CAMPS AND THE MEN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 6

MORE PROMOTIONS RETUKNED MEN IN CAMP AGAIN GENERAL MEWS Tho undermentioned N.C.O.'s at Trcntham have been transferred to Headquarters Units, N.Z. Expeditionary Force: — Sergt. J. H. Johnston, Camp Headquarters, to N.Z. Infantry Brigade; Sergt. C. H. Jlayne, Camp Headquarters Staff, to Headquarters Staff; Sergt. 11. Firth, Camp Headquarters Staff, to Headquarters Staff General Baso Depot; Sergt. It.' 15. Narborougb, A Co., 10th, to .Headquarters Staff General Base Depot. Fcathorston Orders 6tato that Staff-Sergeaut-Major N. C. Sheppard, N.Z.P.S., has been posted to Headquarters, Q.M. Stores. Second-Lieut. Hosking, E Company, 12th, lias returned to Fcatherston Camp from sick leave, and has reported for duty. Soldiers' Deaths. The Camp Commandant at Featherston regrets to announce the death of Pte. J. 11. Rcid, of the 2nd Residential Company, and Pte..N; Christopher, who died at ttfc Featherston Hospital on February 22 and 23 respectively. More i-'romotions. The following temporary appointments have been approved at Featherston: —Lce.-Corpl. Perry, A.S.C. Supply Depot, to be, corporal; Pte. Thomas. A.S.E. Supply Depot, to bo corporal; 'Sergt. Hawke, A.S.C. Supply Depot, to be farrier stall'-sergeant; Corpl. M'Millan, A.S.C. Supply Depot, to be wlieelcr sergeant; Corpl. M'Cloy, A.S.C. Supply Depot, to 'be sergeant; Pte. D. .T. M'Gowan, A Squadron,_ 11th to be rccord-sergcant': Pte. W. H. Tier, 15 Company, Ilth. to.be record-sergeant; l'te. P. P. Prior, H Company,. lltli, to be record-sergeant; Pte. W. 15. Cook, Headquarters, Q.M. Stores, to be corporal ; I't.e. W. H. Morrison, Headquarters, Q.M. Stores, to he corporal; l'te. A. Cameron, N.Z. Medical Corps, to he corporal. The following temporary apjwintments have been approved by the Camp Commandant at IVentham: —Wireless Troop: Sapper C. Atkinson, to bo lancecorporal. N.Z. Medical Corps.—-Lee.Corpl. Gibbs to be corporal. . Returned Soldiers In Camps. At Featherston the following returned men have been, attached'to the ■undermentioned units:—Pte. .P. D. M'Rae, ex-Main Body, C.M.R., attached to C Squadron, 11th; Sergt. H. R. Williams, ex-Main Body, attached to D Squadron, 10th; Pte. L. Robinson, ex-Main Body, attached to C Squadron, 10th. The following returned soldiers have reported at Trentham for duty, and have been transferred to tho undermentioned units: —6/1092 Pte. E. C. Sadler, C.1.8., M.8., to C Coy., lOtli; 19/167 Sergt. E. M'Kean, Samoan Relief Force, to C Coy., 10th,; 19/246 Sergt. W. E. Shirley, Samoan Relief Force, to A Coy., 10th; 19/132 Pte. A. R.. Jones, Samoan Relief Force, to D Coy., 10th; 19/150 Pte. A. T. Lomas, Samoan Relief Force, to A Coy-, 10th; Pto. 19/127 C. E. Johnson, Samoan Relief Force, to D Coy., 10th; 19/279 P'te. W. Toshack, Samoan Relief Force, to 1 D Coy., 10th; 19/26 Fto. W. G. Brown,. Samoan Relief Force, to C Coy., 10th; 19/188 Pto. It, S. Midgeby, Samoan Relief Force,, to. >C Coy., '10th; .19/35 Pto. E. Campbell, Samoan Relief Force, to B Coy., 10th; 19/325 Pte. H. R, Simeon, Samoan Relief Force, to B Coy., 10th; 19/192 Pte. A. Morey, Samoan Relief Force, to A 'Coy., 10th; 19/318 Armr.Scrgt. I). K. Lawric, Samoan Relief l'"orco, to A Coy., 10th; 19/265 Pte. J. A. Stobo, Samoan Relief Force, to A Coy., 10th; 6/718 Sergt. W. M. Reid, C.1.8., M.8., to C Coy., 10th; 4/1440 a Spr. A. R„ Hutching, N.Z.E., 2nd, to N.Z.E., 10th; 6/1254 Pte. T. Campbell, C Coy., 2nd, to C Coy., 10th.

