MILITARY TRAINING.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3837, 28 August 1928, Page 2

MILITARY TRAINING.

ANNUAL INSTRUCTION. Last Saturday saw the completion of the annual week’s military instruction for local and district senior cadets, on the racecourse. The week’s intensive training exempts all participants from further service until next year. The camp was under the command of Ser-geant-Major Thompson, of Palmerston North, who was assisted by Corporal Brand, also of Palmerston North. The cadets slept at home, attending parades daily at 9 o’clock. In addition to the cadets, ten first-year Territorials attended the parades making the total rollcall 62. The weather for the camp was not very favourable, but a good day was experienced for rifle practice. Physical exercises, squad and company drill, musketry instruction, etc., were indulged in, and on the whole the period of instruction was thoroughly enjoyed by all present. Major L. Potter, Staff officer in charge of the No. 6 Regimental District, paid an official visit to the camp last Wlednesday and after inspecting the cadets, expressed satisfaction with the progress they were making with their military training.

Musketry practice was carried out on the range at the rear of the racecourse on Thursday, the cadets using .22 rifles and the Territorials the usual service .303’s. All trainees qualified in the shoot and the following obtained their Marksman’s badges:—

K. Powell 44, T. Perreau 39, M. Mason 38, K. Alexander 38, C. Williams 37, F. Cowley 36, J. Death 35, W. Hussey 35. L. Mattar with 87 points, secured the highest score for the Territorials. The cadets 17 years and over in camp fired with .3(T3’s for Marksmen’s badges, but no one was successful in securing the coveted 70 points. J. Gower 62, and J. Francis with 54 topped the list. A match for the Imperial Challenge Shield, for the best marksman in New Zealand was fired and resulted as follows: —

K. Powell 71, K. Alexander 69, J. Gower 67, out of a possible of 80 points.

The training concluded on Saturday morning with a paper-chase which was indulged in by the whole camp. The horses were Corporal Brand and Privates Wanklyn, Reader and Gower. The trail led across Robinson’s run, but the horses had no difficulty in alluding the pack and arriving safely home. The chase was enjoyed immensely by the cadets.