A TRAINING CAMP.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 3

A TRAINING CAMP.

A SOLDIER’S LIFE DAY BY DAY

Private FT. Meyuell, in a series of letters to liis relatives, who live at 566, Mo or house Avenue, describes life in a training camp in England. He states that the men have'Saturday afternoon off and a church parade is held on Sunday morning. They have plenty of time to visit the different villages and historical places, including Stonehenge. They get the best of food and plenty of it; in fact, he states, “it is just like being at home.’’ The reveille is sounded at 5.30 tun., and the men are put through physical drill from six till half-past. Breakfast is served at 7.30, and the morning parade commences at a quarter to nine and lasts three hours. Dinner is served at 12.30. The .afternoon parade commences at a quarter to two and finishes on three days of tho week an hour later, and on the other days at a quarter to five. On the days oil which there is a short afternoon parade an evening parade is held, commencing at 7 p.m. and finishing at a quarter to eight. Tea is served at 5.30 p.nv The men have their meals in dining halls and only take their knife, fork and spoon, the other dishes being supplied by the authorities. When the men have completed theirvfull course of gunnery, and have qualified, they receive a privilege leave of seven days with a free railway pass, and go over England and Scotland. It takes about three months to complete the course. There is a largo aerodrome containing a number of aeroplanes, and they are cruising about at all hours of the day and make a good deal of noise. The men are in lnits like the New Zealand camps, and the parade ground is just outside the door.