NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20705, 1 May 1929, Page 3

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES.

MESS DECKS, BARRACKS. AND PARADE GROUND NEWS.

By Bci.l’s-ete.

Personal; Transfers of Officers, New Zealand .Military Forces; Lieutenant J. E. Barnard, Ist Battalion is transferred to tlie Canterbury Kesimenl. Dated March 22, 102!). 2nd Lieutenant M. S. Carrie censes to be posted to the Ist C Battalion, and is posted to the 2nd C Battalion. Dated April 12, 102 A , > Anzac Day Observance. * One; 1 more Anzac Day has tome and tmiu- the day set apart each ycaV to recall to us the efforts, sacrifices, and achievements of onr glorious dead, and to pray'to, Cod that their sacrifice will not have been made in vain. In honour of these departed heroes, as is customary on each April 2a, the whole-of the territorial troops in the district were on parade to Like part in the service at the' Fallon Soldiers’ .Memorial' in the Queen's Gardens. The service was tinted to commence at I lOOlirs, and soon after I33ohrs the vicinity was aiivc with troops, all units, including the R.N.V.R., being in position at the appointed time to receive tire members of the Returned Robbers' Association, who .Were allotted a position of honour, lining the roadway leading through the gardens. The officer commanding the parade was Lieutenant-colonel H, E. Bamnvckmgh. D.R.0., M.C., and he had as his staff officer Captain F. L. Hunt, N.Z.S.C. The under-meutioued units were represented: —R.N.V.R.; the Otago Mounted Rifles; 12th Field Battery. N.Z. Artillery; 14th Medium Battery, N.Z. Artillery; Ist Battalion the Otago Regiment; Otago University Company, X.Z.M.C.; Ist tCadet) •Battalion the Otago Regiment: 2nd I,Cadet) Battalion the Otago Regiment; and the Dunedin Highland Pipe Hand; the -bands of the 3rd Field Brigade. N.Z. Artillery, Ist Battalion, Ist (Cadet) Battalion, and 2nd-(Cadet) Battalion, The Otago Regiment ably assisted. * Immediately the local bodies' representatives, the officers of the K.N.V.R., and retired officers of the Territorial f£oree had taken up their positions the ceremony was commenced by the marching on and saluting "of the Colours of the Ist Battalion the Otago Regiment, following on which Chopin’s Funeral March was played, .while the wreath party .marched to the foot of the memorial. -A general salute was then given in honour of the fallen, and the Rev. Dr Mcrrington, chaplain to the forces, delivered a short prayer, prior to the sounding of the " Last Post ” and the lowering of the Flag. With the Flag stiU lowered, volleys were fired by a party. from the Ist (Cadet) Battalion, Otago Regiment (0.H.1J.5. Cadets), the Bugle Baud, under Lieutenant Napier, playing between volleys. The Artillery Band then played Abide With Me,” while wreaths were laid by representatives from the R.S.A., R.N.V.R., the Otago Mounted' Rifles, 12th Field Battery, N.Z.A., 14th* Medium Battery N.Z.A., Otago Regiment, Toe H (Dunedin), and the Normal School—the representative in the latter <jase being a tiny girl, and her act was most touching to see. The Bugle Dana then played the “ Last Post ” and the “Reveille” (Cavalry), and the Colour party marched off to a position at Cargill’s Monument to take the salute of the R.S.A., R.N.Y.R., and units of the Territorial Force as they passed along Lower High street. The members of the R.R.A., headed by Dunedin Highland Pine Band, marched via Princes street to the Drill Hall, followed by the remainder of the parade to the Oval,- the whole parade saluting the South African memorial en route.

