OUR M.G.C.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 September 1918, Page 4

OUR M.G.C.

Since the first shock of the war the progress of the machine gun lias been remarkable, but it was not until the end of 1915 that the Machine Gun Corps first made its appearance as a new branch of the Service, and it was from this time that the very best was made of the gun.

This includes barrage fire overhead, indirect and covering fires. In South Africa the machine gun was a, failure.

In Egypt it proved very deadly against the masses of the Khalifa. In the Russo-Japanese and Balkan Wars iz was used with a certain amount of success, bnt the German attaches saw great possibilities. The reason for the failure of the gnu was no fault of the gun itself, but because it was not understood by the gunner ; but what of the glorious history made by the machine guns in this war ?

When walking in the street you pass a M.G.C. officer, N.C.0., or man and mutter to your companion “Ma chine Gun Corps,” but very few realise the great debt of gratitude they owe to the wearers of the neat little badge.

Perhaps it is impossible to picture these men sitting behind their guns I pouring a deadly fire into the enemy, all Ihe time being targets for the heavy shelling and machine guns of the enemy.

Every time a machine gun is heard the enemy starts at once to locate and knock it out.

The man behind the gun knows this ouly too well, hut he also koows it is essential for him to keep very cool in order to get accurate shooting out of liis gun. ***** His gun stops. Automatically lie applies the usual action to remedy it. It may set. the gun going again—as a rule it does---but, it may, on the other hand, require a delicate adjustment.

The enemy is quick to quess that the gun has stopped and is being repaired. He makes- an attempt to rush the gun position held by a handful of machine-gunners. These few men gallantly meet the rush and all the time this is going on the No 1 of the gun is putting his gun in firing order again.

He has no time to watch the result of the fight, but quickly and coolly works, until he is ready again to fire. The fact that he may be run tlirongh at any moment, never enters bis head.

The glorious coolness and gallantry shown by every machine-gnnner, whether lie be officer, O.C.G , or man, are wonderful and to be admired. A thrill of pride should run through the folks at home when they pass a splendid Britisher wearing the cross gnns and crown.

It is an honour to be in the Machine Gun Corps because every member is a specially picked man. He must be physically strong, cool, resourceful, and very keen before being sent up to the depot to go through his excellent course on machine-gun work.

After many weeks of hard work during and after parade hours he is passed as marksman or first-class machine-gunner. Later lie is sent to France to join his comrades.

Every man in the corps has one ambition, and that is to be No 1 on his gun, or, in other words, the mother of one of our machine gnns.

It is splendid to see the care a No 1 takes of his gnu. He knows all its little fads and knows just how to humour it and obtain the best results.

There is "a fine esprit de corps in the Machine Gun Corp 3 which makes it so efficient.

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