REGIMENTAL NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23553, 6 July 1938, Page 12

REGIMENTAL NOTES

By

KHAKI

Two letters have been received recently from officers in the line regiment to which we are allied. Major Holmes, the commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Manchester Regiment, has written a short note extending to the Southland Regiment his best wishes. His battalion has been transformed into a machine-gun unit and is stationed at Aidershot. The other letter was written to “Khaki'’ by' Lieutenant N. B. Close-Brookes who edits The Manchester Gazette, and contained more interesting information about the training carried out at the Ladysmith Barracks at Ashton-under-Lyne, near Manchester. One of their battalions is going to Singapore in the next trooping season, as garrison troops. Promotions have recently’ been made as follows:— Machine Gun Platoon. —Lance Corporal E. M. Grieber to be Corporal; Lance Corporal I D. Jordan to be Corporal. Signal Section.—Private P. J. Nichols to be Lance Corporal. These date from June 1. A new departure this year is the parading of the band every second parade night. In the event of war, stretcher bearers are drawn from the band and naturally play an important part in the administrative duties in a battalion. Sergeant Baker had a busy evening giving some 20 bandsmen instruction in first aid and stretcher-bearing and Corporal Rizzi took charge of the Southland Boys’ High School First Aid Section. Major H. R. Gibson, M.D., N.Z.M.C., was kept busy with the medical examination of a good number of volunteers. The bearer section of the Southland Regiment has a record of long and efficient service, and great credit is due to Major Gibson for this result. He has given a great deal of his valuable time to the training and organization of this unit since his return from the Great War. TRAINING ACTIVITIES The Machine-Gun Platoon had an excellent parade on June 27 and the forecast that this is going to be one of the most efficient units in the battalion is a true one. A general run through elementary gun drill in sections served to brush up smartness and the advanced work will be continued with little delay. Tire advanced section of the signallers carried out buzzer reading test groups and the recruits were on elementary training and the cadet detachment practised flag drill under Private Scott. Congratulations are extended to Sergeant G. A. Murray, who has obtained the amateur wireless operator’s certificate. Privates Swale and Chapman hope to qualify in September.

The Intelligence Section spent the evening in map enlarging and the work is good, some excellent pieces of work having been turned out. The Intelligence Officer gave the Transport Section instruction in map reading. LewisGun training kept the Motor-Cycle Platoon occupied for the whole evening, the newer recruits being engaged in stripping, assembling and elementary drill. The older hands mastered the intricacies of stoppages. The mortars are at present in Trentham and without them, of course, gun drill is at a standstill. The first of a series of lectures, which will last until the guns are returned, was given. It dealt briefly with the organization of the platoon with mechanical transport. After this introduction an outline was given of the work a Mortar Platoon would have to carry out on active service in attack, defence, advance guard and withdrawal. These and other relative subjects will be gone into more fully and it is hoped that sand table exercises can be carried out also. The attendances at country centre parades is being well maintained, particularly at Roxburgh. Lieutenant A. H. Webster has done excellent work since taking over this platoon and has been efficiently assisted by C.S.M. G. Capon. INSTRUCTION COURSES Every second Monday night classes of instruction are held for officers, non-commissioned officers and prospective non-commissioned officers. Drill and duties are important jobs of work and S.S.M. A. Johnston and Sergeant Gibb of the Permanent Staff are making their influence felt. In addition to this, physical and recreational training is being carried out and is more than welcome on cold nights. A series of lectures is being delivered at these classes and the Transport Officer, Lieutenant D. B. Cameron, gave the first of these on June 20, and discussed most interestingly the working of the Transport Section. The first course in tactics for junior officers will be held at Burnham, commencing on July 9. Captain C. J. Pomeroy and Lieutenant A. D. Smillie are attending. The next course on drill and duties begins on July 23 and several officers and men have signified their intention of attending. A pre-examination course will be held for officers sitting for promotion and first appointment to commission from August 20. Courses are also being held locally for students and in addition several week-end tactical exercises for all officers will be held at the end of the July and the beginning of August. The training of recruits began at the Drill Hall on June 27 under Sergeant Gibb, N.Z.P.S., and some very efficient trainees will be handed over to unit commanders at the end of the course. Recruits will parade every Monday night and will be examined before transfer to the unit in which they will serve.

The last half-hour of every parade is now being spent on company drill and Lieutenant J K, Robbie was in charge on June 27. Although this was only the second time this has been carried out, a marked improvement in marching was shown. The Southland Regiment created a very good impression in Dunedin last year and this constant practice will make it very hard to beat.

At the next evening parade, American basketball will be introduced and all those interested are asked to bring gymnasium shoes.