CORPS DISBANDED

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 40, 10 November 1921, Page 7

CORPS DISBANDED

THE RAILWAY ENGINEERS’ BATTALION A VALUABLE TERRITORIAL UNIT i, . WITH SPLENDID RECORD OF SERVICE * A General Headquarters instruction dated November 7 announces that the Railway Battalion of New Zealand Engineers will be disbandeA as from December 1, 1921. This corps was one of the first to bo formed after Hie introduction of the Territorial system into the Dominion, and it possesses a creditable record of service from every viewpoint. In a memorandum attached to tho order of disbandment, in addition to 'formal Brigadier-General G. *S. Richardson slates: — “The .strength of some units of the Territorial Eorcb has been reduced in order to give effect to the Government s policy of economy. Those trainees who have attained the ago of 22 years and who have rendered satisfactory service are now transferred to the reserve. Those below that age who reside beyond a reasonable radius of the available training centres are temporarily transferred 1 to the non-effective list. “It has been decided that tho training of tho employees of tho New Zealand Government railways, scattered as these are throughout tho Dominion, can no longer bo carried on economically, these also arc being transferred to the non-effective list, providing they have attained the age of 18 years a.nd completed their cadet training. “It should be borne in mind by all concerned that these arrangements are of a purely temporary character, and that the fact of a trainee being placed on the non-effective list does not absolve him from his obligations as prescribed by the Defence Act, and he w liable to bo reposted to an active unit and be called upon to resume normal training should he, by changing his place of residence,'' comey within rea-jonable distance of an established training centre, or by changing his avocation pass out 01 tho category to which he formerly belonged, and on account of which he was made non-effective.” Tho corps of Railway Engineers was formed in *l9ll, its personnel comprising all tho men in the service who were 6f Territorial ago. At first instructors (non-commissioned and warrant ofnceis; were supplied by the Defence Department, and later (indeed, until the present day) the expense in connection WJtll the instructors was defrayed out of railway funds. The battalion was officered with members of tho sen-ice. Soon after its inception the battalion was ranked as an Engineer battalion, its work in. eluding 'bridge building and the other arts of the “mud larks.” \ It possesses A notable war record. Jn 1914, directly after tho outbreak, its members were on duty patrolling railway lines and guarding signal boxes, bridges, and tunnels. -The death by accident of ono of its number on guard on the lino near Auckland, owing to his falling from a bridge, was one of Now Zealand’s first casualties, I' at -°r on a company was included in the Samoan expedition, and members served on the Gallipoli Peninsula and m all tho theatres of war with which tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force waj concerned. With a complement of 1500 in I e ‘ cent figures showed, a considerable increase. , , Members of the corps loved their work, and the effect on their daily duties was marked. Mr. R. W. McVilly General Manager of tho New Zealand Railways, said that although the financial conrii'tion of the country had been responsible for tho corps disbanding, its abolition dlthough temporary—was to be dcc ™y regretted. “I noticed, and the other officers of the Department noticed the effect on tho young men, he said. . iney learned that groat essential, discipline, • and they gained an unquenchable spirit of esprit de corps. I am very sorry that the corps has been disbanded, for its work has been very valuable. Every member of the battalion in 1914 served during the war.” , The order continues by stating that "whilst on the non-effective list trainees must attend any muster parade to which they may bo summoned, unless they obtain leave of absence They must also report by post card, addressed to tho nearest Defence office any change of address within fourteen days of tao The commissioned officers will >e _^ raT J_ s " ferred to the reserve of officers. Ranks under the age of Ifi years will be transferrod to endet units.