DISPATCH TO-MORROW

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20114, 7 December 1939, Page 4

DISPATCH TO-MORROW

PARTY FOR TRENTHAM EUROPEANS AND MAORIS TOTAL OF 1 7 RECRUITS A total of 17 men, comprising the largest draft to go forward from Gisborne apart from the main body group of men for the First Echelon, will leave Gisborne to-morrow afternoon for Trentham. The men forming this draft are to undergo special training for non-commissioned and commissioned rank in the Special New Zealand Force and the Maori Battalion. All the Europeans of the party are men with lengthy experience in the territorial forces, and all have held stripes in their respective units. Their selection was made with a view to their going on with training to the stage of examination for commissioned rank. The group of Maori recruits will include one commissioned officer who perhaps _has the longest active connection with territorial training of any Maori in New Zealand, in addition to war service in 1914-18. Some of the others chosen for the Maori Battalion also have had noncommissioned rank in cadet and territorial units, but their selection has been based as much on their potential capacity as leaders as upon their past connections with military training. To-morrow’s draft is as under:— SPECIAL N.Z. FORCE Rifle Battalion, Trentham Craig, J. W. C„ Sergeant, Gisborne. Forge, L.H., Sergeant, Gisborne. Ford, F. K., Sergeant, Gisborne. Ford, A. G., Corporal, Gisborne. Butler, H. J„ Corporal, Gisborne. Crawford, J. M., Sergeant, Gisborne. Anti-Tank Company, Trentham Frank, G. L., Sergeant, Gisborne. Taylor, N. W., Corporal, Gisborne. SPECIAL MAORI BATTALION Tureia, Parekura, Lieutenant, Gisborne. Kaua, T„ Tokomaru Bay. Lardelli, J. H., Gisborne. Tangahau, T„ Tolaga Bay. Poutu, Wm., Hicks Bay. Morete, U., Pehiri, Gisborne. Harrison, M., Waipiro Bay. Kopua. H., Tokomaru Bay. Kingi, J. P. R„ Gisborne. The draft will leave the office of the Army Department at the Abercorn Hall at .3.30 p.m. by special car for Wairoa. They will proceed on their journey to Trentham by railcar and train on Saturday morning.