TRANSFER TO CAVE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 29 November 1939, Page 7

TRANSFER TO CAVE

RIFLE BATTALION ADVANCED TRAINING The 20th Rifle Battalion of the New Zealand Special Force has left Burnham for Cave, where it will carry out a period of advanced training. It was only after an extensive tour of likely localities that Cave was finally chosen, the natural features of the surrounding country offering excellent material for this vital stage of training. An, advance party had been sent down four days before in order to prepare for the main body of the troops, and had erected the cookhouses, ablution stands, canteens, and set the camp out for the men to erect their own tents on arrival.

Paraded before their march to the train, the troops presented a line sight in full marching order, complete with steel helmets and gas respirators. They departed in two batches of approximately 350 in each batch, with a a half-hour interval between trains. After a short stop at Ashburton for refreshments, Cave was reached shortly after 1 o'clock and on arrival the erection of tents began. The advance party had pegged out the entire camp and at the sound of the bugle 120 tents were erected almost simultaneously. What was bare ground one minute was changed to an impressive show of canvas the next, and in short time the men were comfortably established in their new quarters. The battalion will spend a fortnight at Cave, during which time a further stage in their training syllabus will bo completed. Field firing with ball ammunition and tactical exercises will be carried out both by day and night. The battalion is commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Id. K. Kippenberger, with Major F. E. Pornwell second in command, and Captain F. L. Davis, N.Z.S.C., as adjutant.