TERRITORIAL TRAINING

Evening Star, Issue 21655, 26 February 1934, Page 12

TERRITORIAL TRAINING

UNDER CANVAS AT WAIKOUAITI SIX HUNDRED MEN IN CAMP i Fine weather favoured the units of the New Zealand Territorial Forces which went into camp , at Waikouaiti on Saturday. Approximately 640 men of' the Ist Battalions, • the Otago and Southland Regiments, and the Otago University Company and the 3rd Field Ambulance, both of the New Zealand Medical Corps; are under canvas. The individual numbers of each unit and its commanding officer are:— First Otagos (Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, D.G.0., M.C.), 34 officers, 256 other ranks. , First Southlands (Lieutenant-colonel C. E. Selby, M-C.),- 20 officers, 140 other ranks. , University Medical Company and 3rd Field Ambulance (Lieutenant-colonel R. A. H. Fulton), 15 officers, 188 other The infantry units are under the command of'Colonel L. M. Inglis, M.C., V.D., officer commanding the 3rd Infantry Brigade, and Lieutenant-colonel C. E. Hercus, C.M.G., D. 5.0., V.D., N.Z.M.C., assistant direetpr of medical services, is also in camp with, the mealcal units. . ' A special train carried the two battalions and the University Company to Merton station on Saturday afternoon, and the troops marched from there to the camp sites, where an advance party had been at work for the previous week. Little work remained to be carried out, apart from the issue of blankets and the allotting of tents, and the men were soon settled into their new surroundings. A pleasing feature of the settling process was the way in which the “veterans” who had carried out previous camps helped the newly-joined men to find their places. Throughout the whole camp a fine spirit of fellowship and esprit de corps exists. The surrounding country is ideal for carrying out tactical exercises, and it is anticipated that many valuable lessons will be learned by all ranks. From ‘ Reveille ’at 6 a.in. till the men are dismissed at 4.30 p.m. the time is fully employed in carrying out training. Commencing with the more elementary tactical work, the training is progressing through platoon and company training to a tactical scheme to be carried out during the early hours of Friday morning. At meal hours the men are fallen in and marched to marquees, where the food is brought from the cookhouse by mess orderlies.- It is then served out by the man in charge of each table. After dismissal the men’s time is their own, and many happy hours are spent swimming in the Waikouaiti River, which flows past the camp, or roaming over the adjacent hills. For others the Y.M.C.A. tent, controlled by Mr A, A. Berwick, holds an attraction. , ~ , Church parade was held yesterday morning, Dr Merrington conducting the service, assisted by Dean Cruickshank. The latter padre delivered a short but inspiring sermon on ‘ Discipline ’ to the combined parade of all .emits, which had been formed up in a hollow square. The music for the hymns was played by the military band of the Otago Regiment. Following the church parade there was a brigade review by Colonel Inglis. The units were drawn up in line, the infantry battalions carrying their colours. The brigade commander was given a general salute, the bugles sounding the salute and the infantry presenting arms. He then rode along the ranks and inspected each unit in turn, afterwards taking up his position at the saluting base. As each unit marched past in column of companies the command “ Eyes right was given and the officers saluted. The parade then marched back to the camp and was dismissed for the day. Training in earnest began to-day, and will continue, until Friday. Camp will

be struck on Saturday and the troops will return to their homes. All the men attending the camp are volunteers, and their keenness is shown by the manner in which they are making every effort to become efficient. The commanding officers also greatly appreciate the co-operation of employers of Territorials who have given their employees leave to attend the course.