THE ELEVENTHS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2734, 31 March 1916, Page 6

THE ELEVENTHS

TO-MORROW'S PARADE

I : !ORDBRS?FOR THE MARCH'

{ Lieut.-Oolbnel H. E. PilLirigton, ji R N.Z.A.. Adjutaait-General, issued tho > following orders jesterday respecting i to-morrow's march thiough Wellington of the 11th Reinforcements — 1 Command.—Thp troops will bo under 1 the command of Major A. G M'Kenzie. ■Route.—The route to be followed is 'Bunny Street, Lambton Qua I *, Willis Street, Manners Street, Lowor Cuba Stroet, Jeivois Quay, Watoiloo Quay ; Timo.—'The.'head of the column will

pass Government Buildings at 3 p.m. Order of March.—Tho order of march mil bo Mounted Rifles, Field Artil'eiy,

Divisional Engineers, Infantry Bugade, ' Rrfio Brigade, Divisional Signallers, ' Divisional Medical Units, othei dotails. Dress.—Service dress. . Great coats ! will bo worn, on bandolier, unloss fte

weather .demands their.- use.

Bands. — Bandmaster M'Comish (W 0 ) will anaugo for the necessai v hands, and will bo in chaiga of all lands on parade.

MEN ADDRESSED BY COLONEL GIBBON

MOUNTEDRIFLES CHANGE TO INFANTRY HORSEMEN'S, FINE EXAMPLE. 7Se Eleventh Remfoicomcnts,. excepting The Mounted Rifles," who „Mro still at Featherston Camp.-'weic.'parad-ed at Trontham, ycsteida-\, and addrebseu" by Colonel C" M Gibbon, Chief of Stau, who spoke of the quality of the troops, and offered advico to tho nion as from soldier to soldier In doing so, Colonel Gibbon .said that ho wished ho could speak "to them as a soldier who had been at tho front in the present war; ho could then havo spoken with more aulhoiitj As it was, what ho sai'd to them was based on 'experience gained during twenty jears of roally hard work as a soldier

'• : -- : :^^Th^;>M6"nW^3iflßs.v.''.are' 1 : ."a.-'gbb'd suffered''slightlyy': in .witTi iTiat of t"Ho Tenth Mounted Rifles, 'owing-to the! withdrawal "of their trained: horses in January, and February, to meet,the demands of the Imperial Government; they also had the misfortune to; have two of their instructors on the sick-list at the-same time. The officers; and ri.c.o.'s.have shown that they know how.to look after the men, and .'the : men have shown that they"'Know how.to look after themselves. ' The internal organisation is very good. :■'■ : "Before I go on to speak of the otheri.drafts, I wish to speak cf the '.spirit of"the Mounted Rifles. It has 'been'tested before leaving New i'raland. As you all know, the _ Expeditionary, Force, has been reorganised in Egypt into a complete division, and a Mounted Rifle Brigade. ...While,.our troops' were on .Gallipoli, very strong reinforcements'were needed. Owing to there .being few hospitals there, slightly Wounded men had .to be sent to Egypt, Malta, and .'England; : and they came back: slowly. .. Now,, our. forces have been reorganised' to serve in. another theatre of war, under different condi,tioris", where',a.lower.scale of reirifofcements; would., suffice. , The Mounted. Rifles' reinforcements had to bo reduced doubly.:because they had. ceased 'to serve as infantry, arid : ivere going to'a theatre of war where casualties ..in any arm will not.be so great.

