NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22063, 20 September 1933, Page 13

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE By Bull’s-eye. NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE NOTIFICATIONS. No. 6S, Dated September 14, 1933 Lieutenant W. R. J. Pollock, the Otago Mounted Rifles, is transferred to the Reserve of Officers, Class I (b), R.D. 12. Dated August 22, 1933. Second Lieutenant J. W. Moodie, regimental supernumerary list, is posted to the 12th Field Battery, N.Z.A. Dated August 17, 1933. Frank Trevor Scofield to be second lieutenant 14th Medium Battery. Dated August 17, 1933. OTAGO DIVISION R.N.V.R. (N.Z.D.). Weekly Parade* At the conclusion of their weekly class instructions on Wednesday and Thursday last each subdivision was exercised in the technique of falling in under arras. This was carried out with a view to accustoming the ratings to rapid assembly in platoons. Such an exercise is necessary on board ships when a landing party under arms is required. Annual Musketry Course The annual obligatory musketry course was commenced on Pelichet rifle range on Saturday, September 9. Some good scores were registered, Leading Seaman L. Ogg scoring the highest with a total of 112. THE OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES.' Country Troops The country troops of the O.M.R. arc making a feature of week-end bivouacs, the Duntroon Troop having completed a very successful two days (September 9 and 10). The time was devoted to small anus training and dismounted drill. It is anticipated that another such bivouac will be held in the near future, when mounted work will be undertaken. The Beaumont Troop , will go into bivouac from September 22 to 24. Signal Troop The Signal Troop drill night has been changed from Monday to Tuesday evenings. Several promising recruits have recently been enrolled and there are still vacancies for suitable men. ARTILLERY NOTES. 12th Field Battery At the parade held on Wednesday last the battery carried out a further step in the new syllabus, with sectional training in squad drill, gun drill and New Zealand Regulations, and drivers being instructed in parts of harness. Tonight’s parade will see further advances made in the year’s work. Each week sees some addition to the ranks, and recruits joining now are able to get the benefit of the full year’s artillery training and are not handicapped by starting in the middle of the more advanced stage of the work. OTAGO REGIMENT. A Company On Monday evening’s parade A Company continued to receive instruction in anti-aircraft training. Next Monday evening a recreational parade will be held at the Drill Hall. On the following Saturday afternoon the company will parade at the Pelichet Bay rifle range for a Lewis gun course. Uniform will be worn with belt and side-arms; rifles will not be carried. C Company (Port Chalmers) Since the beginning of training this year there have been excellent attendances at parades,, and the company has been undergoing training in musketry and Lewis gun work. The recruits who have been enrolled are shaping well. D (M.G.) Company The officers and n.c.o.’s were further exercised in advanced work at last parade, the subject being “ Indirect Fire.” Good progress was made. Other ranks were instructed in “ Immediate Action ” —the correction of stoppages first and second positions, and also in indication and recognition of targets. Transport Section, H.Q.W. The transport section paraded »n -Tuesday night at Central Battery. Limber drill and riding exercises were carried out. Half-day Parades The Pelichet Bay rifle range has been allotted as under, and company and group commanders have warned their units accordingly:—September 30, A Company, recruits, part 1, Lewis gun course; advanced Lewis gunners, part 2, Lewis gun course. October 7, A Company, as for September 30. October 14, D (M.G.) Company, annual course. October 21, A Company and H.Q. Wg., instructional practices, rifle course. Regimental Dance With Major J. M. Samson as chairman a strong committee has been formed from the officers and n.c.o.’s of Ist Battalion the Otago Regiment for the purpose of holding a regimental ball. BRIGADE COURSE. To Be Held At Waikoiiaiti A 3rd New Zealand Infantry Brigade course of instruction is to be held, probably in November. The last brigade course, held two years ago, was carried out at Burnham, but Waikouaiti has been chosen as the venue for this year, probably by reason of its presenting a wider scope for tactical work. The Otago Regiment will send eight officers and 12 n.c.o.’s to the course. , SECONDARY SCHOOL CADETS. Final Instructional Course The third and final of a series of in-” structional courses for n.c.o.’s of secondary school cadet corps was held at the Pelichet Bay rifle range during the past week. The instruction was in Vickers machine gunnery, and 28 n.c.o.’s of the 2nd (Cadet) Battalion, the Otago Regiment, attended. Of the 28 who completed the course 21 are marksmen and the remainder qualified. Cadet I. Shrimpton made the good score of 130 of a possible 175. The conditions of the shoot were firing 30 rounds at a triangle, and Cadet Shrimpton placed 21 hits on the scoring surface of the target. At the conclusion of the week’s training a match was fired against the machine gunners of the Otago Boys’ High School. Three practices were fired—two’ from 400 yards and one from 300 yards. The competition was keen, and the 0.8.H.5. team won with 98 points against 96. RIFLE SHOOTING. Otago Rifle Association A report dated January 12, 1860, gives additional particulars of the prize firing of the O.R.A. as follows: — i “ The competition was continued yesj terday at the Kaikorai butts, and for : the. third time Private W. F. Stevens i of the Naval Brigade placed himself at the head of the list.

“The ‘Evening Star’ prize (cup or money) £lO 10s, second £5, third £4, fourth £3, fifth £2, sixth £l. Open to members of the association only. Ranges 200, 300, and 400 yards. Wimbledon targets and scoring (1803) ; Hythe position only. Government long Enfield and Lancaster rifles.

