THE DEFENCE FORCES

Evening Star, Issue 23350, 21 August 1939, Page 15

THE DEFENCE FORCES

NOTES FROM THE SERVICES

[By Sam Buowxb.]

NAVAL RESERVES REGULAR TRAINING MAINTAINED. Practices with the .22 rifle wore held at Gig headquarters of the Otago Division, R.N.V.R., on Monday night. The training also included signal and wireless work and seamanship. This was followed by a recreational hour. The communications branch mustered on Tuesday, and the various classes closed up for instruction in signalling by semaphore and flashing lamp and in the use of the signal books. The junior wireless ratings received instruction in reading the Morse code. The seamen branch and senior wireless ratings, mustered and carried out the following instruction: Seamanship: Lecture on anolxors and cables by Loading Seaman W. A. Lake, New Zealand Division, Royal Navy. Gunnery: Acting gunlayers, a lecture on fuses, and senior ordinary seamen, 4iu breech-loading gun drill. First-year ratings commenced a course on the din quick-firing semiautomatic gun. Minesweeping class, a lecture on depth charges. Signals; Senior signalmen carried out exercises in flag hoisting, while the senior wireless ratings continued wireless procedure exercises.

OTAGO REGIMENT NEARING ESTAI3LISHMENT. Recruits continue to offer their services for the Otago Regiment, and on the unit’s parade night (Tuesday) the Drill Hall presents a very active scene. .Headquarter, A, and 1) (Support) Companies parade on that night, and with the increased si/.o of the sub-units it is becoming difficult to find an area in which to carry out marching satisfactorily. Last Tuesday the specialists of Headquarter Company carried out training iu thoir own branches of the work, A Company carried out light machine gun instruction, infantry training, and the senior members listened to a lecture on the organisation of an infantry battalion.

NEW BATTLE DRESS ISSUED TO HOME STATIONS. “ Buttons not cleaned? ” This familiar question asked by countless hawkeyed inspecting officers will be hoard no more when the new battle dress is issued to troops. The new dress will have non-polishablc buttons, and much time and energy will therefore be saved. At the present time this kit is being introduced for wear on active service and training by troops, other than the personnel of horsed units, at Home. It is similar in design to the d'euini outfits which were tried out last year, but it is made of the drab serge material used for the existing service dress garments. No change will be made at present in the dress for active service and the training at stations abroad ; the policy in this respect is now under consideration (states th e ‘ Sphere ’). The question of the active service dress to be worn by kilted regi-

monts is stdl under consideration, meanwhile the existing service ’dress will continue to .bo worn by these units, both on active service and training. •The new outfit includes a blouse which buckles at the waist and: trousers to buckle at the ankle, with which webbing anklets, Gin deep, may bo worn, to afford protection to the lower part of the leg. The buttons on the blouse are either fly-fitting or made of vegetable coniposition, and, consequently, do not require polishing. Dank badges, including officers’ rank badges, chevrons, skill-at-arms badges, good-conduct badges, and shoulder titles are in worsted embroidery, and will be worn in the manner prescribed for service dross jackets. Collar badges will not be worn.

Overalls are of the same design as the battle dress, but are made up in Washable material and are intended 1 for wear over normal underclothing. Then can, however, be worn over the serge outfit in cold weather. The existing service dress will continue to be worn for ceremonial parades, walking out, etc., except whore full dress is already authorised.

As battle dress is primarily for women active service and training, special tpatterns for officers and 1 warrant officers tfill not be introduced—they will wear the same pattern and material ns other ranks. There will be no objection, however, to officers who wish to do so, providing themselves with outfits made up in materials of the type at present used for officers’ service dress garments, but such outfits must not deviate from the design of those issued to other ranks. The overalls worn by officers will also be of the same pattern as those issued) to other ranks. A new pattern great-coat, somewhat similar in design to that at present worn by officers, has been adopted for other ranks. In addition to providing increased length, it is double-breasted and has an open collar. Issues will not commence, however, until stocks of the present pattern great-coat have been used up. The production of non-polishable buttons, has been the. subject of prolonged 'research, but it has not been possible to find a metal which is as serviceable as gilding metal, and at the same time cannot be polished. For great-coats, caps, and service dress garments there is, therefore, no alternative hut to retain gilding metal. V.C. HEROES NEW ZEALAND AWARDS. Continuing the series of articles on New Zealand winners of the Y.C., are given the stories of two who served with the Australian Forces. Two New Zealanders who won the Victoria Cross* while serving with the Australian Forces were Captain A. J. Shout, who did not live to receive the cross he won, and Lieutenant P. V. Storkey, who was decorated for conspicuous bravery, leadership, and devotion to duty. Lieutenant Storkey, with six men, while moving forward, noticed a large enemy party, 80 to 100 strong, armed with machine guns, hold up an advance of troops on his right, and immediately attacked the post from the flank and rear, showing courage and skilled leadership. Sergeant 11. J. Laurent, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, showed great resource and courage in an attack on a very strongly held position, heading a party of 12, which killed and captured all of the enemy. This adventure, which cost the New Zealand Bifle Brigade four casualties only, was due to tiie enterprise of Sergeant Laurent. Had it not been for his gallantry, the sacrifice of life among his own men would have been huge. Private H. Nicholas captured a strong point single-handed under circumstances of great gallantry, killing and wounding the crew and capturing prisoners, thereby saving many casualties. Lance-corporal S. Frickleton earned his Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery and determination, when the troops with whom he was advancing wore checked. Corporal Frickleton, although slightly wounded, dashed forward at the head of his section entering In's otfn barrage and destroying with bombs an enemy machine gun and crow, which were causing heavy casualties. He went on and attacked n second gun, killing the crew and saving his own and other units from severe casualties.