TROOPS DEPART

Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 8

TROOPS DEPART

ANIMATED SCENES AT STATION SOLDIERS AT FORBURY AND WINGATUI Men for the artillery units of the Army left by the 11.35 a.m. express today for Papakura camp for training for overseas service. By the time the train reaches Christchurch there will be 164 all told, 101 being from Dunedin. The conducting officers were Captain Hopper, of the National Reserve, and Ser-geant-major Sutton, of the New Zealand Permanent Staff. The railway station platform was packed with friends and relatives prior to the departure of the troops, and the keynote of the farewell was one of gaiety. To-morrow at 8.45 the major proportion of men for the 4th Reinforcement, all infantry, leave for Burnham camp, while at 10.50 a.m. those who will link up with the specialised units at Trentham will entrain. The conducting officers to-morrow are Captain Ruddy, of the National Reserve, who will take the men to Burnham, and Captain Clarke, of the reserve of officers, goes to Trentham with the North Island detachment. MEDICAL BOARD SITTINGS. Following the announcement of the selection of men under the first ballot sittings of the Medical Board will be held at 7 p.m. at the Dental School on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday of next week, when men handily situated in Dunedin and environs will be examined. Arrangements have yet to be made for

the examination of men in outlying districts, and these will be notified accordingly. The registration. officer (Captain Berkeley) and his staff at the Kensington Drill Hall were engaged during today scrutinising the rolls to eliminate any of the names of men who have already enlisted. ENTERTAINING TERRITORIALS, Arrangemetns have been made for the entertainment of the Territorials of the Ist Battalion, Southland Regiment, and of the 3rd Field Regiment, N.Z.A., now in training at Forbury and Wingatui. , The Returned Soldiers’ Association rooms. in Moray Place have been handed over for "the purpose, including such amenities as the billiard, reading, and writing rooms. All will be placed at the convenience of these two units during the following hours and days:— Fridays from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 11 p.m. As a resvdt of 'support from the Otago Provincial Patriotic Association the Otago Territorial Association and the R.S.A., the R.S.A. tea rooms will also be open during these periods for the convenience of the men. They will be able to obtain hot tea for 6d and also afternoon tea and light supper for a nominal sum. Lady members of the above organisations will help to look after the requirements and comforts of the men. Gifts of cake and offers of help from ladies willing to assist will bo appreciated. The Organising Committee consists of Mr and Mrs P. W. Mitchell, Mr and Mrs W. F. Forrester, and Mrs S. M. Park. NEW MOUNTED SQUADRON. The four troop formations, comprising the 9th Independent (Taieri)

Mounted Rifle Squadron, are now in the _ process of establishment. Those eligible for the squadron are returned soldiers and married men who are ineligible for active service overseas. The four zones have been established, and enrolments are in the hands of the following troop leaders : No. 1 Troop (Waikouaiti-Seacliff-Waitati Area). —G. Sloan, Goodwood. No. 2 Troop (City-Peninsula Area). —C. Sonntag, Dunedin. No. 3 Troop (Taieri Mouth-Green Island-Abbotsford). —A. Green, Taieri Mouth. No. 4 Troop (Taieri Plains-Outram-Mosgiel).—J. Gow, Rocklands. Satisfactory progress has already been made in the number of applications, and it is noted with pleasure that farmers and others _ who have horses and who are for obvious reasons unable to give persona! service are very willing to give the use of horses and gear. The four troop leaders mentioned will be pleased to receive applications for enlistments from those within their areas desiring to enrol. Colonel G. R. Mitchell, D. 5.0., V.D., has been appointed commanding officer. FOR SERVICE ANYWHERE. The conditions under rvhich all Territorials at present undergoining training have been enlisted does not seem to be fully understood by the public. Not only have officers and n.c.o.s signed up for six months’ training, and men for three months, but they have also signed up for service in any part of the British Empire or theatre of war to which they may be assigned. Such signing up was purely voluntary and fully understood by the Territorials themselves. They are all medically-fit men.