THE DEFENCE FORCES

Evening Star, Issue 21193, 29 August 1932, Page 2

THE DEFENCE FORCES

NOTES ON TRAINING [By Sam Bbowkb.] THE OTAGO REGIMENT. TRAINING PROGRESSING. The various companies of the Otago Regiment are carrying through the syllabus, and good progress is being made. All ranks are showing great enthusiasm, and are rapidly reaching a high standard. I). (M.G.) Company has made good progress, and the standard tests to be held in about a fortnight should disclose good results. The Mosgiel platoon of A Company is now twenty-six strong, and the members aro very keen. , ARTILLERY. 12TH BATTERY. On Wednesday the battery held a further drill parade, when there was a good attendance. Further advances were made in all branches of the year’s work. On Saturday night the battery dance was held in tho R.N.V.R. Hall in Tewsley street, where a tastefully-decorated hall, a good orchestra, an excellent floor, a well-arranged programme, novelty dances, and a well-served supper combined to make sixty-five couples agree that it was a “ good show.” The spirit of goodfellowship existing between the units was very evident, and the naval uniform mingling with the more sober khaki or 11 mufti ” was a picturesque sight. Tho committee responsible for the arrangements is to be heartily congratulated on a well-planned, well-organised, and well-conducted function. There will be 'no battery parade on Wednesday next, the 31st inst. . WAR GAME. CONCLUDING SITUATIONS. The war game, which has been conducted in the Otago Officers’ Club rooms for the last few weeks under the control of Major 0. H. Mead, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., was concluded on Monday evening with the occupation of a defensive position by a brigade. The disposition of troops down to platoon areas and the machine-gun and artillery fire plans Were discussed in detail. The game dealt successively with the handling of an advance guard, the gaining of contact with the opposing forces, the attack by the advanced guard as a whole, followed by tho occupation of a defensive position covering a river obstacle. TACTICAL EXERCISES. PREPARING FOR EXAMINATIONS. In preparation for the practical portion of tho promotion examinations, to be held on September 4 and 10, the officers eligible to sit have carried out a series of tactical exercises on the ground. REGIMENTAL ALLIANCE. HOW IT CAME ABOUT. A recent number of the ‘ Journal of the East Surrey Regiment ’ contains an interesting account of how that reginiqnt. with which the Otago Regiment is allied, became connected with tho Royal Marines. It appears that _in 1702 Queen Anne ordered the formation of six additional regiments of marines, and Villier’s Regiment, in accordance with the seniority of its colonel, ranked second among the six and is, to-day, the First Battalion of tho East Surrey Regiment. Villior’s Regiment of Marines fought at Gibraltar, and the long list of distinctions borne on the colours of the present regiment is headed by “ Gibraltar, 1704-5.” After the peace of Utrecht, Goring’s Marine Regiment, as Villier’s Regiment was then known, was disbanded, but in 1714 the three senior . marine ■ regiments—those of Wills, Goring, and Mor—and Goring’s Regiment became the 31st Foot. The close connection between tho Chatham Division and the East Surrey Regiment Was the result of the burning of the Kent ill 1825. On February 7 of that year the 31st Regiment of Foot embarked at Gravesend for Calcutta, _ the right wing and headquarters being in the East India Company’s vessel Kent. On March 1, when the ship was in the Bay of Biscay, she caught fire and finally blew up. The survivors were rescued and taken back to Chatham, where the officers Were taken into the mess and the men into barracks and looked after until they sailed again for India. In the mess room of the barracks is a picture of the burning of the Kent, and a letter of thanks from the colonel and officers of the 31st Regiment, while a silver-gilt snuffbox was also presented to the mess as a token of gratitude for the liberal hospitality. In this way came about the present custom of the officers of the Royal Marines and the East Surrey Regiment being honorary members of each other’s messes.