OUR ARMY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2341, 24 December 1914, Page 6

OUR ARMY

TRAINING RECRUITS AT TRENTHAM , THE BEST MEN YET Big, brawny, and browned by the summer sun,; the recruits now in the military training camp at Trentham seem likely to' be numbered among the : finest soldiers this country has ever turned out. The men of the second reinforcements were highly praised, and were said to be the best we had sent

iaway' from these shores. There are high military officials who declare that the third reinforcements are superior to even the second. One experienced officer put it this way: "You saw the main expedition before they weiut away, and you know that everyone reckoned them a very fine body of men. The second reinforcements were paraded, and the general opinion was that they were much superior, physically, to the first lot. Well, these men in camp beat anything we've handled yet." . The camp is a scene of very great activity just now. The camp itself is bigger than ever it was, and thero are so many men in training thero that yesterday afternoon acres and acres of ground were covered with men drilling. The drill was elementary, but the numbers and the constant animation made the sight very interesting. ' ! The men are undoubtedly a fine big lot, and most of them give the impression that they could endure no end of hardship. They appear to average a much greater age than the men of the main expedition, and to be somewhat older than the men of the second reinforcements. Some of them look old .enough to be the fathers of some of 1 the lads who occupied Samoa. The majority appear to be well seasoned, matured men—and the New Zealanders who went through the South African campaign say: "Give me the matured man every time." . The horses secured for the mounted men are excellent. Great care has had to 'be exercised in the selection of horses, and it is due in a great measure to the experience and hard work of Colonel Rcakes and the staff operating under him that such fine animals have been obtained.

The camp lias ben extended since the days of the Second Reinforcements, and the area under canvas now appears to be at least fifty per cent, greater than before. A general appearance of permanency is coming over the place, and new buildings, are being erected here and there. A few more "shops" have opened in the "main street," and large stacks of stores are piled iup under tarpaulins. \ Yesterday the goods trains arriving at Trentham were unloading quantities of boxes arid bags at the siding, and it was quite obvious that there were Christmas hampers from the folk at homo. It might be mentioned that they were not left long on the siding. Christmas dinner m camp will be made as jolly a function as circumstances, permit. The tables will be' replenished with gifts the' citizens are sending along for the recruits. SOME APPOINTMENTS. The following temporary appointments of non-commissioned officers to the Third Reinforcements have beeii made by the Camp Commandant (Major Potter):— Ist Regiment Mounted Riles (North Island). Headquarters Staff. — Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant N. D. Robertson, Farrier Quartermaster-Sergeant A. M'Kenzie, Sergeant Orderly-room. Clerk J.. "W. 'Maxwell, Sergeant-Trumpeter R. M. Hill.

Auckland Squadron.—Squadron Ser-geant-Major R. Cullen, Squadron Quar-termaster-Sergeant J. Teddy, SergeantSaddler B: Robb, Sergeant-Farrier E. H. Pearson, Troop Sergeant H. S. Caulkin,' Troop Sergeant W. Munro, Troop Sergeant J. Jenkins, Troop Sergeant J. Melling, Corporal M. J. Innes-Jones, Corporal H. S. Holten, Corporal C. C Rutter, Lance-Corporal R. Millar Lance-Corporal G. Mander, Lance-Cor-poral D. J. Cunningham, Lance-Cor-poral J. A. Thomson, Lance-Corporal T. F. Yeo. ' :

Wellington Squadron.—Squadron SergeanWMajor W. J. Hollis, Squadron Quartermaster-Sergeant H. A. Pidduok, Troop Sergeant A. S. Blackie, Troop SergeantF.C. Fossett, Troop Sergeant E. S. Fossett, Troop Sergeant H. Wilson, Troop Sergeant E. S, Richmond, Corporal F. Hooper, Corporal A. Morgan, Corporal E. Jones. 2nd Regimental Mounted Rifles (South) ' Island.) Canterbury Squadron.—Squadron Ser-geant-Major J. L. L. Spence, Squadron Quartermaster-Sergeant J. Frisken, Troop Sergeant S. Collins, Troop Sergeant F. D. Wright. i Otago Squadron.—Squadron SergeantMajor E. R. Wells, Troop Sergeant R. J. Cameron, Troop Sergeant R. M'lntyre, Troop Sergeant J. Murphy, Troop Sergeant T. H. Farr, Corporal F. A. Grant-Usher, Corporal M. H. Ford, Corporal J. T. Ratcliffe. Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant A. D. Black. ' •< ■ New Zealand Field Artillery. Gunner S. W. to be sergeant; Gunner R. J. Hancock to be corporal. Rifles were issued to members of the Force from the Quartermaster's stores throughout yesterday.