."When we .were aßked to- provide reinforcements: on the new basis, Genin.ral Sw William "Birdwood was inforpied of; what arrangements had 1 been/made wifli the'meh. up to. the 14th Reinforcements.' With the 15th,Reinforcemento it-was^intended to commence the sending- of reinforcements on the new scale; in which the proportion of infantry was : to: be greatly- increased. ■-, Last week the':. Government received a cablegram from' General . Birdwood,. suggesting that the Mounted Rifles reinforcements should :be. reduced at once, and the .men transferred to .the Infantry. 1 Went-to Featherstoh" Camp; and. sim-' ply joTd'the Mounted: Rifles what General- Birdwood had said;..: I gave no order, just informed the men. In canvp ;at the .'.time: -■'.' were .;.'"the Ilth, 15th, ,_ 13th, . ; and 14th ..".Mount-' : ed. 'Rifles Reinforcements, the Re-, eerve companies, and , the officers ' and 'n.0.0.'s of the 15th, Mounted Rifles Reinforcements—in. all, 70 '.officers:.and 1800 meni . Orr, the : following da}', they ;told-me—it was practically unanimous— that they were willing to serve wherever required. Some of the' officers axd men have already been posted to '™e infantry, and some to t a iiew Cyclist Com':pany, which wo"have",been asked to" iind. .These men, not only came into camp wishing to go into the Mounted Rifles, a but they have done some of the tra.inihg,";raud ;^ among-'their.'.fellow soldiers. ' Xet'they all said they would serve wheroyer they ; were w-anted, as the original Mounted ' Rifle Brigade did in Egypt when they volunteered to go as infantry to Gallipoli. I hope the example of these men,- ( who have \much • stronger—reason's- : fof'.'iiot joining other units will be taken". to;'h'eart throughout the Dominion by men,: who are waiting till there is room for;them in some particular unit which they-fancy. If every man would follow this-:'example. there would,be.many, mpre. recruits available. .■"->.' ■ ■'- -'.-»-—■ -•

•'■The Artiliory,' I am-satisfied;- is ;; as good a draft as has been sent from this' camp, and is more efficient in training than those which have already gone. Owing to the new organisation, wo.'have to transfer the training of the.; Artillery to Featherston permanently. The Engineers are the second lot .to be sent, with Engineers-> train?; ing. I hope that when they get' to Egypt the Engineer officers will- bo pleased with them. . ■ ": ' :

"The Infantry are a strong draft. They have had practically no interruption- in their training through bad weather and sickness. This has been largely due to the, care'of tho ofliceraand: n.c.o.'s and the men themselves. The-'draft is remarkable for its physical fitness. I think it is the fittest yet sent. They had tho record of not one man falling out in the march across the Rimutaka Hill. This performance was'.-impossible to beat and hard to equal. . ' : :-<

"Tho musketry was eood. A and B Companies, especially B Company, put iip'li-a record for the camp. It was an exceedingly good performance, hut while, singling out these companies for special mention, it must be remembered that tho others had to fire in bad weather.; which affected their shooting detrimental^

"The Army Service Corps draft is quite up to those we have already sent. The whole draft, throughout their training have shown keenness. Every man was a trier, and the officers and n.c.o.'s both on and off parade have done their utmost to fit themselves for what lies before them. I was- particularly struck with the Eleventh's turn-out at the review by His Excellency the Governor. They are the best draft that has. passed through this camp. And I- want you to remember that a smart, well turnedout soldier is the outward and visible sign of a Good soldier. The other sign is discipline. We have done what we can to impress you with tho importance of discipline. Always endeavour to keep your discipline up; well-disciplined troops suffer less in' 1 bafcgjle than'■'— disciplined forces. This

holds good more particularly when manoeuvring in the open field. AVhat we have done here is only a preliminary to the groat test of war. You have not been trained for mo to tell you what I think of you and to read about it'in the newspapers. .The real test, the real opinion, is the test of battle. War is the.'best...school for .war.",' You have plenty te' leqrn there. Go there, making up your minds 1 to do your best to learn how not .to lose a chance | against tho enemy.' Remember, we're out to win, and nothing else matters. The concensus of opinion is that the side which can retain the most men at the finish will win the war. Every man of the Reinforcements has a role to play. It is your duty to got there and not fall out by tho way. We don't want tlie hospitals filled with men who are sick; tho hospitals are for the wounded. Some drafts have lost as many as 30 men by the way. These men are helping the enemy. "I cannot leave you without referring to the great part which the Main Expeditionary Force - and the -Reinforcements, up to the: sixth, took in the fighting at Gallipoli, and what a liamo they made for themselves. . When you join your new division do your best to make .its name'even'greater than it was at Gallipoli. You are a strong draft, and will leave your impress on the. force at 'the-front. Soe that the influence is a ; good one. You will be met and greeted .. as recruits. Go quietly about your job mid show vou .are as well able to pick it up as they are. Do not talk too much. Be on good .terms'with the people who are fighting next to you. For every rumour wo hear in New' Zealand you will hear a' hundred at the front. Because you happen to hear discreditable rumours about other troops; don't repeat and_ add to them.. It only causes illfeeling among "different bodies of men, and where there is friction there is not siich good work. Try to earn tho reputation of being the best draft—there is no reason why you should not I hope to : he.<ir good accounts of you when you reach the front."'.

