Among the "Tommies."

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 154, 13 June 1903, Page 25

Among the "Tommies."

By Swaddy.

COLONEL COLLINS hustled to good effect in inducing the Defence Office to encourage shooting among volunteers. The ammunition allowance has been increased, and the train facilities extended, for whicn the volunteer service is duly grateful. * ♦ *

Lieut. Hobbs than whom a keener citizen soldier does not exist, has coached the Zealandias until they have imbibed some of his own enthusiasm. He has lepresented Auckland province himself, and wants members of his corps toi come to light. Many interesting 'shoots" eventuate' in consequence. * • •

The Zeailandias have now a ' handsomei shooting belt, the work of Mr. McNaughton. Mr. Hobbs wa® the first' holder of this belt, but Sergeant Bunckenburg captured it after a keen contest, with a fine scorei of 303 points out of a possible 340. Coincidence that 303. eh? # * »

The winner holds it for a year, gets a gold medal and lias his name engraved on the belt.. The competition for Mr. Lloyd's trophy was won by Sergeant Grey It is a medal of very handsome design. The shooting committee of the Zealandias is lucky in having such an old and experienced shot as Serpeant Bunckenburg as a secretary. • • •

Great encouragement is to be given m the coming year for recruits to perfect themselves, in shooting. Mr. C. B. Morison, the first captain of the company, has presented a fine sohdsilver cup and this will be fired for in the comma season. Captain Keir, who is just retiring from volunteering work, has also promised a trophy It "* pleasing to see the interest, that mem-

bers of the company are taking. Last year Sergeant Gu^ ga\ c a, gold medaJ, and this year Pnvate Richards has promised a trophy. * * •

Infantry volunteers may have as much shooting as defence nflemen if they are keeai on it. It is less expensive, too, for volunteers. Ammunition is free, there are no entrance fees, railway travelling is free, even in plain clothes, to Trent ham, and, as all the New Zealand Belt matches are fired there, this is by no means a small advantage. * *

Lieut.-Col. ColJins's inspection. Wh it a,booit it ? Muster of Guards. 37, Cyclists, 19 and stragglers of the band. Elements of soldierly smartness sadly lacking. First position of soldiers generally groggy, haversacks rolled anyhow, amd all lengths, pouches scattered at various points round, the soldiers' equatorial region. Guards might have ' bucked up" a bit after inspection but. didn't. Rifle drill wasn't bad. Cycles did good work under Staff Sergt.-Major Colclough. * • •

On June otli theie was a good parade of "Posts and Rails," ol falling in, under Captain Morns. Civils had 34 only under Lieut. Turnbull, for Government insDeotion by Lieut.-Col. Collins. Elementary knowledge appears as rocky in this corps as in others. • • •

On the Bfch the Ancients" assembled well under C apt am Duthie 1 and Lieut. Jones The ' Fernleaves" averaged decently, with Lieuts. Hobbs and Smith in charge. • * •

I am hoping, by general lancing, to get local volunteers to remember that they are not on active service, and to refuse to parade the street or drill hall with a held service cap jammed down on the head like a mushroom, jackets and tunics open, trousers looking as if they had been left over from a calf's meal dirty boots, long hair, and carrying a nfle foresight down, like a longhandled shovel.

Company officers should make their section commanders responsible for uniformity in dress, and should fall out men who in&istt upon dancing in the ranks. Messrs. Dix and Fuller run the vaudeville business m Wellington. The "Cities" are at present the best pattern available, especially in the handling of weapons. The "Cities" have shown sound sense in handing over the mem to junior non-coms. No grins should be allowed when a raw laracejack is doing field marshal's work. Somo day the raw lance-jack may be w earing cross-su ords. * * • Colonel Robin, C.8., lately advocated the necessity of firing under service conditions — getting off one's shots while the enemy is diving behind a rock is what the Colonel means. I am hoping to see' all firing points abolished withm the next two years.