Active Service Training. The Auckland "Herald" states that No. 1 Field Ambulanco will commence its nine days' annual training at the Awapuni Camp to-day. The previous arrangement was that the unit should go under canvas at Motutapu, Auckland, but instructions received from Wellington altered this. At Awapuni. the men will bo. instructed under active service conditions, and will bo given the same training as that received by men who have enlisted for the front. The unit comprises 130 men, who will be in charge of Major B. J. Dudley, N.Z.M.C. Second Rarotonga Draft. The Cook Islands correspondent of tho "New Zealand Herald" states that tho second Rarotonga contingent, a smart body of young natives, some fifty in number, are eagerly awaiting instructions from the New Zealand authorities to follow their confreres 111. their course for the front. They have already attained a very commendable degree of proficiency under the constant. 1 training of Sergeant Atkinson, in charge of tho local police, who is a first-rate" drill instructor, _ having had some fifteen years' experience in the Imperial service. Tho boys are a credit to him. Eleventh on. Leave. During tho past few days heavy trainloads of soldiers have been arriving in Wellington from Featherston. These men belong to the Eleventh Reinforcements, whose leave began a few days ago, and terminates at the end of next week. Thov have been passing through the City en route to their homes in various parts of the Dominion. Trentham Camp Band.

The Trentham Camp Band, which is a permanent one, is now equipped with sUver instruments for 25 players, which were subscribed by a number of patriotic citizens, the total cost being about £500. The new instruments will bo used for the first timo to-day at the. Returned Soldiers' Picnic, which is being held at Barton's Paddock, near Trenthan'. The band nowadays plays a prominent part in the morning turnout or rovoillo. The call is first sounded by tho bugles at 5.30 a.m. Then tho band marches through the camp playing martial music calculated to waken t'lio deepest of sleepers,_ and there is no cxcuso for sleeping in. Reinforcements and Reserves, Tho l'Otli and 13th Infantry Reinforcements, with the 10th,. J Ith, 12th, and 13th Artillery 'Reinforcements, are now at Trentham Camp. At Foatherston are tho 11th and 12th Reinforcements, the 10th and 13th Engineers, and tho Reserves. The Reserves number 1050 men made up of 800 infantry and 250 mounted men. Shortly before each Reinforcement leaves, a number of its men are transferred into the Reserves, and an equal number of men from the Reserves aro placed in that Reinforcement. The .Reserves Jiro ulso used to lill any gaps in the'ranks of the Reinforcements, due to a arious causes. Gardens and Watercarts. Respite tho dry and dusty weather whieh has prevailed for several weeks, the laying out in nardeus of the ground in front of the Trentham Camn llos-nit-il is proceeding A number of flowerbrds nrn showiiw hripht blooms, ,nid the shrubs aro lookine strons: and

healthy. The roads in tho camp avo hot and dusty, and two waiercarts are employed to water tho main strooH. 'Inc huneiita following upon this practice aro much appreciated by the men, when tho breezes blow; of late, however, there has been little wind at Trentham and the watercarts will have busier times ivhen tho equinoctial gales begin. Soldiers and Sport. The sporting side of the soldiers' life continues to be well looked after bv tho Camp Commandant at Trontiiain, Colonel 11. 11. Potter, and his officers. A number of swimmers from the camp will take part in the swimming sports to be held at To Aro Baths this afternoon, when there will be big entries in tho special soldiers' events provided. Tennis teams from Trentham will also visit the city today, to play at Brougham Hill, and other courts. The usual number of cricket fixtures will engage the attention of tho soldier-cricketers. The effect of this devotion to sport when off parade has been to mako tho iucn iiappy and contented. The Mad Minute. During this week tho dominating note at Trentham has been the sound of rifln tiro from the ranges. All the 10th have fired their class B musketry, and aro now engaged in field practice, which approximates pretty to the real tiling. Ouo phase of it is known as the "mad minute," though the timo allowed is really a minute and a half. In that time each man has to load and fire fifteen shots, taking cach cjip of five cartridges from their pocket in his belt, placing them in tho magazine of his rifle' ancT bringing tliein into action before firing. The maximum wliicli can be achieved in this firing, which' is done at 300 vards range, is 45. An officcr of the Tenth got 42, and there have 'lieeu numerous '10's, and big figures in that vicinity. B Company of the 10th lias won distinction through one of its men who did well in tho rapid firing work at about 300 yards range. This is part of the field practice. The men are gathered at the 300 yards mark, a non.-coin.-or-ders them to charge, and then to drop mid lire. The targets consist of numbered plates and silhouette figures. Tho inembor of B Company referred to hit six plates and a figure in 43 seconds, which is quick work, especially as lie had to pump his cartridges from' the wagaziuo as well as eight each plate and figure. The firing of the Tenth, taken all round, will, it is expected, be found to bo finite up to that of previous Reinforonmeiits.

Bagley's Pharmacy, Featherston, have facilities for developing and printing Soldiers' Snapshots. V.P. .Kodaks, 355. and 555. City prices.—Advt.