THE DEFENCE FORCES

Evening Star, Issue 21519, 18 September 1933, Page 2

THE DEFENCE FORCES

NOTES ON TRAINING [By Sam Bhowkk.] PARADES THIS WEEK Monday.—A. Company, Drill Hall. Tne?i>y.—D (M.R.) Company, Drill Hall; Transport Section, Central Battery. Wednesday. R.N.V.R., Divisional H.O. Thursday. R.N.Y.R., Divisional H.Q. t NAVAL RESERVES WEEKLY PARADES Divisional drills were carried out on Wednesday and Thursday, and the attendances on both occasions were very satisfactory. The syllabus of training on both nights was mainly confined to 4in gunnery, seamanship, mine-sweep-ing, wireless telegraphy, and signals. At the conclusion of class instruction each sub-division was exercised in the technique of falling in under arms in order to accustom the ratings to rapidly assembling in platoons. This exercise is occasionally necessary on board ship when a landing party under arms i» required. ANNUAL MUSKETRY COURSE r A commencement was made on Saturday, September 9, on the Pelichet Bay range with the annual obligatory rifle course. , Of some good scores Leading _ Seaman L. Ogg was top scorer with a. total of 112. R.H.V.R. BALL The annual R.N.V.R. hall will beheld in the Town Hall on Friday, September 29. This ball, which has been bighly_ successful and much appreciated since its inception some four years ago, is anticipated to prove as entertaining as previously. Tickets may be obtained by application to divisional headquarters, Tewsley street. VISITOR IMPRESSED During the course of the usual class instruction on Thursday, September 14, a call at the divisional headquarters was made by Lieutenant N. A. C. Letch, R.A.N., IT.M.A.S. Australia, who, after witnessing the various classes at their work, expressed himself as agreeably surprised, both at the nature of, and the application to, the instruction being earned out. ARTILLERY At the parade held on Wednesday last the Battery carried out a further step in the new syllabus, with sectional training in squad drill, gun drill, and New Zealand regulations, the drivers being instructed in the par.ts of the harness. Next .Wednesday's parade will see

further advances made in the year’s work. Each week sees some addition to the ranks, and recruits joining now are able to get the benefit of the full year’s artillery training and are not handicapped by starting in the middle of the more advanced stage of the work. THE OTAGO REGIMENT The First Battalion, the Otago Regiment, paraded at the Drill Hall on Monday evening, when a lecture was given by the commanding officer (Lieu-tenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, D. 5.0., M.C.). Colonel Falconer chose as his subject the trend of infantry roles and possible future developments. The evolution of the foot soldiers from the days when bows and arrows were used as weapons to the present time was traced. Then followed a forecast of the work of infantry in any future wars. THE MACHINE GUNNERS D (M.G.) Company paraded on Tuesday evening, and the officers and senior n.c.o.s continued their study of advanced machine-gun work, while the remainder of the company underwent instruction in the application of fire to varying types of targets. Good progress is reported with both classes. SUMMARY OF INFORMATION To keep officers in closer touch with current military matters, a summary of information is to be issued monthly. The first came to hand early last week and contains items of interest to members of the unit, and should servo to keep them informed of happenings within the regiment. This new departure should fill a gap in the regiment and should prove popular. BRIGADE COURSE Arrangements are being made to hold a course of instruction for the 3rd Now Zealand Infantry Brigade at Waikouaiti. The previous brigade course, held two years ago, was held at Burnham, but Waikouaiti should provide wider scope for tactical work. Eight officers and twelve n.c.o.s will bo taken from the Otago Regiment for the course, which will probably be held in November. BATTALION STRENGTH The strength of the battalion as at August 31 was 32 officers and 361 other ranks. The peace establishment for the unit is 31 officers and 485 other ranks. These figures do not include the bandsmen. THE CADETS FINAL INSTRUCTIONAL COURSE The third and final of a series of instructional courses for n.c.o.s of secondary school cadets was held at the Pelichet Bay rifle range during the past week. The instruction was in Vickers machine gunnery, and 28 n.c.o.s of the 2nd (Cadet) Batallion, the Otago Regiment, attended. Interest in the work was maintained to the end, and some splendid shooting scores were returned. Out of the 28 who completed the course 21 were marksmen and the remainder qualified. In the service target shoot Cadet I. Shrimpton made the good score of 180 out of a possible 175. This shoot consisted of firing 30 rounds at a triangle, and Cadet Shrimpton placed 21 hits on the scoring surface of the target. At the conclusion of the week’s training a match was fired against the machine gunners of the Otago Boys’ High School. Three practices were fired —two from 400yds and one from 300yds. The competition was keen, the High School boys winning, with 98 points, with the narrow margin of 2 points. OFFICERS CLUB VISITORS ENTERTAINED On Thursday evening a number of the officers of H.M.A.S. Australia were entertained by the members of the Otago Officers’ Club. The earlier portion of the evening was devoted to a lecture by Mr J. J. Kennedy on gems of New Zealand scenery and the life of the early Maoris. Interest was added to the speaker’s remarks by the screening of several moving pictures which illustrated the points ho brought out.