DOMINION FORCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 8

DOMINION FORCE

&NTI-TANK BATTERY /TRAINING IN ENGLAND f MAY PROCEED TO FRANCE [from OUR OWN correspondent] LONDON, March 8 The distinction of being the first <New Zealand soldiers to serve in Franco in the present war may fall to the Anti-Tank Battery, which has been training at Aldershot under Major C. J. Duff. Although it has not yet been decided definitely, it is possible that the battery may be stationed in a section of the Maginot Line for six to eight weeks beforo joining the main New Zealand Division in Egypt. While the battery spent a week nt one of the British Army's most up-to-date shooting ranges, firing live shells at moving targets, Major Duff and Lieutenant-Colonel 1?. S. Park. New Zealand military liaison officer in Britain, wero in Franco on a visit of inspection. All the men in the battery have been vaccinated and typhoid inoculated, and are in the best of spirits. They travelled in 30 vehicles in convoys of three groups to tho camp near the range, and for the present week are living under Service conditions. While Major Duff was away they wero commanded by Lieutenant J. H. HallKennev (Wellington), who directed operations on the range. Trying Winter Conditions There they fired anti-tank and Bren guns, as well as anti-tank rifles. They were putting into practice all that they had learned during; the preceding months. The severe winter has naturally made conditions most trying for the men, especially when on night manoeuvres. Part of their training at Aldershot ■was to dig their gun emplacements in the daytime, sometimes even at night, and then, under cover of darkness, to haul the guns up behind their lorries and "prepare for action." During tho biting cold, frosty weather, it was trying and arduous work. But the New Zealanders came through it with flying colours, and were complimented upon their range discipline when on their firing course at the range. 'Every man is a specialist at his particular job, but at the same time he has to learn every other man's work. This meant that each man had an opportunity of firing the anti-tank guns on the range, as well as the Bren guns and the anti-tank rifles. Practice in Use ol Bren Guns A gun crew consists of six men, in* eluding the truck driver. There is a loader, a layer, who sights and fires the gun, a fire controller, and two men in charge of the ammunition, who are also replacements in case of casualties. There are 12 guns to the battery, and 14 Bren guns—as well as anti-tank rifles, which are in the keeping of the drivers. The Bren guns are required mainly for defence against aircraft attack. A battery ma3 r be attacked by aircraft while moving to or from positions by road. In that event, the Brens would immediately bo trained on tho aeroplanes. Aircraft attack may also be expected i before a tank offensive, and, hern again, the Brens would be used in defence. During both tank and aircraft attack, tho gunners would have to takf» their chance of being hit by the airmen and get to work on their antitank gun. Theirs is not an enviable task, f.or in addition to attention from = the air, the tanks which they oppose are also equipped for destroying anti- . tank gun crews. For three days the New Zealanders used shells loaded with a half-blast, and even with this they managed on an average to secure three hits in every five. Some bursts, of course, were better than others. They showed even better form when firing the regulation service shell. Their targets were camouflaged tanks electrically operated on rails, and they moved at a good pace. Keen to Join Main Division

"Form'* with the Bren guns was equally as good, and one man who was used to a .303 rifle, but had never previously used a Bren, secured 12 bulls and 12 inners with his first attempt. This man incidentally was SergeantMajor M. W. Mac Donald, who fought with the International Brigade in Spain. At the end of this week, the New Zealanders return to their quarters at Aldershot. They are all to have six ' days' embarkation leave, and this will be taken in two "batches." One set of men will remain at the camp while , others are away.' 'lt goes without saying that all are most keen /to link up with the main . division. Then, it is understood, they will mostly become instructors, for special units are to be trained in the vko of the anti-tank gun. If they go to France first, of course, they may get their' "baptism of fire" before moving ''on to Egypt.