NEW RIFLE RANGE

Waikato Times, Volume 132, Issue 22010, 12 April 1943, Page 2

NEW RIFLE RANGE

ASSET TO' HOME GUARD OPENING AT WHATAWHATA A Home Guard shooting range, one of the finest in the Dominion of its type, was officially opened yesterday in the presence of officers and N.C.O.’s of the Hamilton and Raglan Battalions of the Home Guard. A happy augury for its successful use was the shooting of a “bullseye” by Mrs Campbell Johnstone, who is 74 years of age, and on whose property at Tunaeke, Whatawhata. the range has been constructed by the Guardsmen themselves. Lying in the fold of rolling hills, the site lends itself ideally for the purpose. It has been selected and made available through the generosity o£ the Johnstone family, whose sons are enthusiastic members of the Raglan Battalion and all noted rifle shots. Apart from the employment of a bulldozer in the early stages all the arduous work of excavation has been done by hand and the splendid result is a credit to those responsible for bringing to fruition what promises to be one of the finest assets for Home Guard training in the district.

Ranges up to 800 Yards The excavation of the butts necessitated the shifting by shovel of thousands of yards of spoil. The butts are* 140 yards long, making provision for eight 6ft. targets and allowing shooting at distances up to 800 yards and further if required. The locality of the range also lends itself to L.M.G., M.M.G. and Mortar training, a full weapon training syllabus for battalions. At the butts a commodious pit, ten feet in depth, has been constructed for the section acting as markers, and they are in constant communication by field telephone with the officer in charge of the firing squad. As each man of the squad completes his shooting 'he result of his firing is immediately indicated to him on the target. Yesterday, considering it was the first experience the men were having of a new range, the results, in which over 150 men participated, were highly satisfactory, a number of “possibles” being registered at 100 yards. Prior to the official opening officers and N.C.O.’s were introduced to the new adjutant of the Hamilton Battalion, Lieutenant W. A. Sandman, late of the 4th Battalion, 3rd Auckland Regiment, who acted as officer in charge of the range throughout the day. Monument to Pioneers Major J. C. Fillery, O. C. Raglan Battalion, thanked Mrs Campbell Johnstone and members of the Johnstone family for their fine gesture in permitting the Home Guard to construct on their property a range the equal of any kind in the Auckland Province. It would serve as a fine monument to the old pioneers of the district. The speaker paid a tribute to the fine work of men and officers of the Home Guard, who by their enthusiastic labours had provided such a splendid asset for training among members of the Hamilton and Raglan Battalions. The construction of such a splendid rifle range had come at an opportune moment when ample supplies of rifles and ammunition were coming forward. It was no secret now, added Major Fillery, that at one time, when the Japanese menace was acute, the Raglan Battalion was looked upon as a suicide squad, with but 60 rifles on their strength and a limited supply of ammunition to deal with a possible invasion. The position fortunately had changed appreciably since those dark days and they could look forward to a future in which full use would be made of the splendid facilities now available to them.

On behalf of the Hamilton Battalion, Captain R. E. Andrew, M.C., spoke in appreciative terms of the fine gesture that had made the day a red letter one in the history of the Hamilton Battalion. Weapon training was of vital importance in the training of guardsmen. The range they new had at their disposal was the culmination of the vision of Major T. H. Melrose, v/hose in- i defatigable enthusiasm in the in- j terests of the Home Guard had done so much to maintain interest in this ; important sphere of the country’s defences. Captain Andrew said the range was the result of the wholehearted co-operation between the Hamilton and Raglan Battalions and had been constructed in the record time of six working days. Family Vision Realised Lieutenant Hallyburton Johnstone, on behalf of his mother, thanked the previous speakers. He said the construction of the range brought to fruition a vision held by his family over many years. Years ago when this section of the Tunaeke property was in flax and ti-tree they visual- I iced even then what an ideal rifle range it would make some day. The Johnstone family had alv/ays been keen on the establishment of a volunteer force for the country’s defence and was of the opinion that rifle shooting was a very necessary adjunct to an efficient force. A good rifle shot was an acquisition to his country not only from a national viewpoint but from the viewpoint that it provided healthy sport. Later it was stated that the Johnstone family had decided to present a shield for competition among units of the Hamilton and Raglan Battalions, the shield to be retained for shooting on the range on the cessation of hostilities. The range was then officially opened by the shooting of a “bulls-, eye” by Mrs Campbell Johnstone, the hoisting of which was greeted by warm applause by officers and men. A two-course meal prepared in J field ovens by the cooks of the var-; ious companies represented at the parade provided an interesting insight into an efficiently organised cpmmissariat, by which a force 200 strong was served with an appetising meal consisting of mutton, potatoes and peas and stewed apple and custard. Two sheep, killed that morning on the property, 1 cwt. of potatoes, peas, two cases of apples, six packets of custard powder, twelve pounds of sugar and five gallons r-f milk were required in its preparation. The cooks are so organised that each company cooks its own requirements, and the appetising meals served at full-day parades have proved a boon among appreciative Guardsmen.