THE DEFENCE FORGES

Evening Star, Issue 21507, 4 September 1933, Page 13

THE DEFENCE FORGES

NOTES ON TRAINING [By Sam Brown*.] PARADES THIS WEEK Monday.—l4th Battery, Central Battery. A Company, Drill Hall, Tuesday.—D. (M. 0.) Company, Drill Hall. Transport Section, Central Battery. Wednesday.—R.N.V.R., Div, H.Q. Thursday.— R.N.V.R., Div. H.Q.

NAVAL RESERVE PARADES The whole division will assemble on Wednesday, September G. which will enable officers and men to attend the services ball on Thursday, on which evening there will be no drills. MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING The fifth match in the competition for the K. S. Ramsay Cup will again be carried out. As many 'as possible are requested to bo present. ANNUAL MUSKETRY COURSE The annual practice will commence at Pelichet Bay Range on September 9, at 2 p.m. This will consist of classification firing at 100, 200. and 300 yards. All ratings are obliged to carry out those practices on any of the following dates: —September 9, 16, and 23. On conclusion the highest scorers will fire off for the Roberts Cup. COMMUNICATIONS BRANCH The qualifying examination for ordinary telegraphists has been completed, and the following have qualified:— Ordinary Seamen E. T. Buskin, J. R. Bowler, R. Wheeler, J. W. Faulkner, J. W. Williamson, H. A. Gray, A. B. Le Sueur, W. E. Lewis, W. E. M’Dougall. The foregoing are now rated ordinary telegraphists, and will continue training in wireless telegraphy with a view to passing for higher rating in this branch of communications. Training in the cruisers will be carried out to further the advancement to leading and petty officer telegraphists as opportunity offers.

ARTILLERY 12TH FIELD BATTERY At the parade of the unit held on Wednesday there was a large attendance, and some good drill performed. The battery staff carried out further classification work, while the remainder of the battery spent the first half of the perio! in sub-section squad drill, and then for the second half the right section was instructed in gun drill, while the left section was given a talk on New Zealand regulations. Right section drivers were instructed in parts of harness. The syllabus for the parade on Wednesday next incorporates drill with gas masks, should prove both interesting and instructive.

14TH MEDIUM BATTERY The 14th Battery paraded at Central Battery last Monday evening, when the evening's work consisted of a continuation of anti-gas training, which was commenced on the previous parade, and which has proved of considerable interest due to the fact that to the majority, of men it is entirely new work. Any men desiring to join the battery should communicate with the adjutant, 14th Battery, at Central Battery, St. Kilda, where full particulars regarding term of enlistment, etc., will be. supplied to them. There will be the usual parade this evening.

ARTILLERY N.C.O.’S The following fixtures have been arranged by the Artillery N.C.O.s Club:—Artillery dance to be held in the Otago Motor Club Rooms, Moray place, on Saturday evening,. September 9, next. This dance is open to all ranks of both batteries. Dress, mufti.

N.C.O.s annual dinner, to be held in Lake’s Restaurant, Dowling street, on September 14. Dress, mufti.

THE OTAGO REGIMENT A COMPANY Tho first recreational parade of A Company was held at the Drill Hall on _ Monday, when Staff Sergeantmajor A, W. Johnston conducted basketball, in accordance with the army rules. The next parade will be held at the Drill Hall to-night. MACHINE GUN COMPANY D, (M.G.) Company underwent _ instruction in the use of tho various auxiliary instruments connected with its worL on Tuesday night. The barforesight, night firing sights, and slide rule have now been studied, and when the company carries out indirect fire and night firing its uses will be more fully understood. TRANSPORT SECTION The Regimental Transport Section will parade at Central Battery to-mor-row night, when limber drill with double teams will he carried out. Six members are required to bring this section up to strength. Applicants must have had experience with horses, and particulars may be obtained from the adjutant (Captain S. M. Satterthwaite) at the Drill Hall, or from Sergeant Moir at the Battery to-morrow evening.

SERVICES BALL

ARRANGEMENTS WELL IN HAND The arrangements in connection with the services ball, to be held in the Town Hall on Thursday next, are now well in hand. Elaborate decorations are being prepared under the direction of Lieutenant A. B. Gladwin, the necessary constructional work being executed by Sergeant Moir and the pioneer section of the Otago Regiment under Sergeant J. Traill. Tickets for the ball may be obtained from the commanding officers and .adjutants of the various units in the district.

PELICHET BAY RANGE

IMPROVED FACILITIES With the assistance of unemployed jabour, the range warden has greatly improved the Pelichet Bay rifle range during the past two years. The 500 yd mound has been topdressed and rolled, and the fine weather experienced recently has brought the grass away. Tlie stop butt has been levelled and the old markers’ gallerv completely filled in. The front of the butt has been battened and garden seeds planted throughout its length. A new drain has been dm* from the markers’ gallery, through the flank of the range, and then diagonally across the range to link up with the creek. This drains the area between the 200 yd mound and the gallery. The bank on the right of the range has been battened and ice plants planted, and by the end of the season it should be covered, Several large tracts have been cleared of manuka and sown in grass for the grassing of the artillery horses. Germination did not take place, however, and the area will have to be resown.

The range now presents a very different aspect from that of a few years ago, and the improvements will no doubt be appreciated by members of the Territorial forces and rifle clubs.

CADET COURSE

LIGHT AUTOMATIC INSTRUCTION Thirty-eight Cadets from the Otago Boys’ High School, King Edward Technical College, Christian Brothers’ High School, and John M’Glashan College attended a course of instruction on light automatics last week. The syllabus was a comprehensive one, and included Lewis gun drill, stripping and assembling, mechanism, care before, during, and after firing, and stoppages. The Lewis gun course was also fired on the range. Great keenness was shown by all who attended, and the shooting was very good. Fifteen gained marksmen’s badges, sixteen qualified, and seven did not qualify. The Cadets who did not qualify were rather small and young, but did very well under the circumstances. The highest score (73 points) was obtained by Sergeant R. Whittleson, of 0.8.H.5., Corporal B. G. Johnson, of the same school, being a good second with a score of 69 out of a possible of 75. This score was equalled by Cadet J. A. Graham, 0.8.H.5.

INVITATION FROM RETURNED MEN LECTURE AT CLUB ROOMS All officers and n.c.o.s have been invited to attend a lecture at the R.S.A. Club on Saturday, when Mr C. E. Scott will speak on ‘ German South-west Africa.’ Mr Scott served throughout General Botha’s campaign and in De Wet’s rebellion of 1914-15,