REGIMENTAL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23512, 19 May 1938, Page 7

REGIMENTAL NOTES

By

KHAKI

Appointments and Promotions: Colonel E. Puttick, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., is appointed honorary aide-de-camp to his Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral, vice Colonel I. T. Standish, D. 5.0., Regiment of Royal New Zealand Artillery. Dated April 1, 1938. Major C. E. Lees, Invercargill, from the Manawatu Mounted Rifles, to be Major, with seniority from October 1, 1935, and is transferred to the Otago Mounted Rifles. Promotions, Gore Platoon: Company Quarter Master Sergeant W. Graeve to be Company Sergeant Major, dated May 1, 1938. Corporal C. W. Collins to be Company Quarter Master Sergeant, dated May 1, 1938. Lance Corporal D. Cochrane to be Corporal, dated May 1, 1938. Private O. Fitzpatrick to be Lance Corporal, dated May 1, 1938. TRAINING NOTES There was a good turn-out of the Motor-Cycle Platoon at the last evening parade, which was devoted to map reading and resection work,, the men obtaining a good grasp of this important part of their training. The special distinguishing plates for the use on motor cycles being used in the platoon, together with more equipment, kneeboots, gloves, and goggles have, now arrived and have been issued to the men. This equipment is very neat and of first-class quality, and the platoon should look very smart with its distinctive new gear which will, in addition, add greatly to the comfort of the men when riding. The Signal Section, together with attached cadets, paraded in strength; the evening was spent in more morse instruction, recruits being taught elementary signalling, flag drill and so on. The Machine-Gun and Mortar platoons were amalgamated for the evening. The first portion of the parade was spent in cleaning the guns and mortars, at the same time a lecture being given on special points to note in the care of these weapons. The latter half of the parade was spent in rifle and general smartening-up drill, the Benefits of which are now becoming very noticeable. The transport and intelligence sections spent the whole of the parade in map-reading, instruction in which was given by the Intelligence Officer. The mechanical transport course for officers, N.C.O.s, and drivers was held at the Southern Military District School of Instruction at Bumham from Saturday, May 23 to Saturday, May 30. The Southland Regiment was represented by three officers, one sergeant, and one driver. A very comprehensive syllabus has been drawn up, and the course was to be very interesting. It started with a display of the motor transport pool, and an explanation of the special vehicles and attachments, instruction being given in the care and attention which should be paid to such vehicles as cookers and water-carts, and examples shown of what carelessness and neglect will do to these latter vehicles. Lectures were given on the method ot filling in the various forms used with motor transport, which proved yery valuable, and showed the necessity for every driver to fill in his daily return correctly; these returns must be examined at the end of each day by the transport officer or the sergeant. Map reading absorbed three periods of the course, and on the final day a very interesting tactical exercise involving the use of motor transport was carried ■ out on a map. Embussing and debussing were carried out with the.Territor- • ial Force Special Reserve, the method of flagging the ground and the leading i vehicle of each block being demonstrated. A very interesting lecture on traffic control was delivered, and an actual demonstration given with the vehicles. In addition to these matters instruction was given in anti-aircraft training and protection while on the move and at rest, and lectures delivered on the following subjects: Care of equipment, tools, and tyres; faultlocating chart: conduct and control of motor transport movements in war, ' including concealment, conduct and control of motor transport in peace; hire of motor transport for military training. To bring into execution the knowledge imparted during the week, [ a tactical move was carried out with t the Territorial Force Special Reserve, and during this exercise a most inter- ’ esting example of the value of ctmout flage was observed; two of the vehicles were driven in close to a hedge at the I side of the road and covered with some ‘ dead branches that were lying on the ' ground. An officer actually drove past f them in his car, and did not see the ’ vehicles. The course throughout was very valuable, and every opportunity j was given those attending to drive, and 1 become familiar with all the vehicles.