The general turnout of the troops was very creditable, and the marching; and appearance, particularly of the R.X.V.R.. was the subject of 'favourable comment from all quarters. Reaching.! the Oval, tho R.N.V.R. was drawn up in line, and. immediately in their rear, the military units were formed up—Otago Mounted Rifles on the right, then 12th and 14th batteries X.Z. Artillery, Ist, Ist (Cadet) and 2nd (Cadet!. Battalions the Otago Regiment. The Colour party was then marched out, and along the front of the Various units, who paid the usual compliments as the Colours passed. This tribute paid to the emblems of the traditions built up by the Otago Regiment —no less by those who paid the supreme .sacrifice than by those who wore spared* to return—was a fitting close to the finest Anzae Day parade yet held in Dunedin. it is worthy of note that the- Band of the Ist Battalion, tho Otago Regiment, took part in three functims on Anzac Day—at Seiwyn College. Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial, and St. Paul’s Cathedral; and the Bugle Band of the 2nd (Cadet) Battalion. tho Otago Regiment, took part in no fewer than five functions —at Port Chalmers. Fallen Soldiers’ ■ Memorial. Drill Hall, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Salvation Army Barracks Lieutenants Aston, and Xapicr, with their bands, are to be congratulated on their splendid efforts. XAVAL RESERVES. Training. In the absence in Wellington of Commander E. F. Watson. R.X'.V.R.. who is attending a eoqforsnco of C.O.’s of the R.X.V.R. in tho four centres —Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago—Liou-tonant-connnander A. B. Welch is in tomjnand of tho Otago Company. It is iicp.od that on the return of Commander Wat. son some definite information will he forthcoming regarding the formation of a second company in the Otago division. The company will parade as usual at 10,10 on Thursday. . and will carry out instruction according to syllabus. ft is expected to start work on Saturday afternoon next, with preparing the cutter and gig on loan to the division, for boat pulling exerciser. THE OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. Letters from Home, Most of tho Xcw Zealand units are allied to regiments of the British regular army. ■ The Otago Mounted Rifles is to'the 26th/sth Tampers, which is now stationed at Tidworth. England. Another link which the Otago Mbunted Rifles has with tho British Army is through its honorary colonels—General Bahington and Genera! Godlc.v (both 'of whom wore G.O.C.’s at different periods in Xcw Zealand). It has become the practice to send some record of the annual training to the generals, and also to the commanding officer of the 2Gth/sth Lancers. The following letters in reply have come to hand, and will be of interest to many older members of the 0.M.R.: Government House. Gibraltar, February 7, 1929. My Dear Waite, —Thank you very ninth for your letter, and "for the photographs of toe regimental camp. They have interested me enormously and have brdugh* back to my incuwiy very pleasant recollections of Matarae and of camps in Otago, particularly of the great one had for General Sir lan Hamilton in I a in very glad to hear that tho regiment, is still Honrishing. and will you please congratulate " C ” Squadron ’ on winning my cup. It, is very satisfactory that you got so many horses to camp, and, from the photographs, they look as if they were a good lot. We like bring here very much, ami my wiic joins me in many 1 hanks for your kind messages. Will yon please give mv kindest regards to all mv brother officers of the Otago Mounted Rides, and let them know that if any of them at amlime pass this historic fortress, they will receive a_ warm welcome from their colonel.—Yours sinecuvclv. Alexamifu J Goni.gy. JO/Tith Lancers. Tidworth, da unary 22, 1929. Dear Major Vvaito, —Thank you very much tor the letter enclosing the photographs .-md press cuttings. 1 nm afraid (hat the photographs arc too late i„ g,, into our journal this year, but wc will include them next year. R n arc sending you some copies of (he journal, which, 1 hope,’will reach you )n dun course. If any of your odicers are over here on a visit at any time I hope they ‘will let us know and come and see the regiment. We arc always very interested in hearing about our allied units. If you could

let us have a short article on the prospects for any of our men who are leaving the service and think of going to the colonies I should be very grateful. The sort of man who would want to go out’ generally has about £IOO saved. We find it rather hard to get even the good fellows to strike out on a line of their own nowadays. Wishing you and .the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment the best of luck.—Yours sincerely, • J, C. Ciif.yxe. t - CADETS. The Passmore Shield. 1 he very handsome shield presented by Captain J. Passmore to be presented to Uie host widet night parading unit in the Southern 'Command has once more been won by fl Company, Otago Regiment, Oainaru. The conditions in this competition are that each Regimental district selects its best all-round night parading cadet company. These companies’ are inspected by a board from command headquarters, and in Otago the company selected wins the Passmore Chiold. - Having again won this trophy, C Company now represents the Southern Command in the Campbell Statuette competition. A board from general headquarters, Wellington, will adjudicate in this competition during the week ending May 18. It will not be surprising to find the Oainaru hoys again victorious. In addition to Dio two competitions mentioned, the Bauehop Shield goes to the best company in the regimental district, 'so that C Company holds the two shields and is well in the running for the Dominion prize. Licntenaht D. Kennedy commands this famous comnany. his officers being Lieutenant H. Kemp and Second Lieutenants O. M’Calhim. W. R. Robertson, and W. S. Morris. Promotion Examination. The examination for promotion of territorial officers, for candidates who secured partial passes at the Inst examination Reid in September, will be conducted at Kensington Drill Hall, commencing at 0945 hours on Wednesday, May S, 1029.