NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20961, 26 February 1930, Page 16

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES.

MESS DECKS, BARRACKS, AND PARADE GROUND NEWS. By Bull's-Eye. Personal. According to the New Zealand Gazette dated February 20, Norman William Martin and Donald Young Allan have been promoted to the rank of second-lieutenant, supernumerary to the establishment, and are seconded for duty with the Otago University Company, New Zealand Medical Corps, Otago Regiment, as from November 1, 1929. THE OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. Parades. A. and H.Q. Squadrons held their first evening parade for the year on Thursday last at the Kensington Drill Hall. The next evening parade is called for Thursday. March 6. The same squadrons are called for a half-day parade at the Pelichet Bay range on Saturday next, March 1, for the purpose of firing their annual musketry course. , Morris Cup. The Morris Cup, which is presented to the Otago Mounted Rifleman securing top score at the district rifle meeting, was won this year by Corporal J, R Cromh, of the Maniototo Troop, C, Squadron. Corporal H. C. Anderson, of Stirling, who is attached to the Balclutha Troop of B Squadron, was runner-up, 14th (MEDIUM) BATTERY. N.Z.A. Annual Camp. The 14tb Battery camp, which was held at Matarae from February 11 to 18, was carried to a most successful issue. The officers in camp were:—Major S. G. Scoular (battery commander). Captain R. Sleigh, Second Lieutenants 6. A. Perry (G.P.0.), A. Munro, S. G, M'Avoy, and J. Green (12th Battery). With the exception of Sunday, when heavy rain spoiled the proceedings during the afternoon, the weather was excellent. The training commenced ; with driving and manoeuvres for the dirivers and gun drill and fire discipline for the gunners on the first day. The second and third days boot and saddle parades were 1 ordered at 0830 hours, and the days were spent in reconnaissance and occupation of position. On the Friday night a night alarm was sounded at 2045 hours, and in 18 minutes every man was out with horses harnessed, teamed up and hooked in, and moved off gun park to a position in the vicinity of Matarae camp siding—a most creditable performance. Then Saturday was the first,.day of live shell practice. The weather was perfect, and some very good shooting was done. This practice was continued on the Monday under less favourable conditions, but very satisfactory shooting resulted. On Tuesday morning camp was struck and the battery left for Dunedin. On Sunday morning a combined church parade of the 10th. and 14th Batteries was conducted by Padre R. G. M'Dowell, and in tho afternoon a large number of visitors/who availed themselves of the excursion train were entertained at afternoon ten. Ist BATTALION O.R. ‘^C^jCorfipanjN C Company f (Otago University), with Captain J. A. M‘L. Roy, M.C., in command, is at present undergoing six days training at Kensington Drill Hall before going into camp with the battalion at Waianakarua on Monday, Match 8. In my notes last week I inadvertently referred to this company as the N.Z.M.O. Signal Section. There was a good attendance of member < of the Battalian Signal Section at the Drill Hall on Monday evening, when S. Vincent, D.C.M., M.M., commenced a three-evening course of signalling instruction. The n.c.o.’s of the Cadet Signal Section are attending this course! Waianakarua Camp. . Officers will be pleased to note that a piano has been procured fo*- use in the mess during the battalion camp, and all who are musically inclined aye requested to take songs and musical instruments, etp., with which to brighten the few leisure hours available to officers in the evenings. This is a new departure on the part of the Mess Committee, and there is little doubt that it will be much appreciated and taken full advantage of. Regimental Mess. Between 20 and 30 officers attended regimental mess last evening and afterwards adjourned to the Officers’ Club, vhere the Commanding Officer discussed with them details connected with the forthcoming camp. Mr G. H- Goley will be in charge of the Y.M.C.A. marquee at the Waianakarua camp, and I understand he will be grateful to all who can spare magazines, papers, etc., for the use of the soldiers during their leisure moments. NEW ZEALAND ARM? RIFLE MEETING. Entries from R.D. XI. The undermentioned from R.D. XI have entered for the above meeting, to bu held at Trentham from March II to T4:— Series A Rifle.—Second-lieutenant W. R. Borrie (Ist Battalion 0.R.), Pte. A. R. Black (Ist Battalion 0.R.), Pte V F Moore (Ist Battalion 0.R.). Cpl. W’a’ Montgomery (Ist Battalion 0.E.). Pte. C J. Parsons (Ist Battalion 0.R.), Pte. C. N. Walker (Ist Battalion 0.R.), Cpl H. F. Waldren (Ist Battalion O.R.J, O.M S O’Neill (Ist Battalion 0.R.), Sgt R. F. Duekvforth (Reservist). Series B (Vickers Gun).—Sergt. R. P Williams (Ist Battalion 0.R.). Cpl. C F Fleming (Ist Battalion 0.R.), Pte. L. C Hitchcox (Ist Battalion 0.R.), pte. w’ C. Hogg (Ist Battalion 0.R.), 3?le. R. J T. Mullin (Ist Battalion O.R.J. Series B (Lewis Gun). —Sergt. R. Familton (Ist Battalion 0.R., Oatnaru) Pte. J. Carlson (Ist Battalion 0.R., Oamaru). Pte. R. Morris (Ist Battalion O. Oamaru), Pte. M. Williams (Ist Battalion 0.R.. Oamaru). OTAGO RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. Approval. - Word has been received by District H.Q. that the programme and daces submitted to Command H.Q. by the Otago Rifle Association for its forthcoming rifle meeting have been approved. BAND CONTEST. Quickstep Judging. The judging of the drill section of the quickstep is being earned out by Maior O. H. Mead, D. 5.0., S.Q.R.D., and his staff, which includes the followin'* members:—Lieut. C. Shuttleworth, IS.Z.S.C., W. 0.1. (S.S.M.) J. Beaumont, W. 0.1. (S.S.M.) A. W. Johnsoa. Staff Sergeant A T. S. M'Kenzie, Sergt. D. M'Currie and Staff Sergeant W H. H. Baldock,’ N.Z.P.S. The C Grade was judged on Saturday last, and the A and B Grades are set down for Saturday next. 2nd (C) BATTALION O.R. Drum and Bugle Band. The 2nd Cadet Battalion Drum and Bugle baud will be seen and heard in action on Saturday next during the A and B Grade Quickstep Contest at Cans--1 brook. Lieut. J. L. Napier and his hoys can always be depended upon to make a good showing, and they have been appointed to perform a very pleasing function at the conclusion of the contest — that of playing the winning band off the ground. Prior to this the boys, will give an exhibition in marching which will be well worth seeing. l It is pleasing to note that this band, in full strength, is going into camp with the Ist Battalion on Monday, March 3. CAMPBELL STATUETTE COMPETITION. Result Eagerly Awaited. The judging/of the district representative cadet companies in the Southern Command is now completed, and the result should reach Otago District H.Q. at any time. If is confidently hoped that •the noted Oamaru Company will again qualify to represent the" southern against the representative companies of Central and Northern Commands. NEWS FROM OVERSEAS. Captain 0; B. Prickett, R.N., has been appointed to command the new cruiser Norfolk, which is fitted out at the works of the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company, Gov An, and which, when ready for service, will relieve the Comus in the Atlantic Fleet. The Norfolk is the first of a new type of cruiser. The designed speed of

