Territorial Forces

Hutt News, Volume 12, Issue 40, 29 March 1939, Page 2

Territorial Forces

"C" COMPANY On Monday, 3rd April, "C" Company, with the 17th Battery of the New Zealand jytillery, will stage a •display of military exercises on the Lower Hutt. Recreation Ground. This display is a forerunner for the Hutt and Petone Centennial celebration, which is to be held in conjunction with tile New Zealand Centennial Exhibition. On this occasion the public will see up-to-date methods of attack and defence,, and the Lewis light automatic gun giving enfilade and ..supporting fire and generally supporting the rifles. . They will see liow and why rifle grenades are used ;',nd a demonstration of "TommJ' Atkin's" most effective weapon— the bayonet. Included in the programme for the evening is a well-known ceremonial seldom seen in New Zealand, that of guard mounting. In this will be seen precision and discipline, coupled with age-old tradition. Immediately prior to the display the troops will march through the streets to the Recreation Ground, and we would uke to sug"ges to the public that they give the troops plenty of room in the streets, as crowding will always spoil a good show. We would like to suggest also that every man who is at all interested in the Territorials should make a point of coming to our demdnstration to see for himself the types of work carried out. The Territorial Force is not only for the very young man. There is a very definite chance for the man of from 25 to 30 years of age to add their steadiness and more mature outlook to the force. "C" Company has quite a few married men in its ranks, too, and there is no reason why more married men should not join us. They will be sure of a ready and hearty welcome. For the benefit of the uninitiated it is intended to give here an outline of the organisation of a company. The company consists of: (1) Company headquarters. This comprises company commander, company second in command, company sergeant-major, company quarter-master-sergeant and orderly room clerk; (2) three platoons, each composed of one platoon commander, one platoon sergeant, and three sections each of seven men witli an N.C.O. in charge of each section. Each section is armed with one Lewis gun and five rifles. Three men of each section carry one grenade discharger and four grenades and 50 rounds of rifle ammunition per man. The remainder of the section carry extra ammunition for the Lewis gun. On the night of our demonstration you will be able to see the way in which each section is a unit on its own and yet still a part of the large unit, the platoon, which in turn is a part of the company, and how each complete part of the company acts to form one body. We would like to point out that • this is not just "playing at soldiers," but really valuable training for a job of work which may have to be done some day. In the light of recent events it seems as if that day may come at any time and will force upon us all its unpleasant reality. It rests with .every man of the Hutt Valley to decide if he is willing on that day to offer himself, trained and prepared to pro-, tect his own home and country. We must at this time be fully aware that we have other countries definitely antagonistic to the British Empire, and that these countries are prepared to march into action—thousands strong—at an hour's notice. Can we cay that we are equally ready to meet them? It rests now with the younger men of this country to prepare themselves in advance by training now.