NEW RECRUITS WANTED

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22518, 28 September 1938, Page 9

NEW RECRUITS WANTED

CAVALRY OFFICER AT ' GERALDINE Four recruits were gained, and an invitation was issued to others to join, when Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. Nicoll, Officer Commanding the 3rd Composite Mounted Rifles, spoke at a gathering of about 30 at Geraldine on Monday evening. “I would like to see a troop of 32 men in Geraldine,” said Colonel Nicoll. At one time Geraldine had possessed a squadron of Mounted Rifles and a company of infantry. “The mounted troops are called the eyes of the army, and every man has to be a trained scout and a good individualist.” said Colonel Nicoll in an interesting talk on Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry activities. Hxs remarks were illustrated, by films taken at Canterbury camps and In Hagley Park, Christchurch, when the Gov-ernor-General presented a guidon. A feature of the volunteer movement was the spirit of good comradeship and co-operation, the speaker said. The fine traditions of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, which would celebrate its seventy-fifth anniversary next year, were mentioned by the speaker, who outlined the benefits young men would gain by joining the volunteers. There was plenty of interest, amusement, and fun in camp life, he said, and those who joined were definitely serving their country, because the country needed a defence force. Because of lack of strength, three regiments had been combined into-one composite regiment for training purposes, said Colonel Nicoll. This saved training three skeleton regiments, but each unit retained its status. Nelson and Marlborough provided a squadron which had been motorised, Canterbury two squadrons, and Otago one. Otago had formed a second squadron, he said, and it was hoped to build the numbers up so that Canterbury would have a third squadron. Any man who joined could form a team of eight. Colonel Nicoll said, and four sections formed a troop. If they could get the troops in South Canterbury they would soon form a South Canterbury squadron. Colonel K. Mackenzie, who at orte period commanded the Bth (South Canterbury) Squadron, recalled the days when there was' a squadron of mounted rifles and a company of Infantry at Geraldine. Captain R. P. Harper moved a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation. Lieutenant R. A. M. Macdonald, the officer in the district, enrolled the new recruits.