ARMY MANOEUVRES AT CAMBRIDGE

Waikato Independent, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3551, 9 May 1939, Page 5

ARMY MANOEUVRES AT CAMBRIDGE

• MOTOEISED SQUADRON

BREN GUNS DEMONSTRATED KEEN PUBLIC INTEREST The first major camp of New Zealand's Motorised Squadron has evoked keen public interest during the days it has been encamped at Cambridge. Over 170 officers and men of the 4th Composite Mounted Rifle Regiment concentrated at Cambridge on Saturday, and this morning the squadron moved on to Rotorua. The central attraction has been the new Bren guns and carriers. The agility of the tractor-like carriers was demonstrated to the public on Sunday afternoon and again yesterday, when a large attendance saw the Mayor, Mr Edgar James, take the salute, after the squadron had been assembled in company formation on the polo ground. The two carriers were also, examined with considerable interest when they were driven through the main streets yesterday. The efficiency of the Bren gun is explained by its smallness. It is in the same class as the Lewis, Vickers and Hotchkiss guns, but has the great advantage of being almost foolproof. All soldiers who have used the former guns will know that while they were extremely effective, they often developed mechanical faults, which took time to adjust. Speedy Operation The Bren gun weighs 281bs and can be carried by one man. with ease. It is air-cooled, and thus the barrel may become over-heated with continual fire, but the unique mechanism enables a spare barrel to be fitted in three seconds. The magazine, which contains thirty rounds of .303 ammunition, can. be changed with the same speed.

Each .carrier is equipped with two guns, which may be attached for use while travelling, or easily removed and mounted -on bipods for ground work. The carrier has a complement of three, the driver and two operators. In the tactical exercises carried out at Cambridge, the carriers attracted the greatest public interest. They are powered with Ford V 8 engines, and the tread is the caterpillar type track of high-grade running on a sprung bogey, the wheels of which are faced with rubber. For road work, the carriers are restricted to 20 m.p.h., but in the field, as they showed on the polo paddock, they reached a speed of 40 m.p.h. A carrier weighs 3* tons. Rough Ground Covered In a demonstration to the public on Sunday, the carriers were taken to the gravel pit opposite the race, course, where they covered ground which appeared almost impossible for any mechanical vehicle to nego- * tiate. The carrier can, with ease, make a grade of 1 in 1, but one of them encountered a sudden drop at one stage, and was put out of action.

It was here that another branch of the mechanised army was brought into action, this being a

large Morris field artillery tractor, which attached its winch to the • Bren carrier and removed it from its predicament with ease. The field artillery tractors are actually large motor lorries for carrying a

Vickers gun and crew of six men. They are also used for hauling large guns into action. Several of them were attached to the regiment in Cambridge.

The - final opportunity for the public to inspect the mechanised army took place at 4 p.m. yesterday afternoon, when the details of the Bren. gun were again explained. Sergeant-Major Bromley, who has been, transferred from the Australian Instructional Staff, on account of his knowledge of this gun, showed indentations on the armaments of the carriers, where experimental bullets had been fired to prove -their safety.

Yesterday's Display

Before the main display, the Mayor, Mr Edgar James, and Mr S. Lewis, chairman of the Domain Board, in one carrier, and Messrs R. Hannon and T. H. Hampshire, president and secretary respectively of the Trotting Club in the other, were taken for a ride round the polo ground. They appeared to he having a rough journey, but they all explained afterwards that the tilting forwards and backwards was

hardly felt. They admitted that they were warned by the drivers when the carriers were stopped in their tracks at 40 miles an hour. It seemed for an instant that the vehicles would somersault, but although the sterns went high into the air, they settled back easily to the natural position. After the carriers had returned from this jaunt, the squadron lined up in formation near the totalisa-tor-house, and at sharp command, moved off to parade round the polo ground. The sections were evenly divided, each comprising a group of beret-capped motor-cyclists together with a number of heavy transport waggons and lighter vehicles.

Mayor Takes Salute

After several circuits of the ground, with the Bren carriers in the van, the squadron, was aligned in company formation for the Mayor to take the salute. Accompanied by Major D. H. C. Wilson, the official party from Cambridge inspected the ranks, during which time the broadcasting lorry, which is an important part of such a unit, was brought to the front. The Mayor and his party were introduced by Major Wilson through the loudspeaker, after which Mr James welcomed the squadron to Cambridge, and congratulated those taking part on the fine display that had been presented. He wished the squadron every success during the continuation of its tour.

Mr R. Hannon, as president of the Trotting Club, said that it gave his committee great pleasure to be able to provide free use of the course and buildings for the camp. His remarks were endorsed by Mr Hampshire, who mentioned that such facilities as had been provided, would prove of even, greater value in the time of an emergency.

Ideal Camping Ground

When interviewed by an Independent representative later, Major Wilson expressed his great satisfaction with the conveniences provided at the course, which he said were ideal for such a camp. Everything was on. the spot, and in a case of crisis, 300 men could be camped on the ground without recourse to canvas.

The Major said he was sorry that the camp could not have been continued longer in Cambridge, but the ideal of the present training was to keep as near as possible to the activities that would ensue for a motorised regiment in actual warfare. Time was a big factor, he added, and in support of this mentioned that yesterday he had received information from headquarters that the squadron had t reach certain points on the way to Rotorua today at specified hours. To emphasise the training, arrangements had been made for the squadron to run into opposition, provided by the Rotorua High School Cadets, somewhere between Mamaku and Rotorua. An advance guard would be sent out, said Major Wilson, and then on discovery, strategy would be employed for the removal of the opposing force.

Continuation <of Tour

Prior to that the squadron will experience dry rations for the midday meal. One day will be spent at Rotorua, where the Mayor will take the salute, and a demonstration will be given of the Bren gun. Tauranga will also be visited for one day, and there tactical exercises will be carried out before the squadron journeys to Auckland on Friday.

Saturday will be fully occupied, the squadron will make for Wellsford and then prepare for an attack at a position somewhere in Dome Valley, which will he held by the North Auckland InfantryWhangarei will be reached on Sunday morning, and a demonstration will be given at Kensington Park, where the Composite Horse Regiment is already encamped, under Colonel C. Pierce, M.C. Combined operations will be carried out on Monday and Tuesday, and the regiment will return to Auckland on Wednesday, where the camp will disband.

The officer in charge of the camp is Major D. H. C. Wilson, with Captain W. Buttimore, second in command. The troop commanders are Lieutenants J. A. Bell, A. Aitchison, Jordan and McQueen, W. Greenhall (motor transport officer), and Boreham (signalling officer). Other officers are Major J. Bateson (QuarterMaster), Captain J. A. Patterson (medical officer), Lieutenant 11. H. McDonald (adjutant), and Lieutenant Cowper (administrative adjutant).