NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21909, 22 March 1933, Page 14

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE By Bull’s-eye. OTAGO DIVISION, E.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.). Parades Both subdivisions will muster at 7.30 p.m. to-day, there being no parade on Thursday. At last week’s parade Captain V. C. V. Crutchley, V.C., D.S.C., and Commander A. W. Clarke' inspected the classes at instruction. Further recruits were examined, and ns the No'. 1 Subdivision will pass out to list II at the end of April, those who have applied for enrolment will be notified, and their applications confirmed on completion of the medical examination, Canterbury Div, R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.). Paymaster Lieutenant Robert Free, R.N.V.R., has been appointed accountant officer to the Canterbury Division, stationed at Christchurch. This officer originally commenced in the Otago Division, and assisted largely in inaugurating the first subdivision in 1928. After leaving Dunedin, Paymaster Lieutenant R. Free was placed on list 11, and is again actively serving on list I. It is interesting to note that Paymaster Lieutenant Twhigg, also from the Otago Division, is the acountant officer of the Auckland Division, having served, first in the Otago, then the Wellington, and now finally in the Auckland, Divisions as their paymaster. Light Gun-layering The ratings who were examined for light gun-layer by the squadron gunnery officer have given a satisfactory account of their technical knowledge, and the results will he published next week. Signal and Wireless Telegraphists The signal and wireless telegraphy section, consisting of 14 ratings from the Otago Division, has been messed on board U.M.S. Diomede, and has undergone a seven days’ course of training. The accounts hitherto are favourable, and on completion of discharge, which is due today, the service certificates will certify as to their, fitness for the communication branch, and these will be passed on to those concerned. OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. West Taieri Troop Tlfe West Taieri Troop paraded at Outram on Wednesday last, when the strength was raised to 19 by the enrolment of three recruits. A parade will be held this evening at 7.30, and it is hoped to complete dismounted work in order that, at further parades the troop may be mounted. Taieri Beach Troop On Saturday afternoon last the Taieri Beach Troop completed its musketry classification course. The results were good. Balclutha Troop On Saturday next at 9.30 a.m. the Balclutha troop will parade at the rifle range for the purpose of firing its classification course. 14th Medium Battery, N.Z.A. , The weekly parade of the 14th Battery was held at Central Battery, St. Kilda, on Monday evening last, when there was a good attendance of all ranks. The evening’s work consisted of fire discipline, communication being established between the O.P. and gun position, and the results of the series fired being recorded on the miniature range. The means of communication and transmission of orders was by vibratory telephone On the occasion of this parade the battery was inspected by Lieutenant-colonel S. G. Scoular, brigade commander, Lieutenant-colonel A. S. Falconer, Otago Regiment, and Commander Clarke and Lieutenant-commander Aiery, of H.M.S. Diomede, which is at present in port. The battery has a limited number of vacancies on its strength, due to men having been posted to the Reserve, and now that training has commenced for the current year any reprints desiring to join the unit should communicate with the adjutant at the Central Battery, St. Kilda. THE OTAGO REGIMENT. A Company The A Company N.C.O. class, which commenced a series of parades last week, will parade again next Monday evening at the Drill Hall, Kensington, at 7.30. No. 3 (recruit) platoon will also parade on that eveping for Lewis gun instruction. .♦ C Company, Port Chalmers Platoons There will be no further parades the C Company platoons till Monday, April 24, when a parade in preparation for Anzac Day will be held, but voluntary parades will be held on each Monday till that time, and anyone attending may have practice with the Lewis guns, providing an n.c.o. is present. D (M.G.) Company Owing to the regimental concert being held last evening, there was no parade of D Company. At the previous parade, held on Tuesday of last week, it was explained that senior and junior platoons were to be abolished, and under the new company organisation recruits would be posted to each platoon in turn, thus producing two platoons of equal strength. After the reorganisation of the company a committee was elected to attend to the social activities of th 6 company during the winter months. At the next two parades work in connection with the forthcoming inter-platoon infantry training competition will be undertaken. Next Saturday the company will parade at the Pelichet Bay range for the purpose of firing the annual machine gun course. SECONDARY SCHOOL CADETS. John M'Glashan College Tlie John M'Glashan College Cadets are scheduled to gp into barracks at the school on April 0,7, and 8, and it is anticipated that the firing