SHOWGROUNDS CAMP

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 33, 8 January 1941, Page 6

SHOWGROUNDS CAMP

TROOPS FOR OVERSEAS.

“advanced training. About 6-50 troops are now undergoing advanced training at the ohowgrounds in a mobilisation camp similar in character to that at Irentkam. Engineers and machine-gunners, the men were posted to this camp following their holiday general leave and will eventually proceed overseas. The men are all housed under canvas, the main body of the tents being on the area at the rear ofthe main stand, aaid meals are served in one of the main halls, with the cook-house adjacent. The training the units will undergo will include tactical exercises at various points about the countryside in the vicinity of Palmerston North, and the public will therefore probably see units on the move. In all probability the camp will be thrown open to visitors on Sunday afternoons at times to be specified later. The camp is a self-contained unit and has its own wet and dry canteens and Y.M.C.A. facilities. The last of the men for the camp were arriving to-day, these being from outlying districts whose journeys necessarily have taken longer. . „ The Camp Commandant is Major E. A. Porritt. M.C., N.Z.T.S., formerly of Trentham, and the Adjutant is 2nd Lieutenant H. H. Mackrell, M.M., N.Z.T.S., of Palmerston North. Tlie supervising quartermaster :s Captain R. Beveridge. The officers of the engineers are Major' A. R. Currie, Lieutenant H. M. Reid and 2nd Lieutenant F. E, Foster. 2nd Lieutenant A. G. Kinder is in charge of the ma-chine-gunners. NEW TERRITORIAL BATTERY. Members of C. Troop of the 37th Battery, a new battery formed under the extension of Territorial training, to-day entered on their three months’ course, these men being drawn from Palmeiston North and the immediate district through the Territorial ballots. For to-day and to-morrow they are training at the barracks and on ll riday morning will leave for Waiouru. at which point the three troops of the batvery. the others coming from Napier and Wellington will be concentrated. In the main, the activities while at Palmerston North are concerned mostly with organisation, the issue of equipment, and elementary training. An immediate keenness was noticeable when the work was commenced to-day.

The non-commissioned officers previously underwent two months’ training at thojiamp at Foxton. Lieutenant L. D. Lovelock is in command of the troop and there are associated with him Lieutenant J. N. Stancombe and 2nd Lieutenant J. W, McSkimming.