THE NAVAL RESERVES

Evening Star, Issue 21583, 1 December 1933, Page 11

THE NAVAL RESERVES

OTAGO DIVISIONS FINAL PARADE FOR YEAR

The local R.N.V.R. training for the year was completed yesterday, when the Otago Division paraded-for the reception of trophies, awards, and remarks from the official reports, of tho commodore commanding the New Zealand station.

Forty weekly parades had been carried out for the year and five half-day parades. Officers and ratings had been put through obligatory sea training on H.M.S. Wakakura, and in addition ono officer had performed voluntary training on H.M.S. Dunedin, whilst live ratings (one petty officer, two leading seamen, and two able seamen, R.N.V.R.) had completed seven days on H.M.S. Diomede at sea.

The communications branch, consisting of signalmen and wireless telegraphists, bad been put through intensive courses on board the cruisers whilst in port, the training being a further advance on the work connected with the V.S. and W.T.

Two junior officers had completed the A course ac Wellington, and one of them qualified in navigation, the examination being set and conducted by the Marine Department. On the active list in addition to officers and instructors there are serving as follows; —Two sub-divisional petty officers, four petty officers, eight leading seamen, twenty-five able seamen, forty-five ordinary seamen, one leading signalman, three signalmen, eighteen ordinary signalmen, and nhie ordinary telegraphists. On list 2 _ (inclusive) there are ninety-one ratings of all ranks.. If mobilisation were ordered the Otago Division could turn out over 230 officers and ratings for active naval service.

Since 1928 the qualifications obtained in special subjects are as follow:—Nine light gunlayers, nineteen minesweepers, and five recommended to fire full calibre.

The greatest progress for 1933 was in the communications branch, which, commencing in reality by the arrival of a chief uetty officer telegraphist, had developed into a branch that offered greater attractions for the rating, who preferred V.S. or W.T. to gunnery or seamanship. Voluntary sea training has been put in by a number of ratings who were specially recommended. These ratings further their knowledge and get the advantage of mixing with the professional naval ratings. They were trained in H.M.S. Diomede, and consisted of a petty officer, two leading seamen, two able seamen, and the ratings of the communication branch who were able to give the time. The junior officers of the Otago Division who have actually served from 1928 are two lieutenants, two sublieutenants, and one paymaster sublieutenant, having originally commenced ns ordinary seamen.

The following list of winners in the various competitions . received the awards and trophies which the division has been gradually receiving from citizens and others who arc interested in the Naval Reserves :—•

The Roberts Cup, won by Ord. Tel. Wheeler, for .303 firing. The White Sports Cup, won by Able Seaman D. H. Reilly. The Keith Ramsay Cup, won by Leading Seaman L. Ogg. The Commanding Officer's Cup, for signals, Leading Signalman ,1. L. Salter.

The Fraser Cup, won by the junior sub-division, as the best gun’s crew, 4in semi-anto.

The Ross Gun-layer's Shield, won by Loading Seaman J. N. O’Kecto, highest

points in firing H.M.S. Wakakura 4in semi-auto.

Commercial Travellers’ Gold Medal, Ordinary Telegraphist J. W. Faulkner, awarded for zeal in the communications branch.

Commercial Travellers’ Shield, won by the senior sub-division, decided by a whaler’s race over a course in the harbour.

The Flagship Trophy, won by H.M.S. Dunedin. Teams from both the flagship and Division 'competed in miniature rifle firing. The General Handicap Cup from the Otago Yacht Club, won by a whaler from the Division.

The Palmer Cup, won by a team from the Division against all other R.N.Y.R. Divisions, for firing .22. Mr Jas. D. Cameron (president of the Commercial Travellers’ Club) handed over the trophies and awards, and preceded his remarks by an outline of the benefits to bo obtained from the training in the Otago Division. He referred to Mr Hanlon’s spirited speech of last year, and followed on with remarks on the need of naval defence. He also referred to his volunteer days, and the ridicule generally heaped on the movement, but he, for one, found that his time had not been wasted, npr did he think anyone ever felt that way about either soldier or sailor training. Amongst many of the remarks made by the President there was a decided assurance on the loyalty and sincerity to Imperial interests.

The Commanding Officer thanked Mr Cameron and his committee for being present, the latter including Messrs Clapp and C. W. King. There were also present Lieutenantcolonel S. G. Scoular (O.C. Southern Artillery). Captain Vipan (late lieutenant, R.N.R.), and friends of the officers. Supper was handed round to the guests in the ward room, whilst an exhibition gun’s crew went through an exercise in loading, firing, and manoeuvring the divisional 4in semiauto.

It is hoped to commence sea training in H.M.S. Wnkakura on January 6. and to follow on with the usual sections to the end of February.