party for the Anzac Day ceremony will be selected from this unit. . Infantry training, signalling, and Lewis gun firing will be the work on which the college boys will concentrate this year. Otago Boys’ High School The special training platoon for prospective n.c.o.’s and those intending to sit for first appointment examination will be formed shortly. Christian Brothers’ High School The syllabus as prepared for the Christian Brothers unit includes Lewis gun work, and it is hoped to form a signal section in the near future. King Edward Technical College Three platoons of Vickers gunners, two of Lewis gunners, and a section of 00 signallers are showing great keenness at the King Edward Technical College. The first-year boys are organised into three platoons for infantry training, and these will go on to the specialist platoons in their second year. RIFLE SHOOTING. Kiwi Notes For the second competition of No 6 Match Kiwi Club riflemen were greeted with a very thick and foggy light. Consequently, visibility wag very bad, and elevation troubles were numerous. A good number of-members forgot the general practice in such conditions —to shoot quickly —and were soon in difficulties on account of the haze thickening the more they looked through the aperture. It was indeed a decided contrast with the previous Saturday, and those who were present can congratulate themselves on being on the hill range. One can only conjecture what the light would have been like on the bottom range, which is practically in a gully. , The top score at 500 yards wag 48, and was scored by two members—Riflemen N. Jone s and H. Whitehead. The former’s score read 5455545555, while the latter’s total was composed of Riflemen R. Gillick (47), C.M'Keich (47). R. Johnston (46), P. Fennessey (45), J. Judson (45). R. Bowie (45), Deputy-presi-dent F. Clayton (45), W. Mills (44), F. Marks (44), B. Andrew (44), J. Frew (44), J. Harding (44), and H. Boyer (44) were close up. A feature of Rifleman N. Jones’s 48 was that he was shooting off the/ left

shoulder. This was necessitated through an accident to his right eye some time previously. It certainly pays one to be versatile in rifle shooting. By the time 600 yards was reached the haze was still thick and did not encourage riflemen to hope for large scores. By the time the last squad was due to shoot a wind sprang up and the haze dispersed. Shooting under these conditions. Deputy-president F. Clayton made 48 (5555555454), and the score was top at this distance. He was followed by Riflemen C. M'Keich (46), R. Johnston (46), R. Gillick (44), H. Whitehead (43), L. Ogg (43), J. Judson (42), W. Mills (42), B. Andrew (42), and R. F. Allan (42). Top aggregate (93) was secured by Rifleman C. M'Keich and Deputy-presi-dent F. Clayton, the latter being placed first on account of the 600 yards score. In the A Grade bull’s-eye competition Rifleman C. M'Keich was in the lead with 14. Close up to him were Deputypresident F. Clavton (13), R. Johnston (13), H. Whitehead (13), R. Gillick (12), N. Jones (10), H. Boyer (9), J. Judson (9), W. Mills (9). In the B Grade the leaders were Riflemen J. Harding (10), R. Bowie (9), L. Ogg (9), F. Marks (9), D. Marr (8), J. M'Kinlay (6), L. Oliver (5), and J. Frew (5). In preparation for Easter, it may be mentioned, several members intend to have a practice shoot on the range early on the morning of March 23, at about 7.30 or 8 o’clock. Dunedin Notes The members of the Dunedin Club also found the thick haze very embarrassing last week-end. The highest score at 500 yards was 46, and was credited to Rifleman R. A. Mackiei Following him were Riflemen J. M'Knight (45), A. A. Parker (44), R. Graham (44), W. Graham (43), E. Parker (43), G. Smith (43), Deputypresident J Gillan (42), Riflemen J. Benfell (42), O. G. Miller (42), Captain Cowie (42), Riflemen A. Cooper (42), R. P.' Douglas (42). W. Facer (41), W. Harty (40), R. G. Begg (40), and President W. Bannerman (40). Rifleman A. Cooper and W. Graham headed the list at 600 yards with 44 apiece. Others following were Riflemen J. Benfell (43). R. 6. Begg (43), R. Graham (42), G. Smith (41). O. G. Miller 141), W. Facer (40), and President W. 'Bannerman (40). Repeating last Saturday’s performance, Rifleman W. A. Graham secured the leading aggregate (87). He was followed bv Riflemen A. Cooper (86), R. Graham (86), J, Benfell (85). G. Smith (84), J. M'Knight (84), R. Mackie (84). R. G. Begg 1(83). 0. G. Miller (83). W. Facer (81), President W. Bannerman (80). Visitor from New South Wales It: will be pleasing to old members of the Dunedin Engineers to know that one of their number (Mr E. C. Parker) was a visitor to the rifle range last Saturday afternoon. He will perhaps be better known to them as “ Joe,” the name by which be was known in those old days. He is a brother to Rifleman Arthur Parker (Dunedin Defence Rifle Club), who can shoot very solidly when he finds the time. “Joe ”is a member of the famous Randwick Rifle Club. Sydney, and is at present in Dunedin on holidays. He still remembers old friends of the erstwhile volunteer clays, and extends his greetings to them. That he can still shoot is evidenced by the fact that he recently notched 102 (ex 105) in a teams’ match at Sydney.