NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23527, 16 June 1938, Page 7

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND, AND RIFLE RANGE . By Bull’seye THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE No. 42. Dated June 9. 1938. Major J. M. Samson, the Otago Regiment, 10 be lieutenant-colonel, and is seconded to command the 3rd Composite Battalion. Dated November 10 1937 Captain E. G. Gedge, M.C. from the Regiment ot New Zealand Artillery to be captain with seniority from September 13 1532 and is posted to th'e 3rd Cadet Battalion, the Otago Regiment. Dated September 1. 1937 Captain O. G. Cox, from the Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, to be captain with seniority from December 20 1933 and is posted to the Ist Cadet Battalion the Otago Regiment Dated September 1 1937. Lieutenant W N. Wood, from the Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, to be lieutenant with seniority from March 1, 1937. and to be posted to the 2nd Cadet Battalion, the Otago Regiment Dated September 1, 1937 The undermeptioned to be secondlieutenants, and are posted to the Otago Regimental Depot (dated May 1. 1938); William Bragg Spence William Hoxit OTAGO DIVISION. R.N.V.R. Small Bore Rifle Shooting Ratings practising for selection in teams A and B to compete in the in-ter-divisional Palmer _ Trophy next month continued practice on Monday last week A good attendance was present and a high standard is being maintained. Practices for the various cups and trophies at headquarters will commence on completion of the interdivisional team practices. The range at headquarters will be available from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday next, when the final series of firings for team selection will take place. Weekly Drills The division assembled on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week as follows: —Tuesday, all V/S and junior W/T ratings; Wednesday all seamen and senior W/T ratings. There was a good average attendance on each occasion. The following training syllabus as authorised by the executive officer (Lieutenant-com-mander P. G Connolly R.N.V.R.) was carried out. / . : Seamanship.—Class B ordinary. seamen to compass and helm in conjunction with the electric steering model for the first half of the training session, and to rule of the road at sea, using the universal navigation lights board, for the second half. The, wire splicing class continued instruction in practical wire splicing. Minesweeping. —Class A ordinary seamen continued instruction in practical minesweeping, using the minesweeping table and models for the first half of the training session, and were taken to a lecture on minesweeping equipment in general use during the second half of the session. Gunnery.—All gunnery ratings and ratings not qualified in special subjects continued stripping and reassembling the Lewis light automatic gun, each rating taking the stripping and reassembling in turn. Ratings qualified m minesweeping were examined in the mechanism and working parts of the 4in Q.F. semi-automatic gun. Class C ordinary seamen continued instruction in the 4in B.L. gun, using the Lege teacher. ■ ' Recruits. —Eighteen new entrants who have been entered on one month j probation commenced preliminary instruction in rifle drill. • ■ Signals.—Signal ratings continued instruction in practical signalling, using flashing lamp, buzzer, and semaphore. " . Wireless—Practical communication exercises with the Defence Headquarters, Wellington, and other R.N.V.R, divisions were continued by ratings detailed. The remainder of the senior wireless ratings continued practical procedure exercises at the flashing and buzzer table., The junior ratings continued practice in reading the Morse code at the small buzzer table. Next Drills , , Training this week will be replaced by a recreational night in the form.of a “ hard-up ” dance given the division bv Commander F. Fraser. R.N.V.R., and Mrs Fraser. The dance’will commence at the divisional headquarters at 8 o’clock to-night. Voluntary Training Instruction in V/S. W/T. and gunnery was available on Monday and Tuesday. OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES Officers’ Conference The officers of the Otago Mounted Rifles held a conference recently with a 100 per cent, attendance. Owing to the number of recruits offering in the Southland area, it was decided to form training centres at Wyndham and Otautau. where training operations will commence before the end of the present training year. Ren'irnenfal OiPdon

Advice has been received from the makers of the new regimental guidon that approval of the design is expected from the Royal College of Heralds within a few days. The guidon should reach New Zealand in the early spring Country Centres The country centres will commence training at Lawrence on July 22, and during this parade the Composite Squadron ball will be held COMPOSITE BATTALION End of Training Year The training year of the Composite Battalion, the Otago Regiment will be brought to „ close shortly. Last week eight recruits paraded for the machine gun platoon, and four were selected to be placed on the waiting list. With the transfer of several men to the reserve, at the end of the training year, ii is hoped to take on some of the recruits who are of a particularly good class. Motor Cyclist Platoon The parades uring the last fortnight have been very encouraging, further training in semaphore and Lewis gun being carried out. Two teams were entered in the Lewis gun competition last Saturday, No. 1 team finishing in second place. ,ARLY VOLUNTEERING IN OTAGO 20/10/64.—The Volunteer movement is undoubtedly flourishing in Dunedin We notice that it is intended to form another company of rifles under the title of the Dunedin City Rifle Corps, and that a meeting in furtherance >f the movement is to be held this evening at the Octagon Hotel, at half-past 7 o’clock. 21/10/64.—T0-morrow (Saturday) there will be a general march-out of the Dunedin Volunteers. _ Parade is appointed to commence at 3 p.m. The companies are directed, to fall in on their private parades, and to form in the Octagon at that hour. 22/10/64.—A meeting of No. 1 Company of Rifle Volunteers was held yesterefay evening at McCubbin’s Hotel for the election of officers. Captain Moss in the chair The chairman having announced his resignation the meeting proceeded to elect an officer to fill the vacancy and Mr Turton was unanimously chosen Messrs Moss and O’Meagher (the latter of whom tendered his resignation as lieutenant) were elected honorary members of the corps It was arranged that a meeting ot the corps should be held this day at 3 o’clock in the drill shed the members to be in uniform. 24/10/64.—A general march-out oi the various volunteer corps took place on Saturday afternoon The muster on the occasion comprised detachments of the Volunteer Artillery under Captain Ross; Naval Brigade, under Captain Patterson; and Nos. 1 and 2 Companies of Rifles, under Captain Ross and Captain Bathgate. The drum and fife bands of the Naval Brigade and the Rifles 85 usual accompanied the

volunteers, who proceeded to a paddock adjoining Heldreth’s Hotel, Anderson’s Bay, where they went through various evolutions in a very creditable manner After going through the battalion movements they returned to town, Majors Richardson and Cargill, who were present, expressed their satisfaction with the progress made in drill by the corps present on the occasion. 25/10/64.—A meeting of intending members of the Dunedin City Rifle Corps was held last evening at Waters s Octagon Hotel, when it was decided to alter the name of the corps to those of “City Rifles.” under which name the corps will for the future be recognised. From the number of gentlemen present wc augur well for the success of the corps.