Private W, P. Stevens (16, 15, 17) 48, Gunner Fisher (15, 13, 16) 44, Gunner Muir (16, 13, 14) 43, Corporal Taylor (14, 12, 17) 43, Sergeant Devare (13, 14, 16) 43, Corporal Stevens (14, 12, 17) 43, P. 0. Goldie (12, 12, 17) 41, Corporal Tresedcr (14, 12, 14) 40, Gunner Gieudining (14, 10, 16) 40, Sergeant Hislop (9, 10, 19) 38, P. O. Harty (13, 12, 13) 38, Lieutenant Thomson (14, 9, 15) 38, Lieutenant Robertson (14, 12, 12) 38, Lieutenant M’Farland (12, 9, 16) 37, Gunner Phil (11, 14, 12) 37, P. O. Bain (14, 7, 16) 37, Lieutenant Stavely (14, 12, 11) 37, Gunnej Blyth (16, 13, 8) 37, Gunner Smith (13, 12, 11) 36, Ensign Jamieson (12, 6, IS) 36, Gunner Orbell (14, 12, 10) 36, Private White (13, 8, 14) 35, Liutenant Davies (14, 8, 13) 35, Ensign Wales (12, 8, 15) 35, Gunner Hume (14, 12, 8) 34, Private A. Johnston (11, 10, 13) 34, Private Shand (9, 10, 15) 34, Sergeant Hannah (12, 10, 11) 33, Gunner Dalgleish (10, 12, 10) 32, Corporal Broad (11, 12, 9) 32, Lieutenant Shand (11, 7, 11) 29, Lieutenant Robertson (13, 5, 11) 29, Private M'Laren (11, 6, 12) 29, Sergeant Douglas (8, 7, 13) 28, Captain Ross (9, 9,9) 27, Gunner Ball (12, 3, 11) 26, Gunner Mauder (13, 6,5) 24, Sergeant Lindsay (14, 5,4) 23, Private J. R. Thompson (14, 6,0) 20. “ The winners all used the long Enfield rifle. Sergeant Hislop made the good score of 19 at 400 yards. None of the winners missed, and the shooting on the whole was extraordinarily good. It will be seen that there is a tie for the last four prizes. All ties, we may state, will be shot off at the end of the meeting.

“ The following shows the result of each shot of each of the sis winners:— “ Private W. E. Stevens (Naval Brigade), 200 (3, 3,4, 3,3), 300 (4, 2, 3,3, 3), 400 (3, 4,4, 2,4), 48; Gunner Fisher (Artillery), 200 (3, 4,3, 3,2). 300 (3, 3,3, 2,2), 400 (3, 3,3, 3,4). 44; Gunner Muir (Artillery), 200 (3, 4,3, 3,.3), 300 (3, 2,3, 3,2), 400 (3, 3,2, 3,3), 43; Corporal Taylor (Scottish), 200 (2,3, 3,3, 3), 300 (2 2,3, 3,2), 400 (3, 3,4, 4,3), 43; Sergeant Devore (Artillery), 200 (3, 3, 2,2, 3), 300 (3, 4,2, 3,2), 400 (4, 3,4, 3,2), 43; Corporal Stevens (No. 1 (City Guards), 200 (4, 2,2, 4,2), 300 (2,3, 2,2, 3), 400 (4, 4, 3. 2,4), 43. “ To-3ay the shooting for the Government prizes takes place.”—(To be continued.) Musketry Course The members of the Kiwi Rifle Club fired the second and final competition of the club’s service championship last Saturday afternoon. There was an excellent attendance, and scores showed a decided improvement on the previous week. The match was won by Rifleman R. Gillick, with a total of 245 ex 280 — an excellent performance. He will hold the championship shield for a year. Riflemen W. Morton and F. Marks were second and third respectively, with 238 a-piece. The three winners deserve to be congratulated on their fine marksmanship. Their successes were achieved on account of the time spent in “ zeroing ” their rifles —a procedure that has been stressed in this column on many occasions. With such a large number of riflemen shooting, it was natural that some outstanding scores should be registered. While not detracting from the winners’ successes, who all shot remarkably well, mention must be made of a very fine score made by Rifleman R. K. Johnston. To hit the bull’s-eye in deliberate firing is hard enough at the best, but to register nine bull’s-eyes and a magpie (48 out of 50) in 10 shots rapid at 200 yards is a remarkable feat. Rifleman H. Whitehead made 4(5 in this practice on the previous Saturday. Both these scores would be considered excellent in the best of company. At the conclusion of the musketry course one member was heard to remark that the club “starts shooting next Saturday.” It is well known that many marksmen are distinctly averse to shooting under service conditions. Whether this dislike is engendered because of this style of shooting being “ below their dignity,” and consequently regarded as a waste of ammunition, is purely conjecture. But the fact remains that many shooting men do not like service conditions. Perhaps objection is taken on account of the programme being laid down by the military authorities, in which case the riflemen have not got a free hand in choosing the practices to be shot. We must remember, however, that a certain amount of military discipline is needed on a rifle range —in fact it is essential. Without the necessary cohesion and understanding, which allows carelessness to creep in, accidents of a very serious nature may happen, and no one is more aware of this fact than a person who takes rifle shooting seriously. Want of practice is another reason why the majority can not be bothered with the Government course.

To those avlio look upon rifle shooting as a national pastime the objector does not obtain much sympathy. As a sport it should be encouraged in all its branches, and by no means the least important aspect is firing with the rifle as issued. The value of a good marksman on active service, where one has no time to adjust slings,' aperture sights, etc., needs no extolling here.