TWO NOMINATED FOR SANDHURST COURSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17999, 9 November 1926, Page 6

TWO NOMINATED FOR SANDHURST COURSE.

MILITARY CADETSHIPS ATTRACT 30 APPLICANTS. (Special to the “ Star.’’) WELLINGTON. November 9. According to an official announcement to-day two vacant cadetships for New Zealand youths at the Royal Military College. Sandhurst, England, have been filled by the selection of G. 11. Wooller, of Auckland, and J. R. Page, of Invercargill. This is the second selection that has been made in connection with military cadetships at Sandhurst. Previously cadets were sent to Duntroon at a cost nearly twice as great as that under the new method. Two vacancies are allowed New Zealanders at Sandhurst every six months and one at Woolwich. Candidates are to be between the ages of eighteen and nineteen, and should be fit for active service in any part of the world. There is no scholastic examination, but to be eligible for appointment candidates are required to have passed the matriculation examination or its equivalent. Training for a period of eighteen months at Sandhurst is undergone by the successful applicants, and if the course is satisfactorily completed can didates are commissioned as secondlieutenants in the New Zealand Staff Corps on graduating, and will be attached to a unit of the British regular Army for six months prior to thenreturn to the Dominion. All expenses are found by the New Zealand Government, who, in addition make an allowance of £1 per week pocket money. For the two vacancies recently offered there were thirty applicants, and these were narrowed down to seven, who were sent to Wellington to be interviewed by the G.O.C. The final selection was made by the head of the forces after consultation with his staff officers. In the selection candidates were judged on their scholastic and athletic attainments and general appearance and character, as far as could be ascertained by interview and references. The choice fell on G. 11. Wooller, of Auckland, formerly of Thames, and J. R. Page, of Invercar gillBoth youths,.are reported to have done exceptionally weli educationally, and both gained football and cricket caps at their respective secondary schools. Advice has been received that the candidates selected in the previous lot have been most hospitably treated in England. The Victoria League has provided hostesses in various parts of the United Kingdom, and recently they visited the battlefields of Belgium and France in company with Major Jennings. a -New Zealand officer attending the staff college at Camberlev. The Defence Department is in receipt of excellent reports concerning the previous nominees, who show promise of becoming exceptionally fine/officers. The two latest appointees will leave New Zealand by the Port Hobart on November 25.