TERRITORIAL CAMP

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 56, 17 January 1941, Page 7

TERRITORIAL CAMP

Men Of Second Wellington Battalion At Waiouru

GOOD TRAINING GROUND

Parading at Buckle Street at 6.45 a.m. today, 539 members of the Second Battalion of the Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington’s Own), under the command of Major G. N. Taylor, V.D., set out to begin their scheduled three months’ training at Waiouru. After a somewhat unmilitary march down Taranaki Street and Customhouse Quay before most of the city was stirring, they boarded the 14-car train which took them to camp. Three months lienee their marching will tamuch more presentable.

After a run on the express schedub the train reached Waiouru in what seemed to tie a dust storm. The troops peering expectantly or apprehensively through carriage windows were un able to form any opinion of the camp except that it. would be a good train ing ground for the Western Desert. A bulldozer, three lorries and a motor cycle going about their military occa sions on the dust road close by the platform reduced visibility to about 50 yards. Many of the officers already at the camp were' wearing motoring goggles.

Led by a drum band; the troops marched.out of the dust into the camp past the drilling units which bad arrived during the week. After they had marched through the camp to what is to be their parade ground, the men were expeditiously assigned their tents for the night and issued with blankets and palliasses. They were called to a mess parade and were given their first meal at Waiouru.

Tonight they looked round the camp finding their feet, which at the moment are mostly sore.

A further company of the battalion left Wellington by the New Plymouth express, changing trains at Marton and arriving in camp at 7.30 p.m.