the British ships now entering service is 32.25 knots. In France the 33.0 knots of the Duquesne has been reduced to 33 knots in the Suffren and 32 knots in the Dupleix, In Italy the 36 knots of the Trento has given place to 33 knots in the Zara type. Squadron-leader J. Lloyd Findlay, M.C., R.A.P., who is in England attending various sources at the Royal Air Force Aerodrome, is the first member of the New Zealand Air Force to make a descent by parachute. On January 8, Squadron-leader Findlay ascended, standing on the lower wing of a Vickers-Vimy twin-engine machine, and dropped from 1500 feet, making a safe landing on Henlow Aerodrome. Lieutenant-colonel N. W. B. B. Thoms, D. 5.0., M.C., General Staff Officer of the Southern Command, has arrived in England on duty, accompanied by Mrs Thoms, and has taken a flat in Buckingham Gate! He will probably he here for a year. Lieu-tenant-colonel Thoms will take a course at the Imperial Defence College in military work affecting the higher commands in time of war. Mr J. Annesley Hankins left Wellington in October in the stokehold of the Raronga to join up in London with the Royal Air Force. This week he received advice from the Air Ministry that he has been accepted for a short service coinmission. Squadron-leader T, M. Wilkes, New Zealand liaison officer, who is stationed at the Air Ministry in London, has been to the Isle of Wight visiting the wellknown aircraft constructing firm, Messrs Sannders-Roe, Ltd. He went over to see and participate in demonstration flights of aircraft, of which inquiries have been received from New Zealand. On hj/,, return journey Squadron-leader Wilkes boarded the Rangitiki, where he met two lads who have come from New Zealand to enter the Royal Air Force as aircraft apprentices. Incidentally, he also met Mr Wijforcl, and, of course, travelled np by the boat train to Southampton. Miss Zoe Griraston (Wanganui), a recent arrival from the Dominion, is about to join the Royal Air Force Nursing Service at Halton, Buckinghamshire. It is officially announced to-day that Captain K. L. Stewart, M.8.E.! New Zealand Staff Corps, graduated at the I Staff College, Cainberley, at the course winch ended on December 21 last.