MILITARY UNITS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 September 1937, Page 4

MILITARY UNITS

AAIALG AM A TIO N ANNOUN CE D

FORAIATION OF MOBILE FORCE

(Per Press Association —Copyright)

CHRISTCHURCH, September 21.

The amalgamation of a number ot military units in the South Island and the appointments of officers to the composite bodies formed, was announced at headquarters of the Southern Command yesterday. The amalgamations are part of the reorganisation seneme for New Zealand military forces, the aim being to give commanders the opportunity of commanding and training with units at approxmately war strength—an opportunity not possible before because units were very much below strength.

Three mounted regiments have been amalgamated into what will be known.

as the Third Composite Mounted Rifles

Regiment. For this regiment, tlie Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry will find two squadrons; the Otago Mounted. Rilles will find one squadron, signallers. machine-guners, and a li-ht-ear troop; and the Nelson-Alarlborougn will find an entirely squadron.

The motorised squadron is an innovation in New Zealand, and follows on the reorganisation taking place iiv the British Army in which the is gradually disappearing. The commanding officer of the regiment will be Major A. J. Niooll, of tho Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry; Major O. L. Ferens-, of the Otago Mounted Rifles will he second in command.; and Captain K. J. Walker (New Zealand Staff Corps) will he adjutant. Headquarters of the regiment will be in Christchurch.

INFANTRY CHANGES

Three infantry regiments have also ‘been amalgamated ; the Fiist Battalion Nelson-Marlborough-West Coa t Regiment, the First Battalion Otago Regiment, and the First Battalion Southland Regiment. Eactr of these battalions w ill find a company and a proportion of machinegunners, signallers, and other for the new unit which will be called the Third Composite Infantry Battalion. The appointments are:— Commanding Officer; LieutenantColonel J. McPherson, 0.8. E. (Otago Regiment). Second in Command: Major H. H. Thomason, M.M. Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast Regiment).

Adjutant: Captain A. TV. Grovfllo (New Zealand Staff Cores). The headquarters will be in Dunedin.

The First Battalion Canterbury will not be affected by the amalgamation. Tt. will remain constituted ns it is at present, except that it will he reinforced each year hv 40 snecinl reservists so that in three years there will be 120 special reservists in the Vnttalion.

Tile roll of the Canterbury will be in the defence of Lyttelton Har-

bour. Tho role of the cnmiwit" units w ill he Fo provide a mobile field force.

Other arms—artillery, engineers. signals, armv reserve vcovps. and medical corps—have not been changed to r.rty extent.