THE TENTED FIELD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 92, 18 April 1912, Page 5

THE TENTED FIELD.

TARANAKI LADS QUALIFYING AS

DEFENDERS

REGIMENT CAAIP AT HAWERA

The battalion camp of the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) commenced in earnest at 5 o’clock this morning, at which hour two men were detailed to arise and light the fires which were to heat the coffee which was to be on issue at 6 o’clock.

This stay-at-home married man’s , duty was the first carried out in the camp proper; but during the whole of Wednesday work was being canied out vigorously at the Hawera racecourse. And in previous months it can be understood that a great deal of work has been done in connection with the caihp. , Six hundred men ‘s not what military people regard as a large force ; but when it is remembered that these six hundred men have to be transported from all parts of an extensive triangle, having Patea, Ohakune, and New Plymouth as its furthest points, it must be apparent that much organisation was necessary to ensure the transport being done punctually and precisely. The men from the Waimate Plains arrived by coach, and the men from the Alain Trunk direction had to travel two whole days. A squad from the north co-operating with a Hawera squad saw to the erection of tents, this work oeing completed by the main body from ttie north after their arrival. The camp is well laid out, and some idea of it can be gained from the following rough plan;— Grandstand. Guard Tent. Headquarters Staff. X Orderly Room. Officers.

Latrines. Railway Line. Described in words, the c.i tip consists of a wide main street running from the grandstand to the railway line. On each side of the mam street there are minor streets, each one devoted to a company. The Haps of all tents of a company face the street, the backs of tents being close up to the backs of the tents in the next street. The doors are converged to face a central point, so that in wet weather an officer could delive' 1 a lecture from the street, and all the men could hear without leaving their tents. In each street there are approximately ten tents—sufficient comfortably to house a company. The X beside the orderly room in the plan represents as nearly,as possible the ffication of the regimental pot. The washing troughs are arranged to hold washing basins, the dirty water being tipped into the trough. ” It runs through • a grease trap, after which it is allowed to run into a cesspit about four feet square. This is part of the ambulance squad’s work. The squad was also responsible for the destructor. This consists of a bed of boulders surrounded by a sod wall enclosing about four cubic feet. It is used for the incineration of all solid refuse. Only one destructor has so far been erected, though two more will probably be necessary, the one in question being held capable of doing the work for two ' undred men. Generally, the work of the ambulance squad, chiefly sanitary work, is of a high order, nothing having been overlooked. The Waimate Plains men airived first—by coach. They were largely in mufti, though a uniform was to he seen here and there among them. They at once got busy on erecting their tents. At about five o’clock Ibe main body arrived from north by train, occupying nine carriages. Companies A and B, representing the old established New Plymouth companies, were all in uniform, and showed up well in marclrng from the train to their linos. The other companies were entirely in mufti, and could not be held to be imposing. II Company, Stratford, war infiposmg to a certain extent in that ii was headed by a very largo colour-ser-geant leading—or, rather, being led by—a very, very small bull pnp—the regimental pet. Colonel W. G Malone was especially pleased with the reports he received from the railway authorities, who stated that no damage had been done in any of the troop trains. This is worthy of remark, as it almost always happens that on troop trains unwise or indiscreet men cause damage; and, as Colonel Malone put it, the 11th Regiment seems to have set out with a. desire to earn a reputation for good behaviour. There is no possibility of damage being ('one, and not reported, as the carriages of troop trains are carefully inspected by responsible officers before and after occupation by troops. G Company (Waimarino) arrived by the mail train, and C Company (Patea) arrived by train about nine o’clock. They were treated to coffee and biscuits and turned in. When the parade state wa? taken last night it stood as follow :

: \ Following is a list of the officers: — 0.C., Colonel W. G. Malone; A. Co. (New Plymouth), Capt Fletcher, Lioul Buxton; B Co. (New Plymouth), Capt. Boon. Lieuts Hartnell and Arnold ; C Co. (Patea), Capt Turner, Lieut Nelson (attached); D Co. (Inglewood), Capt Leech, Lieut Cameron (attached); E Co. (Eltham), Capt Clark. Lieut Hornig (attached); F Co. (Hawera), Lieuts Bishop. Cox ana Johnston; G Co. (Waimarino), Capt Short, Lieut Wells; H Co. (Stratford), Capt Brunt (attached), Lieut Martin. The following non-com. staff officers are present:—Regimental Sergt.Major Hesp, Q,uartertnaste”-Sorgt.-Collins and Sergt-Majors Dovey, Morrison, Brightling, Walker, Mahoney, Olney, and Ballinger. Owing to late arrival in camp, tea was served somewhat late, but everything seemed to work well 7 n the men’s and officers 1 messes, both of which are situated in the grandstand building. The men were put through expeditiously, a good system having been perfected for passing them in and out. As to the quality of the fare, one man boasts that he ate fourteen sausages! They could not have been very deadly. This is a record amount for the camp. The caterer, no doubt, will hope (hat everybody will not attempt to break the record.

A post office box is placed near the orderly tent.

Uniforms and equipment wl! he issued to all tire men during the camp, so that they should soon present a line appearance. One is taken back to the very old times by the three-cornered Lajonets which are on issue as caudl .'-sticks.

In the camp there are -eveial performers on wind instruments, who ox Wednesday evening enlivened proceedings with a large variety of me bodies. All the men seem passable performers on the tin plate and spoon? Gara (Hindustani for ‘‘Eleventh”; is an unoffending bull-pup wiic_ has a somewhat ornate mansion. He is voiy young yet—a common failing of pups. The men take their meals at two sittings at the following times'—Breakfast, 7.20 a.m., 8 a.m. ; d.uner, 12.20 p.m., 1 p.m.; tea, 5 p.m., 0.-i0 p.m. Five orderlies from each company parade at each meal, two helping in the pantry and three at the table.

The camp is open to visitors on Wednesdays and. Sundays. So far Captain Dampen, Adjutant of the Regiment, is the only staff officer in attendance. Yesterday he got through an enormous amount ef work.

0 0 0 0 0 0 E. Co. A. Co. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ooooo F. Co. B. Co. 0 0 0 0 0 ooooo 0 0 0 0 0 ooooo a. Go. C. Co. ooooo ooooo 0 0 0 0 0 ooooo H. Go. )\ Co. ooooo ooooo ooooo .0 0 0 0 0 Q.M.S. Store. Q.M.S. Store. S.S. Maj. Destructor.

A ... 62 B ... 82 0 ... 56 1) ... 82 E ... 73 F ... 62 G ... 87 H ... 41 Total ... 545