IN CAMP IN BRITAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17285, 28 September 1916, Page 10

IN CAMP IN BRITAIN.

MEW ZEALAND SOLDIER'S EX-

raRIENCES.

"Tlio Willoelira, or Troopship No. 54, arrived in Plymouth on Wednesday, July 26, at. eight, o’clock in the morning/’ writes a Christchurch boy from Sling Camp. “At midday we were takon ashore in two ferry-boats, the Sir Francis Drake and the Sir Walter Raleigh. What glorious and stirring times these two names recall 1 As in tlio days of the Armada, so in these times, England is fighting for her existence and her proud position of the world’s greatest. Power. And as then, so now, the nation is giving of its best, and great heroes are laying down, their lives for their country, for honour, and for their fellow-men. At two o’clock wo entrained for the Pulford Camp. Our way lay through Devon, one of the most beautiful counties in England. Tlio great rolling downs of Devon, with their wooded hill-tops and valleys, wore beautifully green, and presented a very pleasing picture to the eye after an eight weeks’ voyage across tlio ocean. At Exeter wc were given tea and buns, provided by the Mayoress of tiiat city. It was well after eight before we reached the camp, and then we had to march more than a nrile to oMr quarters. Though it was late before we arrived at our destination, we were not inconvenienced by having to settle down in tlio dai'k, for the Daylight Saving Bill is in operation here, so that, at present, according to English time, the sun does not set till nine o'clock, and it. docs not commence to grow dark until well on to eleven. “ The Canterbury Company is quartered in No. 1 Camp of the New Zealand lines. Altogether there are about half a dozen New Zealand camps grouped together, the whole being known ns Sling Camp. The camp can be described in ono word —up-to-date. The huts are built-of corrugated iron with asbestos roofs. Round many of the huts littlo flower gardens have been made, • giving a bright and homelike appearance to tlio camp. As yet the canteen has not been opened. The camp canteens hero are not "up to the standard of those in New Zealand camps, but then it must be remembered that the pay of a New Zealand soldier is five shillings a day as compared ivith the Is 8d of the “ Tommy.” “Discipline hero is much stricter than in New Zealand. On going into camp first wo thought* the discipline in the New Zealand forces severe, but since coming hero wc have discovered that it was just the reverse. Why the discipline in tlio New Zealand armj should not be as strict as in the Imperial Army is beyond my comprehension- I do not wish to disparage m any way the good work and efficiency of our New Zealand instructors . and officers. But. really it would be kinder to tlio men were the rigid discipline of the Imperial Army carried out in Mew Zealand.- During eight weeks on the bont, discipline becomes slack, and what with this and the fact that wo have never been used to iron discipline, conditions hero appeared rather galling. Of course, if ono submits to the discipline, it is easy enough; but is it not easier for olio to submit- at tlio begin ning of one’s career as a soldier than after six months? Again, this lack of discipline eroates a bad impression m the minds of the Imperial officers. They do not, nor does anyone, doubt the ‘ bravery, dash or fighting qualities of the New Zealanders, but-, realising as thev do the supreme ot good discipline, - and seeing the New Zealanders only’ half disciplined, they know that their efficiency is thus greatly decreased. So, for our own sakes the discipline here is made severe, but why should not that bo done in New Zealand and so a deal of trouble would bo saved. This is not written by an officer, but by a private who feels the gall and irksomeness of discipline as much as anyone, but who realises its supreme necessity. ' “ Another thing that is beyond comprehension is, why in New Zealand the system of bayonet- fighting used here is not adopted. The two systems aie totally different, but the one used here has been proved to bo tlio best. It is not hard to learn either-system, but, having once learnt one, the difficulty is to forget that ono and learn the other. Surely it would savo time, bother and money if the system of bayonet fighting used here wero used also in New Zealand. “ Soiuo of the instructors hero are very fond of that dry humour peculiar to the Armv. At school it is generally the custom for the pupils to laugh heartily at any joke, however bad, ot tlio master, this being done in order to get the latter in a good humour, but hero wo may not even smilo when the instructor displays his wit. “At present the weather here is glorious. Though the nights are rathor cold, the days are warm, but not stiflingly so, for there is generally a cool breeze to temper the heat. “They had intended to send a number of men from each company to the front about a. fortnight after landing here, hut. owing to an outbreak ot measles all the men off the Willoelira have been quarantined, and so now tile whole of the men off the Tofua are to be sent. Naturally wo off the Willochra are feeling very sore and disappointed, btot still wo hope to got away in a month or six weeks’ time at least. . , t “ So far our work has consisted ot platoon drill, bomb ■'throwing, trench digging and bayonet fighting. We have also gone for one or two short route marches.”