Annual Volunteer Inspection

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXV, Issue 10009, 27 November 1908, Page 1

Annual Volunteer Inspection

The annual inspection of No. 3 Battalion, 0.K.. V., by Colonel Davies, CM., Inspector-General of the New Zealand Forces, was held yesterday afternoon. The attendance of local volunteers was good ; and,'"indeed, when the scattered nature of the units and the busy season of the vear is taken into account, the same may be said of such of the country corps as put in an appearaiue. Numerically the King's Killcs are the strongest infantry corps in the volunteer district, and this company was the strongest on parade yesterday. .Most of the absentees were accounted for. At 2 o'clock the battalion was formed up in quarter column by the left and moved oil' in succession of enmoanies bv fours to the stone bridge at the bottom 'of Kdcn street. Here Colonel Dalies met the battalion, and the companies were inspected in rotation. The inspection over. Colonel Mahanwas asked to move his command, as through an enemy's country, towards the reservoir. The route chosen by 0.0. Battalion w T as up the pipe track. The King's Rifles formed the advance and Hank guards, while the duty of protecting the rear was. entrusted to the Queen's Rifles. The evolution was carried out with the idea of incnlcatin" the value of protection to a body moving through a country :'n a state of war. When reaching Mr Harris' house the main body halted and ciipmed. and the protecting screen was drawn in with the obiect of utilising the troops to throw out an outpost line. This was done, the country dominated by the outposts being that to the west side of Upner Kden street, a supposed enemy being in the vicinity of Weston. The whole force furnished the outpost line. The evolutions over. Colonel Davies addressed the officers and men, expressing satisfaction rrenerally with the manner in which the manoeuvre had been carried out. Several mistakes and errors of judgment were out, and the value of outside work such as had been gone through that afternoon insisted upon. Proficiency could only be obtained by such exercise in peace time and the taking advantage I of such country as had been used.

Following was the parade state : Inspecting Staff.—Colonel Davics, C.8., Lieut. Chesney, R.N.Z.A. (staff officer), Captain Hiekey, A.A.G. Battalion Staff.—Lieut.-Colonel Mahan, Major Forrester, Surgeon-Captain. Whitton. Captnin Quartermaster Mahan. Lieut. .Tonkins (N.D.M.R,). Staff Sergeant-Major Bishop, Battalion Sergeant-Major Pryde. Queen's Rifles.—l lieutenant. 1 corporal, 1 bugler, 15 privates: total 18. Oamarn Rifles.—l captain, 2 lieutenants, 1 color-sergeant, 2 sergeants, 4 corporals, 1 bugler, 31 privates : total 42. Alexandra Rifles. —1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant, 7 privates ; —total 9.

Duntroon Rifles.—2 lieutenants, 1 sergeant, 2 corporals, 3 privates;—total 8. King's Rifles,—l captain. 2 lieutenants, 1 color-sergeant, 4 sergeants, 3 corporals, 1 bugler, 36 privates ;—total 48. Oa.mara Defence Cadets.—2 lieutenants, 1 color-sergeant. 3 sergeants, 2 corporals, 1 bugler. 16 privates :—total 25. Total of all ranks. 156. Several members of the bands also fell in at Takaro Park, hut were not attached to the parade.