INFANTRY PLATOON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20259, 29 May 1940, Page 10

INFANTRY PLATOON

FORMATION IN WAIROA

ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED

EFFORTS SUCCEED (Special to the Herald.) WAIROA, this day. For some time there has been much agitation among the young men of Wairoa for the formation of an infantry unit as a branch of the territorials here. Their efforts have met with success at last and the task of forming an infantry platoon to be attached to the Hawke’s Bay Regiment is just about complete. A platoon comprises 28 men, but judging by the enthusiasm which is being displayed in the formation of the unit here there is every reason to suppose that Wairoa could support, without much difficulty, at least a company which numbers 112. The platoon will be run on lines similar to those of the Wairoa troop of the Wellington-East Coast Mounted Rifles, which, since its establishment, has proved to be an outstanding success. Non-commissioned officers will be promoted from the ranks and it is hoped that some of the members will show sufficient enthusiasm to eventually offer themselves for higher ranks. Uniforms and Equipment As a result of the recent developments in home defence measures details of flic courses arc not yet known, but as soon as definite instructions are received arrangements, no doubt, will, be made for the training of the men. Uniforms and equipment will be issued in due course from Napier. It is learned that as soon as it was known that a platoon would be formed in Wairoa there was a rush of applicants to join up and, as was expected, no trouble was experienced in getting sufficient men to fill the platoon. The following have been selected so far:—J. R. Allen, G. W. Archibald, S. H. H. Berney, J. N. Cottrell, B. G. Coleman, ;T F. G. Cook, N. R, Goodlev, T. S. Hawke, B. M. Helean, A. T. Hill, G. F. L. Hudson. J. V. Hunt, R. B. Pinel, R. C. Ryman, A. B. Thomson, J. Thornley, W. A. Watson, B. G. Winter, G. F. Winter, H. Trewby, R. B- Svensen, W. Taylor, A. Gemmell, E. A. Pemberton, E. C. Welch, and J. H. Rhodes.