THE SILENT SERVICE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 17142, 18 September 1926, Page 5

THE SILENT SERVICE

BOYS IN TRAINING SUCCESSFUL UNIT ROYAL NAVAL UNIT (Special to the Herald.) AUCKLAND, this day. Since its formation in Auckland over a year ago, the Royal Naval Reserve has been doing excellent work in providing in some measure for the naval defence of the Dominion. . At present the reserve has only been established in Auckland, but it is likely to be extended to other main centres. In Auckland the strength of the reserve is 120 men, and a further company of 60 men is soon) to be formed.

The course of training is an alternative to territorial training, and care ia taken to see that its participants .are those boys who have a genuine love for the sea. The period of training is five years, two years longer than the military- term, but the boys seem possessed of the old volunteer spirit and undertake all their work cheerfully. A very fine type of lad is entering the reserve, and it is hoped to make the service of material value to the Dominion. PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY.

With a naval base established at Auckland the boys have an opportunity of gaining a first hand knowledge of the workings of the “ silent service.” At present some are away on the Dunedin. which is undergoing firing practice in the gulf, and another detachment is to leave with the Diomede on Monday. They will return on October 1. Last year five officers and: 95 men trained on warships, and it is hoped that every man will take the opportunity of indulging in sea-going training. ' Every one who has gone away wants to gq again.

While they are away with the warships, the boys mess and work with the ship’s company. They have an opportunity of obtaining a certain amount of firing practice, an opportunity of which! they always make most. However, the trips are valuable not so much for the instruction provided as for the gaining of a knowledge of the spirit of the service. The boys are not treated as amaV tours, but as seamen, and the trips havp resulted in a great benefit to their work.