OFFICERS OF THE ELEVENTH

THE FULL' LIST. MAJOR A.' G. M'KENZIE .COMMANDS: : Officers have Icon appointed to the 11th Reinforcements as follow:— '•■ In Command: Major Alexander George M'Kenzie,' 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Rifles. - ■ Staff Officer: Copt. Frank Hudson, New Zealand Staff' Corps. ■■.•'■. ._ MOUNTED RIFLES.. Lieut. James. Laidlow Herbert, 12th (Otago), Mounted Rifles. Lieutl Alexander Pringle Speedy, 11th (North Auckland) Mounted Rifles. Lieut.-; George ■-Walter Horn, 4th (Waikato) Mounted Rifles. Second Lieut: William'Eli Johnston, X'nattached List (b), Auckland District. Second Lieut. Percy Wakeham Smith, 3rd (Auckland) Mounted Bines. Second Lieut. Harold Main Preston, Unattached List "(b), General List. Second Lieut. William Poole Bell, Unattached List (b). General List. '■• Second Lieut." George.Henry Black, Unattached List (b), General List. .Second Lieut. Henry- Fitzkerbert Arkwright, Unattached List (b), Gene* ral List. -Second Lieut. • Alexander James, France, Unattached List (b), General List. ■.'.-" Second Lieut.-Paul Calverley Ashby, Unattached List (b),, General List. NEW ZEALAND FIELD ARTILLEEY. Lieut. John Gladstone Paterson, Unattached List'"(b), Auckland District. Lieut.. Thomas Dalwood Hartley, Bth (Southland) Regiment.. Second Lieut. Harold Maximilian Peterson, Unattached List (b), General List. OOBPS' OF NEW ZEALAND ■ /■'-■ ._;:.--, .. ' .- ■ .'•' Lieut. Herbert Simmonds, N.Z. Rait way Battalions.-'- ' ; . Second Lieut. Charles Horatio Nelson. N.Z."'-. Railway Battalions." ' DIVISIONAL SIGNAL COMPANY. Second Lieut. Claude' Harrison, Unattached List (b), General List. ;' . '"'- INFANTRY, „ Captain ; James Arthur Shand, Un. attached List (b),. Auckland District. Lieut, : William Hudson Scoon, Unattached List, (b), Wellington District, . Lieut. Robert James Garland Palmer, Unattached List (b), Auckland District. Lieut, - Herbert' Edward M'Gowan, N.Z. Motor Service Corps. Lieut. :Arthur Wansey Wellstead, New Zealand Railway Battalions. ' Lieut.' Charles Henry Booth, Un, attached List (h), Auckland District. , Second Lieut. Lorenz Wilfred Meuli, Unattached List (b), Wellington Disi trict. . - ... Second.Lieut.' Charles Dickson Harkness, Unattached List (b), Canterbury District.

Second'Lieut. Peter Robertson Gard-ner,-,3rd,(Auckland) Regt. (Countess of R-anfurlyVOwn): .;

Second Lieut. Robert Leslie Garden, Ilth Regt.' (Taranaki Rifles). Second Lieut. 'William Raymond M'Cormiok, 6th (Hauraki) Regt: ' Second Lieut. George Byford Sheridan, Unattached List (b), General List-. ,-'~Second Lieut. Robert Donald Boyle, Unattached_ List (b), General List. Second Lieut. Charles James Ashton, Unattached List (b), General List. '. Second Lieut. Alton James Nimmo, Unattached List (b), General List. ;l\ Second Lieut: Martin Hubert Braithwaitb., Burrelh List '(b), "General List.

