NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23858, 12 July 1939, Page 19

NAVAL AND MILITARY NOTES

FROM MESS DECK, PARADE GROUND AND RIFLE RANGE By Bull’s-eye NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE No. 50. Dated July 6. 1939 Staff and Commands.—Colonel G. McNamara, C.8.E., N.Z., Corps of Signals. relinquishes the appointment of Director of Signals, and is posted to the retired list with permission to retain his rank and wear the prescribed uniform.—Dated June 30. 1939. John George Young (late captain. New Zealand Expeditionary Force) to be Colonel, N.Z. Corps of Signals, and is appointed Director of Signals.—Dated July 1, 1939. Otago Mounted Rifles.—The undermentioned lieutenants are transferred to the Reserve of Officers, class ii (b).— Dated June 19, 1939: N. L. Berry, area xi: J. Fleming, area ix. Captain K. Simmonds from Reserve of Officers, the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, class i (b). to be captain, the Otago Mounted Rifles, class i (b). area xi. with seniority from June 15. 1935. Dated June 21, 1939. The Otago Regiment.—Arthur Hamilton Crisp Cavell (late second lieutenant New Zealand Expeditionary Force) to be lieutenant, and is transferred to the Reserve of Officers, class ii (b). area x. —Dated May 1, 1939. OTAGO DIVISION R.N.WR. Weekly Training Training at the divisional headquarters was carried out last week on Monday and Wednesday with excellent attendances on each occasion. The training on Monday consisted of team shooting with service .22 small bore rifles with the view to selecting teams to compete for the Interdivisional Palmer Trophy, which will take place on July 17. Instruction in visual and wireless signalling was also given. Wednesday was the official training for all ratings, when at the conclusion of divisions classes proceeded to instructions as follows: New Entries.—Class A to boxing the compas. Class Bto 4in Q-F. gun drill. Seamanship.—Senior seaman ratings to the principles and theory of rigging and working sheer legs. Minesweeping.—Ratings under instruction in minesweeping continued instruction in the various methods of constructing mines and laying out minefield. Gunnery.—Ratings under instruction in gunnerv to 4in B.L. gun drill. Antigas.—Acting gunlayers continued the lecture and instructions relating to the effects of the various forms of gas used in attack and the method of combating them by the Mark IV gas mask. Signals.—Signal ratings earned out signal exercise B and practical signalling by semaphore and flashing lamp. Wireless. —Senior wireless ratings carried out practical W/T communication exercises with the naval W/T station at Wellington and other R.N.V.R. stations. The remainder continued practice in reading the Morse code and procedure exercises at the flashing and buzzer table. Next Training Training at the Divisional Headquarters will be carried out this week as under:— Monday.—Team shooting for selection to fire for the interdivisional trophy. The final selection of teams to fire will be made. Tuesday.—Official training nights for all visual signalling ratings. Wednesday.—Official training night for all seaman and wireless ratings. The syllabus of training already in operation will be proceeded with. Boatwork.—Boat pulling and boat sailing will be exercised in both whalers in the upper harbour on Saturday afternoon. “Hard Up’’ party and dance—The "hard up” party and dance given by the commanding officer. Commander F Fraser. R.N.V.R.. and Mrs Fraser to officers and ratings of the division and their friends was held on Thursday night, when a most enjoyable and entertaining evening was spent. OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES New Troop Probable There is a probability that a troop of the Otago Mounted Rifles may be formed at Middlemarch, but this depends on the number of men offering In that locality. THE OTAGO REGIMENT Return of Gear to Stare As a change of service dress of infantry units is under consideration it is likely that portions of the Otago Regiment’s gear will be returned to store. Walking-out belts, puttees, and pantaloons will be called in and it is probable that canvas gaiters similar to those used by the naval forces will be issued at a future date. -The change to the blue uniforms obviates the necessity for walking-out belts and pantaloons and it is expected that the gaiters will be issued as soon as they are received from England. The steel helmets at present on Issue to members of the motor cycle platoon have already been returned to store. Last evening the motor platoon was reorganised. Miniature Rifle Club It is to be regretted that the miniature Rifle Club of the Otago Regiment, which for the last four years, has nut up some really good shooting, is meeting with disappointing support this Se in°the first year of the club’s existence it won the C Grade championship, and the following year the B' Grade In the last two seasons the club was runner-up in the B Grade. With suen a good record to its credit it seems a pitv that the club should be allowed to slip back. A practice will be held at the Drill Hall to-night, and it is to be hoped all the shooting members will attend, so that the club may retain the place it holds in the- miniature rifle shooting world. NEW ZEALAND SCOTTISH REGIMENT Attendances Maintained The Dunedin Company of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment is holding parades at the Drill Hall on Monday evenings, and the attendances have oeen most satisfactory. Last week there were 109 men on parade, and after organisation into platoons elementary drill was carried out. PROMOTION EXAMINATIONS Thirty-two Candidates For the examinations for first appointment and promotion, which will be held in August, no fewer than 32 candidates have entered from Dunedin. The numbers from the various units are as follows:—Otago Mounted Rifles, first appointment 3. promotion 3; 12th (Field) Battery first appointment 4; Ist Otago, first appointment 17, promotion 17; Otago University Medical Company promotion 2. AR.P. CLASSES Second Course Commenced The second batch of local body students has commenced a course of Air Raid Precaution classes. The attendances have been good and classes will be continued each Tuesday night at the Drill Hall, Kensington.