NAVAL RECRUITS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 242, 12 October 1937, Page 9

NAVAL RECRUITS

SELECTION BY BOARD TWENTY-TWO BOYS CHOSEN Having been sent from all parts of New Zealand by the staff officers in charge of regimental districts, 38 boys went before a final recruiting board at the Devonport Naval Base on Friday to be examined for entry into the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy as seaman boys for training. There were 22 vacancies. This was the second of two half-yearly selections of recruits for the division. Further recruits, this time for stokers, will be examined by the board on October 26. The candidates appearing had previously undergone medical, dental and educational tests and those who were chosen for entry will receive 12 months’ training in such courses as gunnery, signalling, and education before being drafted to one of the ships of the station. Those showing special aptitude for wireless telegraphy will receive an extra three months’ training before being sent to one of the warships. Conditions of Entry To be eligible for entry the boys I had to be between the age of 15 years • and three months and 16 years and I three months, and unless since their : selection they have changed their j mind, they will have to sign a con- ( tract to serve in the Navy for 12 years : from the time they reach the age of | 18. The long period of service is re- i sponsible for the recruiting board tak- : ing extreme care to ensure that each | candidate fully realises his obligations ■ once he has been entered. No boy is accepted unless the board : is fully satislied that he realises he I cannot withdraw from the Navy once I

he has entered and that his candidature is made with the consent and approval of his parents. The board also asks each boy questions in order to find out if he is used to the company of large numbers of other boys, whether he can swim, if he has played the normal games, and if he is used to boats and ships. His keenness to become a seaman is also tested. Very Fine Stamp Each of the boys is placed on his merits when he appears before the board and Friday’s candidates were described by members of the board as of a particularly fine stamp. They > were just as good as any recruited in ! England and the only difference notic- i ed by those in charge of the training I of New Zealand boys has been that I the English recruits are generally ; accustomed to bands, crowds and ' other service conditions. The boys ex- ' amined came from farms, small ’< towns, cities, and were from all walks of life. Eight were from Napier. They : were brought to Auckland earlier in | the week to give them an opportunity ; of seeing U£e in the division and deciding whether they would like it. ■ The namcj, of those selected are: I. • W. G. Ben:on, J. B. Brownlie, K. C. ! H. Cadman, A. B. Crawley, A. M. Dawcett, R. B. Durham, A. W. Gray, • J. C. Harris, R. Hill, J. R. Hurst, D. S. McCurrie, T. R. Mankelow, S. F. Mercer, J. C. O. Moffat M, B. | Moffat, R. G. Parnell, W. H. Short, | C. J. Taylor, D. R. T. Thompson, C. I G. Wright, G. J. Wright, W. L. Young.