Second Lieut. Charles Oxenham, Un-, attached, List (b): General List. Second Lieut. Walter Lancelot Gir-ling-Butcher, Unattached List (b), General List. Second Lieut. Frank Richard Simpsotf, Unattached List (b), General List. -Second Lieut. Harold Vincent Jerred; Unattached List (b), General List. ' DIVISIONAL TRAIN. ( .Second Lieut. Alexander William Nis, bet, Now Zealand Army Service Corps.' , NEW ZEALAND CHAPLAINS' DEPARTMENT. The Rev. Charles Herbert Isaacson, Chaplain to "the" Forces, 4th Class. The Rev. Patrick James O'Neill, Chaplain to the Forces, 4th Class. • Note".—Lieut. William Hudson Seoon is; granted the temporary rank of cap:tain.'*.while, in .command of the troops on transport. REINFORCEMENTS, NEW ZEALAND RIFLE BRIGADE. Second Lieut. Alexander Craig, UnList (b), Otago District. ; ,Second','Lieut. Ernest Granville Ed- • wards, sth (Wellington) Regiment.' ' Second Lieut, Harold George Carter, Unattached' List (b), Wellington District. ■' "'"'" *■ Second Lieut. Hugh Edward Crosse, 9th (Hawke's Bay) Regiment. Second Lieut. Norman Stephenson Davies, 3rd (Auckland) Regiment (Countess of R-anfurly'a Own), Coast Defence Detachment. • Second Lieut. Archibald Eoy Hoyte Turner, ' 3rd (Auckland) Regiment (Countess of Ranfurly's Own), Coast Defence Detachment. Second Lieut. Roy Liddlelow, Unattached List (b), Canterbury District. ':.Second.-Lieut. Guy Norman Morris. Unattached List (b), General List. Second Lieut. William Seymour Colbeck, Unattached List (M, General List. Second Lieut. William Wallace M'ClolI land, Unattached List (b), General List. [" "Second .Lieut. John M'Farlane Eliffe, Unattached. List .(b), General List.

Second Lieut. Rupert Cecil Wood, Unattached List (b), General List. Second Lieut. Colin Addison Dickenson, Unattached List (b). General List. Second Lieut. Charles Alexander Cnigou, Unattached I/ist (b), General List.

Second Lieut. William Robert Bnmford, Unattached List (b), General List. Second Limit. Charlton Conrad Ziesler, Unattached List (b), General List. Second Lieut. Herbert Barry Daniel. Unattached List (1>), General List.

Second Lieut. James Andrew Baird Thompson,' Unattached List (b), General List.

Second Lieut. Thomas Litstee Wilson, Unattached List (b), General List Second Lieut. Harold James Worsley, Unattached List (b). General List.

RETURNED SOLDIERS

RECEPTION IN DUNEDIN. By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, March 30. A reception to returned soldiers who .arrived by the Arawa and other vessels was given in His Majesty's .Theatre tonight by the Mayor and City Councillors. Tho theatre was crowded in every part, just as it was on the previous night when the great recruiting rally was held. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. J. Clark) presided, and on tho platform were Sir Joseph Ward, the local memhers of Parliament, City Councillors and other prominont citizens, and the Knox Church Choir, who jrave "Rule Britannia." After the National Anthem had been lustily sung by the audience, the Mayor welcomed the returned troops, and paid a tribute to the work they and their comrades' had-done on the field of battle.

Sir Joseph' Ward, who was the principal Speaker, was received with great enthusiasm. After cordially welcoming homo the brave men who had gone out to do battle for tho Empire, Sir Joseph said that tho members of the National Government wore working together with one aim—to help tho Motherland to win and to make the conditions of those whocame back as happy and comfortable as they possibly could be. (Applause.) Tho changes the war was bringing about were evidenced in tho important results of the remarkable conference which had just been concluded in Paris. (Applause.) •• Men with enormous responsibilities -upon their shoulders, men of ripe judgment and exnerience, had expressed, their satisfaction at the result. The co-ordination of the Allies would bo fraught with tremendous results, and responsible Ministers would not have convoyed that idea 'unless they had strong grounds for the'statements they had made. (Applause.) When he resumed his seai Sir Joseph was heartily and enthusiastically applauded. ' At tho conclusion of the meeting, Sir Joseph' and those who had assisted were 'accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation.

■ The Mayor stated - that' Sir Joseph Ward- had given "an -inspiring arid eloquent address, and.they all appreciated very, much Ms presence in Dunedin to help on the recruiting movement. (Applause.) ; The men were subsequently entertained at supper. ■:•■'.■