SOLDIERS IN CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 55, 2 September 1926, Page 10

SOLDIERS IN CAMP

VICE-REGAL INSPECTION WELLINGTON REGIMENT PRAISED . PARADE AT TRENTHAM. Trentham camp took on something of its war-days air this morning when the annual intensive training of tho AVellington West Coast regiment was brought to a fitting conclusion by an inspection by His Excellency - the Governor- . General, Sir Charles Fcrgusson, in , his capacity as Commandor-in-Chiof of the New Zealand Defence Forces. The elements wore kind, and a spell of line weather graced the occasion; in fact it was about the only fine day during the whole .spell of training. Shortly after 10.30 a.m. His Excellency arrived on the parade ground, accompanied by Captain C. J. Wentworth, A.D.C. He was received by Colonel C. J. Powles, O.C. of the Central Command. The battalion, which was under the command of Colonel F. K. Turnbull, was drawn up in mass facing the saluting base, from tho flagpole of which gaily fluttered the Union Jack in tho morning breeze. As His Excellency arrived the command rang out, "Battalion, Royal Salute: Battalion, Present Arms." A thousand men moved as one: a thousand bayonets glittered in the sunlight, and then the ranks stood 'motionless as the band crashed into the opening bars of tho National Anthem. After the Royal Salute had been taken, His Excellency proceeded to inspect the ranks, accompanied by tho officers of the various units. The inspection finished, Sir Charles Fcrgusson addressed the battalion, which was then drawn np in close formation. "I am very glad," he said, "to have liad this opportunity of seeing the battalion on parade—tho first opportunity I have had since my coming to New Zealand. I have only had a quick look round, but I have seen quite enough to give me great satisfaction. I know that in camp in wet weather it is not too easy to preserve a smart appearance, but all your clothing and equipment is in good order and tidy, and I congratulate you upon your-turn-out. There are those who say that nothing is learned by a short week in camp; but I am inclined to think if you learn nothing during that period you will never learn anything at all. It is obvious you have all learned- a great deal. I have only to contrast your appearance in the' streets .of Wellington last Sunday with your appearance on parade now to sec what a difference camp life has made to you. Not that there was anything wrong in your behaviour in the street, but I want you to realise that when away from camp you attract notice, and then it is that people like myself who have spent a lifetime soldiering form our opinion as to your soldierly qualities or otherwise. Referring "to the value, of tradition and discipline in a regiment, His Excellency went on to say: —"You have joined a battalion and regiment with a hue history and war tradition—a regiment that has proved itself in the hardest of all schools, that of actual war. Let every man of you remember those who have gone before, find those who have /ought and (lied. Don't lot your regiment down: and this is the first thing, esprit de corps, that a soldier must learn. . . "Secondly, remember that a soldier learns discipline. Discipline doe 3 not mean punishment: it means self-control, both in thought and action, and selfcontrol will stand you iv good stead in .ill departments of life. Good discipline will lead to the highest of all soldierly virtues—duty. .Doing ' one's duty is doing what is 'right, not from hope of. reward or from fear of x>unishment: duty is done even when there are none there to see and when it may even mean death, and it is this sense of duty that has made our soldiers what they arc." Concluding his address, His Excellency said that if during their training in camp the.y had learned self-control, the value of discipline and a sense of duty, they had learned a great thing, and their time had not been wasted. He extended congratulations to all the commissioned and non-commissioned officers on the fine soldierly .appearance of the parade, and congratulated the men themselves on their smart appearance. Subsequently His Excellency was conducted round the camp, examining with interest the many phases of its activity. Of special interest he found the .war museum, which has been established at Trentham, and which contains a large number of instructive and well-arranged exhibits. The Wellington West Coast Regimental Training Camp was started last Tuesday week, and has been carried out under rather adverse conditions, the weather having been so unfavourable as to somewhat interfere with the syllabus of training. But although coughs, and colds have been fairly in evidence, all have worked together to make the best of things, and when the thousand or so , men disperse to their homes on Saturday it will be with memories of a very pleasant, if arduous, ten days in Trentham camp.