N.M. AND W.C. REGIMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 30 June 1939, Page 8

N.M. AND W.C. REGIMENT

BACK TO FULL BATTALION ESTABLISHMENT * 1 | NEW CENTRES TO BE OPENED I AT SPRING GROVE AND TAKAKA Under the expansion of the Territorial Force, the Ist Battalion, Nelson, Marlj borough and West Coast Regiment, hag had its establishment restored to approximately that which existed up to the time when compulsory training was suspended. During tho intervening years the organisation of infantry battalions has been considerably altered and now consists of Battalion Headquarters. Headquarters Company, Support Company and three rifle companies. The Headquarters Company in comprised of one signal platoon, one motor cycle platoon, one sniper platoon, and an administrative platoon; the last mentioned consisting of quartermaster's details and staff. The ! Support Company consists of a headj quarters, three medium (Vickers) machine gun platoons and one mortar j platoon. Each rifle .company consist* I of a headquarters and four platoons, I each of three sections, two light ma- ! chine gun and the third being a rifle j section. Owing to the scattered nature of the various training centres from which the component parts of the Battalion are drawn, the question of arranging distribution of the sub-units is one of some difficulty. At the moment a provisional distribution is as follows: Nelson: Battalion Headquarters, Headquarters Company, Support Company. 1 Greymouth: "A” Company. 1 Hokitika and Ross: "B” Company. Westport and Motueka: "C” Company, It is intended to open new centres at Spring Grove and Takaka, each to furnish platoons to complete "C” CojnI pany. Actually it is anticipated that both these new centres will have no . difficulty in raising considerably mori than one platoon in which case por--1 lions of Headquarters Company may also be provided by them. I Throughout the district recruiting it proceeding steadily. On Monday a meeting is being held in Takaka in orcler to start the centre there, whilst on Tuesday evening similar meeting* are being held at Wakefield and Bright* j water for the purpose of starting tho ; Spring Grove centre'. The Adjutant ol the Regiment is addressing all threo meetings and will outline conditions ol enlistment and the scope of training, etc.