THE DEFENCE FORCES

Evening Star, Issue 22632, 26 April 1937, Page 15

THE DEFENCE FORCES

NEWS AND NOTES [By Sam Beowne.] THE ‘GAZETTE’ The New Zealand 1 Gazette,’ No. 28, contains the following notifications : STAFF AND COMMANDS. Major-general Sir William SinclairBurgess, K.8.E., C. 8., 0.M.G., D. 5.0., N.Z. Staff Corps, relinquishes the appointments of general officer commanding New Zealand Military Forces and chief of general staff. Dated 31, 1937. Colonel J. E. Duigan, D. 5.0., A.D.C. to the King, N.Z. Staff Corps, relinquishes the appointment of officer commanding. Northern Military Command, Auckland, dated March 31, 1937, is promoted to the rank of major-general, and is appointed general officer commanding New Zealand Militarv Forces and chief of the general staff for a period of one year. Dated April 1, 1937. The period of command of Lieuten-ant-colonel R. A. H. Fulton, M. 8., Otago University Medical Company, N.Z. Medical Corps, is extended to March 14, 1938. REGIMENT OF N.Z. ARTILLERY. Lieutenant L. H. Veal© ceases to be posted to the 9th Field Battery and is posted to the 14th Medium Battery. Dated March 8, 1937. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. Lieutenant T. C. Williams, Ist battalion, to be captain. Dated February 1, 1937. Lieutenant S. A. Jbbctson. Ist battalion, resigns his commission. Dated February 24, 1937. N.Z. VETERINARY CORPS. The commission granted to Lieutenant A. L. Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., attached to the Otago Mounted Rifles, is cancelled. Dated February 22, 1937. Lieutenant W. Peirson, M.R.C.V.S.. B.Sc., is attached to the Otago Mounted Rifles. Dated February 22, 1937, NAVAL RESERVES VISIT OF DIRECTOR. The Director of Naval Reserves (Captain B. G. Morris, R.N.) arrived in Dunedin to-day in connection with his administrative duties. He will return to Wellington on Wednesday. PARADES. A parade of both sub-divisions of the Otago Division. R.N.V.R., was held on Wednesday, wnen work in connection with the Anzac Day service and the Coronation review was carried out. The division took part in the Anzac Day parade yesterday, when the Kaikorai Band paraded with the unit. All visual signalling and junior wireless ratings will assemble on Tuesday, and seamen and senior wireless ratings on Wednesday. Instruction by classes will be given in seamanship, gunnery, minesweeping, and wireless, and signals will be proceeded with in accordance with the syllabus. The .headquarters will be available on Monday nights for voluntary, training in addition to small-bore rifle shooting practice. On Tuesdays a voluntary class for ratings wishing to qualify for leading seaman will be held. Ratings desirous of qualifying and to be considered for the rating of leading seaman are expected to be present. This class .is limited to six ratings.

COMBINED TACTICAL EXERCISE

Major K. L. Stewart, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., district staff officer, visited headquarters on Wednesday last in connection with the forthcoming combined naval and military tactical exercise, the details of which were communicated to all officers. This exercise is scheduled to take place on May 8 and 9. SMALL-BORE RIFLE SHOOTING. A small-bore rifle shooting match be tween a team from the Imperial Exservicemen’s Association and a team from the division will take place at headquarters to-night. Practice for the various cups and trophies will take place on completion of the match.

Headquarters will he available for practice on Monday next. SOCIAL. The first divisional dance for the winter season will be held at divisional headquarters on May 1. All ratings on List 2 and their friends are cordially invited. The General Purposes Committee will meet to-night for the purpose of arranging the social programme for the winter months.

OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES CAMP SYLLABUS. The svllabus of training for the camp of the Otago Mounted Rifles, to be held at Tahuna Park, has been completed. The unit will assemble on May 4, when the preliminary domestic arrangements will be completed. Gas instruction and signal instruction, will also be given, followed by. troop drill and ceremonial!. Squadron and regimental drill is also provided for, and section leading. Ihe tactical scheme, in combination with other units, will be held on May 8 and 9, and a Coronation parade is arranged for the morning of May 12. T’ j afternoon will be devoted to a ceremonial parade, when visitors will be entertained. The camp will disband on May 13.

T!IE OTAGO REGIMENT PREPARATIONS FOR CAMP. Arrangements for the annual camp of the unit are well in hand and the syllabus of training deals with a scheme for the defence of Dunedin, ceremonial, weapon training, and gas training, in addition to numerous other forms of instruction. Headquarter Wing, A Company, D Company, the Machine Gun Company, and the two bands will assemble at the Drill Hail at 5 p.m. on May 6. B Company (Oamaru) will arrive by the express at 4.18 p.m., and the Port Chalmers platoon will arrive by train at 5.35 p.m. C Company (Central Otago) will detrain at Kensington. All details arriving will be met by motor transport for kits, the troops marching to the Drill Hall. The Trumpet and Bugle Band made a most successful tour of the Central Otago district, giving demonstrations of marching and playing at Cromwell, Clyde, and Alexandra. A number of recruits have joined the battalion as a result.

UNIVERSITY COMPANY . DUNEDIN MEDICAL UNIT. During the combined camp to be held in Dunedin early in May the Otago University Medical Company will provide a fully-equipped hospital and dental section. The unit will be stationed with the Otago Mounted Rifles at Tahuna Park, and will have the latest medical and dental equipment for use with the army. The unit will also take part in the tactical exercise to be carried out by the combined units on May 8 and 9, when it will fulfil the medical corps functions of providing regimental aid posts and advanced dressing stations for the various units.

THE CADETS TO PARADE ON CORONATION DAY, The cadet units of the Otago Boys* High School, King’s High School, and M'Glnshan College will participate in the Coronation parade to bo held on May 12. The latter unit also provided the firing party of one sergeant and 12 other ranks for the service at the Cenotajjh. on Annuo Da^\