Our C.O.

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 30, 11 December 1942, Page 3

Our C.O.

Our C.O’s history is mostly that of sth., in which Battery he has served continuously since 1917. He joined the then D Battery, N.Z.F.A., in Wellington as Trumpeter at the age of 16, while serving also in Technical College Cadets as a platoon sergeant. The Battery was commanded by Major Petherick, with Capt., now Brigadier W. A. Stevens, as Adjutant. When he was 18, in 1919, he was officially taken on strength. He was coached for his commission by the late Major T. Farr. D. 5.0., and passed in 1922, being appointed 2nd. Lieut, under Major G Lyon, Battery Commander. For three years he went to sea to ob tain engineering certificates, being re tained on active list of officers whil< absent. Whilst at sea he gained con siderable experience whilst seeing th( world. His anecdotes from this, portion of his life are most interesting His voyaging finished in 1926 when hr again took up soldiering, attending al annual camps at Foxton and Waipuku rau. In 1932 he was appointed Captain ant Battery 2 I/C and was responsible fo: training drivers in equition and ridin< up to the time 5 Battery was mechanis 'ed in 1936. In this period he trainer I hundreds of drivers, spending almos every weekend riding at Seatoun. | Assisted materially in holding 5 Bat tery together during depression perior when military training was abolishes

for a year, carried on training witl three officers and 20 n.c.o. until vol untary training system was inaugurate! in 1932. He has always been and still is : keen rifle shot, for many years holdin; Brigade championship. In June, 1939 passed his majority and appointed Bat tery Commander. It was largely hi: Work that recruited 5 Battery up t< war establishment prior to the outbreal of war. Enlisted for' overseas service witl complete unit beginning of war am once each month afterwards until al ; officers, and most of the unit had gone t ' JWas not accepted, too large a famil; ! and reserved occupation as enginee .| in charge of a large f reezin: works. Of ' the officers then servinj . two only remain, Capt. S. Hardy, re . turned and instructing at Arty O.C.T.L . Trentham, and Lieut. S. Almao, take: : prisoner on Crete. The majority of th , O.R.’s surviving have now been com missioned. One Bdr. E. Sante held re cord for tanks knocked out with 25pdi in Greece, was killed and awarde j D.tJ.M. 1 Carried out several mouths intensiv training in early part of 'war as B.C 3 and 5 Btys under Lt.-Col. McQuarrb 1 D. 5.0., M.C.; in and out of army an l civilian occupation, building freezin I works ever since. Still hopes to tak ■ unit on service. Attended first Sta: 1 College Course for senior officers. A] t pointed to command Regiment, Noven ber 1, 1941. Carried out mobilisatic ' December, 1941, and training since the 1 Awarded Efficiency Decoration for i 1 -years commissioned service in 1940.