infantry Brigade has been ordered to hold up its advance and protect Dunedin. The brigade has been ordered to hold the lino Abbott’s Hill-Kaikorai Hill-Green Island Bush. The Ist Battalion, Otago Regiment, one squadron, Otago Mounted Rifles, plus one machine gun section, and the 12th and 14th Batteries have been given toe task of holding - the sector Ashburn Hall-Silver-stream road-Abbott’s Hill. Colonel H. E, Barrowclough, D. 5.0., M;C., officer commanding 3rd Infantry Brigade, will direct the exercise, and will be assisted by Major O. H. Mead, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C. VICTORY CHALLENGE SHIELD. Shooting for the Victory Challenge Shield competition, which is open to secondary school cadets, was completed on November 25. The Waitaki Boys’ High School unit was the only one, to enter a team, and put on the remarkably fine score of 179.5. It will bo remembered that this trophy was won by the same unit last year with a score of 161. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. , A and C Companies paraded at toe Drill Hall on Monday last and continued with Lewis gun work, when the mistakes noticed during! the shooting on the range were explained and steps were taken to j-ectify the, defects. Owing to wet weather, too parade of D Company at the range, was postponed till last night. The final parade of the year will be held at the Drill Hall on December 8, when the combined tactical scheme scheduled for tho previous Saturday will be discussed. ■ BOXING MEDALS. The medals won in the recent Area XI.A boxing tournament have come to hand and may be obtained from the area officer, Lieutenant A. H. L. Sugden, N.Z.S.C., on application. BENEATH THE WINDSOCK. DOINGS AT THE ’DROME. During February tho Otago Aero Club will hold an opening clay at -its aerodrome, North Taieri. A subcommittee has been appointed to make the preliminary arrangements, and everything points to a successful function. Application is being made for a flight of New Zealand Air Force machines to attend, and it is hoped that the autogyro at present on tho water will give demonstrations. ... Tho members of the committee are conferring with tho mayor in order that a fitting welcome will be given to Mr Oscar Garden when ho arrives at

Dunedin on Tuesday in the course of his aerial tour of the dominion. It is hoped to arrange a function during Mr Garden’s stay at which local flying enthusiasts will bo able to meet him. Those who attend the aerodrome on Sunday afternoon will have the pleasure of hearing the Dunedin Tramways Band playing at the landing ground. Last week Flying-officer E. G. Olsen and Mr H. L. Paterson visited Balclutha for the purpose of selecting a suitable site for an aerodrome. A considerable number of sites were visited, and one near Stirling was considered the most suitable for training purposes. Certain minor improvements will have to bo made, however, in the way of levelling and removing trees, and to this end the assistance of the Balclutha Borough Council is to be sought. At a meeting of the committee of the Otago Aero Club held on Wednesday Flying-officer E. 0. Olsen reported that during the month ended November 20 a total of 77h 25min were spent in the air; of that time, 57h 45min were occupied in dual control flights and. 13h 40min in cross-country flying and petrol tests. During the period there were 7J non-flying days as far as instructional work was concerned. Training is continuing as usual at the aerodrome, and , the instructor hopes to have four or five pupils going solo within the nest week or so. The recently appointed _ ground engineer commences his duties on 'Monday, and the club will then be eligible to hold two machines. Application has already been made for the second one, but nothing has been heard of it yet. There is apparently no lack of would-be pilots in Otago, and the secretary is still receiving numerous applications for particulars regarding the course of instruction. It is understood there is every prospect of one or two ladies taking lessons in the near future. AIR MOTOR CYCLE. An interesting demonstration of the utility of “ baby ” aeroplanes for tourists has just been made by M. Jean Joubert, a chemist, of Angouleme, who was a military pilot during the war. For a long time he has held that the world needed a flying machine which would be to the ordinary touring plane what the motor cycle is to the motor car. Constructing one himself, he flew it on several short tests. The machine (a single-seater monoplane), has a twenty-five horse-power engine and. m running order, with the pilot included, weighs only about 4Jcwt. It _ has a maximum speed of sixty-five miles per hour in favourable weather. M. Joubert set out on his “air motor cycle ” from Angouleme, and two hours later landed safely at Poitiers, seventy-four miles away. His speed had been kept low by adverse winds and heavy rainstorms.