DEFENCE NOTES

Northern Advocate, 9 July 1925, Page 6

DEFENCE NOTES

FURTHER SUCCESS.

WHANGAREI CADETS,

"B" Company (Whangarei), Ist Cadet Battalion, North Auckland Regiment, which figured so well in last year's Imperial Challenge Shield competition, has secured another success. The company has won the Logan Campbell Vase competition for the 1924-25 training year, and will hold the trophy for a year. In addition one gold and six silver medals are awarded to the seven best shots of the company. The Logan Campbell Vase was originally donated as a trophy for competition at the Northern Command annual rifle meeting at Penrose. Last year, 1 for the sake of economy, it was decided not to hold a command rifle Meeting, and new conditions foT the award of this trophy were drawn up. It was decided that the trophy and accompanying medals would be awarded to the company in the Northern Command which showed the. best performance in the annual musketry course, taking the following points into consideration:—Strength of the unit, the number-who completed the musketry course, the number of first year cadets who completed the course, the average amount of ammunition expended by each trainee, the total number who qualified and the number of marksmen, the av-. etfage score of the whole unit, the nuihber who fired field practices, and the number who carried out judging distance tests. There are separate sets of medals for secondary school cadet units and other than secondary school companies.

By winning this trophy f * the past training year the local cadet company has proved itself to be practically the best all-round company in the command (outside of secondary schools) in the musketry branch of the training. The Northern Command comprises that portion t of the _ North Island lying north of a line running from Gisborne on the East Coast due west to Lake Taup6 and thence to the west coast, so that it amounts to a provincial success that the local.cadets have obtained. The final decision as to which individuals shall receive the medals rests with Command Headquarters, and it is expected that the names will be made known by next week. It is noteworthy that out of the seven best shots who, it is expected, will be awarded the medals, five were posted to the Territorial Force last month. This fact shows that, these five at any rate have learnt something about shooting during their cadet training, all of them having secured 104 poiuts or more out ;of a possible 120. However, the company

will have to realise that having seciired such a gdod place in the command it is up to those who are left to see to it that the good name does not into the background. LOCAL TERRITORIALS. Parades^, have been held during the last two Weeks of local mounted rifles and infantry details who have been lately ported to the territorial units from the cadets. These T>n->-n all been fitted out with uniforms and equipment and are now ready to take their place in the local units of the regiments. The Headquarters Wing of the Ist Battalion, North Auckland Regiment, will settle down to steady training from now on, and a year's Work is expected. The training of this unit consists mainly of specialist work, Vickera gunnery, signalling, etc., and it is intended that this training shall be' completed before the annual camp is held. Moat probably the whole of the Ist Battalion, North Auckland Regiment, will attend a camp in Whangarei during April, 1926. CADET PARADES.

At the inspection, of "B" Company, local cadets, on Monday night last, it was evident that the cadets are mating a good attempt to turn out smartly, and their steadiness on parade is gradually getting up to the standard the company reached last year. No. 6 Platoon Was good, being closely followed by No. 7, the Thursday platoon." A very good attempt was made at out massed physical training? it being quite clear that the company still possesses cadets who are triers. During the last part of the parade a short, interesting and instructive lecture was given by Mr 0. S. Solomon on the construction of the British Empire. This lecture was really an introduction to the subject, Mr Solomon ' having' kindly - offered to give further tecturettes at a later date. The lecturer, ran briefly oyer the map of the svorld, pointing but the general situation of the main countries comprising , the Empire. He then dealt briefly with the eariy' history of the British nation. "COUBSES'AT"NARROW NECK. Courses of instruction for different ■arms of the service are to be held at Narrow Neck camp again during the current trailing year. These courses will be open to officers and n.c.o's. oi the Territorial Force and cadet units. The first will be a mounted rifles course and Will be held from August 3 to 8. Officers and n.c.o's. of the 9th (N.A.) Mounted Rifles who wish to attend should get in touch with the adjutant of the regiment as early as possible. All names must be submitted by July 15. ' / ' ;