NEW ZEALAND ENGINEERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17687, 26 July 1919, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND ENGINEERS

WORK AT HOME AND ABROAD. ] INTERVIEW WITH OOLONEL BARCLAY. Colonel Barclay, who loft New Zealand ■with the Fourth Reinforcements in cliargo of tho 2nd Company, Now Zealand Engineora, serving through tho greater part of tho Galhpoli campaign and subsequently in France, arrived back in Now Zealand about a week ago by tho troopship Kigoiua. In the course of an interviow with a Daily Times reporter ho gave an interesting account of tho training and work of the New Zealand Engineers at Homo and abroad. Colonel Barclay was originally captain of tho old Dunoclin Engineers, with whom he was associated for 16 or 17 years, and later, when tho Territorial system was introduced into Now Zealand, ho was appointed lieutcnant-colonel in command of tho North Island Railway Battalion, New. Zealand Engineers. In January, 1915, ho ■was requested by tho Defeneo authorities to organise a company of Field Engineers for servico with tho N.Z.E.F., and was asked to tako command of tho' compauy. with tho rank of major. Tho oompany was formed end equipped at Trentham, and after going through ti course of training embarked for Egypt with the Fourth Reinforcement draft. This company was subsequently known as tho 2nd Field Company, N.Z.E. 'Mo first field company had been formed in Egypt somo little timo previously, and consisted of men drawn from othor New Zealand units and from the British section which joined the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt about that timo. Tho 3rd Field Company was formed .in Egypt early in 1916, tho field troops •which left with the Main Body being incorporated in it. Tho 2nd Field Company, immediately on arrival in Egypt, was ordered to Gallipoli, and after a stay of only three days at Cairo embarked for. tho seat of war. THe company earned an enviable reputation for its splendid work throughout the campaign on the Gallipoliipeninsula, and after the evacuation it was employed with other imits on the Suez Canal defence scheme. After arrival' in France with the New Zealand Division in 1916 tho 2nd Field Company ■was associated with tho various operations in which the New Zealanders took part, and gave ©very satisfaction for the manner in which it carried out the many.duties allotted to it.

In order to provide a thorough training for the individual field engineers prior to joining tho force at tho front it was decided to establish a training depot in England. Christch-urch, in Hampshire, was chosen as tho site for the depot on account of its being the Royal Engineers' training centre of the southern command, and consequently being fully equipped with up-to-dato appliances. staff, etc. All engineers upon arrival from New Zealand wero required to undergo a nine weeks' course of training. This was of a most thororugh nature, embracing jfield work, demolitions, railways, wiring, bridging, etc., and at the termination of the course an examination was held in order to ascertain the degree of efficiency attained by the men. Tho facility with whitfh tho New Zealanders acquired a knowledge of the various subjects was repeatedly commented upon !by the instructors. .

The engineers wero fortunate in having tho training depoti situated in such a place as Christchurch, As th 0 latter adjoins the town of Bournemouth, which possesses many attractions. Diiring tho summer months the men were located in a canvas oainp, and lor the winter months they were moved into billets in Boscom.be, a suburb of Bournemouth. Originally the depot was intended for the field engineers only, but it subsequently became tbio headquarters for the. l\innellers and tho New Zealand Railway Operating Company, and later for the Maori Pioneers.

Colonel Barclay took command of the training depot towards tho end of 1917, and assisted largely in its development. In consequence of the billeting system, tho Now Zealanders were naturally brought into closo contact with the residents, whose high opinion they earned for their good behaviour, and general regret was expressed when the time came for the closing of tho depot, and the departure of the troops. At the Christchurch depot, as at the various other New Zealand camps in England, a considerabtt amount of the spare labour was utilised in tho growing of vegetables, which prdfrgd a valuable and welcome addition to the soldiers' menu. Quite a large area of land was cultivated, and the men took great interest in the work, being successful in carrying of? many of the prizes at the local shows. The educational' scheme which was introduced into England for the Now Zealand soldiers was taken advantage of by tho engineers to a very considerable extent. The officer in charge of this branch of tho eervico was Lieutenant C. Smith, who was formerly on tho staff of the Otago Boys' High School, and Che principal classes were for carpentry, motor mechanics, beekeeping. fruit farming, accountancy, and live stock. Speaking in regard to the work of the Y.MLC.A. and other organisations, Colonel Barclay made special reference to the New Zealand War Contingents' Association, which established a club at the New Zealand Engineers depot. The Y.M.C.A., as ■was well known, had done great work at the training camps and in all the theatres of •war. It had established a hostel at Bournemouth, which had proved such a success that it was found nccessary to enlargo it. As many of the men spent their leave in Bournemouth tho accommodation at the hostel was naturally in great demand. Mr Robert Blair, who at one time -was well known in_ Otago,' was for a considerable timo the association's field secretary. The men all spoke in the highest terms of the efforts made by tho New Zealand Y.M.C.A. to provide suitable entertainment for them at Boscombo.

Tho troopship Kigoma, in which Colonel Barclay returned to New Zealand, remained at Colon for four days while repairs wero being effected, -and during this time tho New Zealand representatives of the Y.M.C.A. in that town, in conjunction with American Y.M.C.A. did a great deal-in order to provide entertainment for the troops. Daily excursions were arranged and varions forms of amusement wore nrovided. _ The American Red Cross workers also did everything in their power to make tho short stay of tho soldiere as pleasant bs possible, and before the departure of the vessel liberal gifts of tropical fruits were sent aboard.