NEW DEFENCE SCHEME

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 211, 22 September 1937, Page 4

NEW DEFENCE SCHEME

Merging of Regiments Into Composite Battalion FULL STRENGTH 0F MEN The existing aTrungement of having a separate training unit for Hawlce's Bay will be altered when the new defence scheme is put into operation, by the merging, for training purposes. ot the Hawke's Bay, Wellington, ^ West Coast, and Taranaki Regiments into a composite infantry battalion. Practically the full strength of men will be retained, but some of the officers and N.C.O.'s are to undergo ,speeialised training apart from that of the battalion, the result being that the proportion of officers to men will be de--crbased. Of the infantry units of the Central Command, the 1st Battalion Wellington Regiment will remain unaltered, but the Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, and Wellington West Coast will i'orm the second composite infantry battalion. To this unit, Hawke's Bay will contribute nine officers and 198 other ranks, Wellington seven officers and 154 other ranks, and Taranaki 17 officers and 229 other ranks, the total strength of tne battalion being 33 officers and 581 other ranks under the command of the former O.C. of the Taranaki Regiment, Lt.-Colonel F. S. Varnham, M.C., E.D. Hawke's Bay will contribute to the composite battalion a rifle company, part of the support company, a signal detachment, and a motor-cycle platoon; Taranaki the Headquarters company, a rifle corflpany, and part of the support company; and the Wellington West Coast Regiment a rifle company andl part of the support company. Within Hawke's Bay, Gisborne will Supply the signal platoon, a motor-cycle platoonf, and one platoon of the rifle; .company Hastings will be the headquarters oi the support company and will supply one machine-gun platoon; the Danne* virke-Woodville district will be respon* sible for one piatoon of the rifle com|pany; and Masterton a mortatf platoon less two sections and a platoon of thjs rifle company.

(• Transfer of Officers. The following officers, at present on the active strength of the Hawke's Bay RCgiment, will be transferred to the active list of the second composite battalion 1— Major J. G. .Nolan, Gisborne; Captains C. M, * Williamson, Waipukurau, and J. S. Bell, Napier; Lieuts. J. W. Bain, Gisborne; I. A. Hart, Masterton; and W. H. Ellingham, Dannevirke \ and Second Lieuts. L. W. Dugleby, Napier; R. J. Vaughan, Hastings; and C. C. Johansen, »Masterton. The remaining officers are transferred to the depot list of the Hawke's Bay Regiment. They will be required if classed as efficient to carry out the training of those sorying with the composite battalion, 14 days' training annually, to be made up by six days at a Course or camp and eight days of wcek'CHd or holiday parades. All ranks,- however, can qualify for 20 days' pay in the training year. A number - of "officers and N.C.O.'S will be carried on the depot list to carry out specialised training, but tlie total number of private soldiers will remain at practically the same level ae previously, Actually, the effect of the reorganisation will be tliat the proportion of officers to men in the composite battalion will be much smaller than was the case when the three regiments operated as separate units. The composite battalion will go to camp together, and where there have been three camps there will now be one only. "X