MILITARY CAMP AT WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 189, 13 August 1940, Page 4

MILITARY CAMP AT WANGANUI

PREPARATIONS IN HAND PITCHING OF TENTS AND USE OF BUILDINGS A scene of organised activity prevailed at the Wanganui Racecourse yesterday when preparations were being advanced for the military camp which is to begin on Thursday of this week. An advance party of 32 men from the First Battalion of the Wellington Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant A. J. Eggo, is preparing the camp. The men who will arrive in Wanganui this week will be officers, and n.c.o’s of the Second New Zealand Mounted Brigade, comprising the Queen Alxandra Mounted Rifles, the Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles, and the Manawatu Mounted (motorised) Rifles. They will he in camp from August 15 until August 31. The camp will then be known as a wing of the Central Military District School of fnstruction. The Wellington Regiment numbering approximately 800 men, will enter camp on August 31 and will leave on September 30. One hundred and fifty bell tents are being indented, as well as marquees. Officers' tents are to be pitched in the bird cage enclosure, and the rest are to be placed in lines in the saddling paddock. When the Wellington Regiment arrives extra cooking facilities will have to be provived and a portable cookhouse will be accommodated in the car parking area. The mess marquees will also be pitched there. The top floor of the stewards’ stand is being set aside for a hospital for any minor ailments which may occur.

The Home Industries Hall is being used for camp equipment and yesterday dozens of blankets and other necessities were being unpacked. It is intended to have a canteen under the outer grandstand, which will be in charge of a man from the Internal Marketing Department. The Y.M.C.A will be allocated space under the same stand for its activities. They will also have a marquee for recreational purposes.