BATTERY PARADE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 170, 19 June 1934, Page 2

BATTERY PARADE.

INSPECTION BY COLONEL SYMON. PRESENTATION OF TROPHIES. A fine opportunity of displaying, the interest taken locally in the volunteer movement was afforded last evening at the barracks in Main Street, when the annual inspection of the Seventh and Eighth Batteries of the Royal New Zealand Artillery was carried out by Colonel F. Symon, C.M.G., D. 5.0., Officer Commanding the Central Military Command, who, accompanied by Major R. S. Park, made the journey from Wellington for the occasion. There were in the vicinity of a hundred men'on parade and the high standard set was the subject of congratulatory comment by the inspecting officer and appreciation by the large number of former soldiers and the general public who attended. The opportunity was also taken to present the cups and trophies won during the past training year. When Colonel Symon arrived lie was met by Lieut. J. P. Joyce, adjutant of the' Second Field Brigade, who was in charge of the parade, and then proceeded to inspect the Seventh Battery, under the command of Captain W. I). Philp, and the Eighth Battery, under the command of Captain A. S. Buchanan. In attendance was the band of the Sixth Mounted Rifles, the officer commanding being Lieutenant C. Pike. Following a thorough inspection, the parade then assembled within the barracks where Colonel Symon presented the trophies and addressed the men. In his remarks, Colonel Symon said he was glad to be able to present the prizes, which assisted to make the men proficient. He said he took a particular interest in the Seventh and Eighth Batteries, for they were both under him in the Great War. The Seventh Battery was formed at Moascar just after the Gallipoli campaign, and had always been a very good one. The Eighth Battery was not of such long range, being formed at a later date in France and for a time losing its identity. Palmerston North had always been very strong in the ' volunteer movement, even before the war when the old J Battery was active, and he wanted the present units to keep up the traditions set for them. Colonel Symon also expressed gratification that so many ex-gunners and the general public were present. So long as the people of the city exercised an interest the units would go ahead. The parade then stood to attention for the rendering of the National Anthem, and dispersed. Colonel Symon and Major. Park were subsequently the guests of the officers at supper. A demonstration as given by an instructional film from Home on the use of artillery in close support of infantry, Staff-Sergt. McGavin and Staff-Sergt. Fitzgerald operating the projector. The following is the list of awards made to the men Seventh Battery.—Jubilee Cup (football), Bdr. Burnell; Ekstedt A ase (best section), Right Section (Lieut. AV E. Moore); Sub-Section Shield, C Sub-Section (Sergt. D. McNaughton); Sports Cup, D Sub-Section (Bdr. Polglase) ; best layer, Bdr. L. Donkin; best gunner, Bdr. N. Mitchell; 1 most improved layer, L.-Bdr. D. Mundy; best driver, L.-Bdr. L. Palenski; most improved driver, Bdr. P. Wills; best signaller, L.-Sergt. E. Autridge; most improved signaller, L.-Bdr. L. Mitchell ; best attendance, Gnr. B. W. Klein; No. 1 of best sub-section, Sergt. D. McNaughton. Eighth Battery.—Buchanan Cup (best 5 section), Right Section (Lieut. Tasker); Sub-Section Shield, A SubSection (Sergt. J. Muirhead); Sports

Cup, B Sub-Section (Sergt. H. Carpenter) ; best signaller, Bdr. J. M. Hart; most improved gunner, L.-Bdr. B. AYhitchead; most improved driver, Gnr. C. Walker; best attendance, L.-Bdr. H. Colly; most improved N.C.0., L.-Bdr. L. E. Scott, An outstanding trophy was the Brigade Efficiency Cup, open for all field units in the Central Command. This year it was won by the Seventh Battery, the iast occasion on which it came to Palmerston North being in 1928, when the Eighth Battery won it.