MEN FOR CAMP

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23859, 9 January 1941, Page 6

MEN FOR CAMP

MARCH THROUGH CITY MORE AUCKLAND DRAFTS PAPAKURA REINFORCEMENTS The last of the Auckland area men for the Fifth Reinforcements of the Expeditionary Force left the city yesterday. They consisted of volunteers and men drawn in the first ballot for overseas service who have'been draited to the infantry and artillery, and went to Papakura mobilisation camp. A inonj* them were volunteers who preferred to spend the time until their mobilisation in coastal defence fortresses, being given the opportunity to do this toward the end of last year. As a result of their departure further vacancies now exist for this branch of home defence service. Former Territorials Also in yesterday's draft were numbers of men who have belonged to territorial units. The majority of the remainder were recruits who have had no military service. Tho men marched through the city to the railway station at the time when large crowds were going to work in the morning, and demonstrations of goodwill followed them along the route. As is usual, many of tho troops marched arm in arm with relatives and friends. Three bands played the men on their way and the tunes were taken up and sung by the soldiers as they marched. Klags fluttered from many windows in Queen Street and large numbers of business employees leaned out over verandahs to wave enthusiastically to the marching men below. Draft lor Whangarei Tn addition to the Expeditionary Force draft, the '2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment, left for its course of three months' intensive home defence training, to be carried out at Kensington Park, Whangarei. Following the territorials' column as it marched to 1 the station were motor transport | vehicles loaded with the soldiers kit ! bags and gear. The battalion marched I behind its commanding officer, Major ! L. M. Myth, formerly second in command of the Ist Battalion, AuckI laud Regiment.

Further territorials are to leave tor camp to-day. They will he for the 38th Battery. New Zealand Artillery, going to Waiouru, the Ist Signal Company, going to Trentham, and a Scottish detachment, going to Wanganui to join detachments from other areas throughout New Zealand. RECRUITS FROM HAMILTON DETACHMENT FOR PAPAKTJRA [FROM 01-R OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Wednesday "Being some of the first men in the Dominion to go into camp since the action started in the Western Desert, you are fully aware of what is ahead," said Major W. H. Allen, No. 4 military, area officer, when farewelling about 90 men from the Hamilton area who left

for Papakura camp this morning. The men, who will join artillery, infantry and Maori Battalion units, in the Fifth Reinforcements, were also farewelled by the deputy-mayor, Mr. F. Findlay, and, as they marched to the station from the Drill Hall, there was a large crowd in attendance.