MOUNTEDS IN TRAINING

Hawera Star, Volume LI, 25 May 1932, Page 6

MOUNTEDS IN TRAINING

OUEEN ALEXANDRA RIFLES SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL BIVOUAC WORK COMMENDED BY G.O.C. (Contributed.) Eine weather favoured the camp at Waver ley last week of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles Regiment, ond it was under perfect conditions -that the regiment was inspected on Thursday by Major-General W. L. Sm-clair-Burgess, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., General Officer Commanding the N./. forces, who saw the troops at drill in the morning, and carrying out tactical schemes under squadron commanders in the afternoon, among the sandhills on the sea coast.

During lunch, whcih was provided on the training ground, the General went among the troops, chatting with all ranks and showing the keenest interest in the horses. He commented most favourably upon the fine stamp or the latter, and. remarked upon their excellent condition.

In the afternoon he took the salute, the regiment marching past first at a walk, then at a trot, and finally advancing in review order to give the general salute. Well-groomed horses in perfect line, tossing heads, white halter-ropes sparkling in the sun, and the flash of the officers’ swords as they saluted, combined to make a most im-pr-essive spectacle as troop after troop passed the saluting base. The band added to the effect, playing the regimental march and the general salute. The G.0.C., m a short speech, expresed pleasure with the work he had seen during the day. He had inspected every camp in New Zealand with the exception of two and, though lie did not wish to make comparisons, he oould safely state that the Q.A.M.R. were second to none in efficiency and smartness. The camp lines were a model of tidiness and cleanliness. Numerically the regiment was the strongest mounted unit that he had seen this year. This he considered iefleeted great credit on the men, m viejv of the fact that this year, foi the first time the camp was purely voluntary. He knew that many of the troops had made a definite monetary sacrifice in order to attend. In conclusion he stated that he was able to promise that the facilities for next year’s training would be at least equivalent to those provided this season. He looked forward to meeting all ranks again at next year’s bivouac. BRIGADE COMMANDER’S VISIT. On “the following day, Friday, Col. W. R. Foley, M.C.. V.D., commanding the Second M.R. Brigade, inspected the camp. His visit was an occasion of special interest to the men, as prior to his promotion to Brigade Commander he was an exceptionally popular O.C. of the regiment for a number of years . During the morning he watched the troops carrying out an advance 1 upon an imaginary enemy. The rattle of musketry and the staccato reports of the machine guns firing blank ammunition lent realism to the scene. In view of the limited time thefre had been for training the exercises were performed in a highly satisfactory manner. In the afternoon the regiment marched past Col. Foley who, in a subsequent address, expressed the •pride he felt in belonging to such a fine unit. He realised to the full the splendid spirit displayed by officers, N.C.O.’s and men, who were carrying on the traditions of the regiment under most trying and difficult conditions. He looked forward with the utmost eagerness to meeting all ranks again next year. COMPETITIONS AND SPORTS. Saturday was devoted to competitions and sports, the results being as follows: Best turned-out trooper. —Trooper Cole (A. Squadron). Best troop.—Okatoßahotu troop, B. Squadron (Lieut. Rutherford). Best squadron.—H. G. Wing. (Major B. W\ H. Smart). Best section.—Corporal Brownlie’s. (A Squadron). Cup for rifle exercises.—No. 1 troop, M.G. Squadron (Sergeant War die). Hitehkiss gun team. —Tikorangi troop (B. Squadron). Jumping.—Lieut. Hartwell (A Squadron). Boot and saddle’ race.—Sergeant War die (M.G. Squadron). V.C. race. —Corporal Wright (A Squadron). Three furlong race.—Sergeant. Hill (B Squadron). 100 yards (flat) race.—Sergeant Greenhiil (M.G. Squadron). On Saturday evening a concert was held, an excellent programme being iprfovided by local members of the Legion of Frontiersmen. On Sunday morning church parade was held at 10 a.m., after which a number of photographs were taken of the Regiment,^the officers, the isergeants, and various groups of the winners of the cups and competitions. Visitors began to arrive in camp soon after lunch and, though the weather was cold and not as perfect as had been experienced during the week, it fortunately kept fine. Camp was broken in the early hours of Monday morning. In all respects the annual bivouac can be described as an unqualified success. Seldom, if ever, has a keener, smarter, betterbehaved (and incidentally better mounted) body of men assembled on Waverley racecourse for their annual training, and all ranks left with a feeling of work well done and a week s thorough enjoyment behind them.