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TRENTHAM CAMP.

STRATFORDITE'S IMPRESSION. "A HOME AWAY FROM HOME." This morning, in the course of an interesting conversation, Lieutenant Gray, of the local Defence Office, gave a representative of the Stratford Evening Tost a few impressions of Trentham Camp which he gathered while accompaiung the Stratford quote of the 9th Reinforcements into camp. "Trentham resembles a large village," said Lieutenant Gray. The men are all Housed in huntments built of corrigated iron; only a few tents are to bo seon, and those are mostly used as a standby for extra men arriving in camp. Streets have been constructed of shingle and with the side channels one could hardly tell that he was not in a small town. The accommodation for the men is excellent. The ordinary regulation stretcher is provided and with proper tables for messing purposes the men are quite at home. Lieutenant Gray said as far as he could see the men were leaving their homes for another home. All the details have been well organised and the sanitary arrangements—the most osseutial point in camp construction—are all that could bo desired. A large building is provided as a lavatory for the men, rows of taps and basins adorning each wall. Everything in the whole camp was scruptuously clean, no refuge of any description being discernable.

"As for the food," said Lieutenant Gray, "it is plain but good—so good, indeed, that during the whole day I was in camp 1 never heard a remark passed to the contrary." The camp was one of the best organised the Lieutenant had seen, and as for men who are going on active' service "it was all that could be desired." The soldiers are now able to indulge in the luxury of hot and cold showers, the shower baths having been completed and now in use. The building, wnich is divided into two compartments, is of wood, substantially built, with concrete floors. Dressing compartments, partitioned off and with seats, are provided, and there are 100 showers. There is a large boiler platform, containing six boilers, and the heat of the water can be so regulated that practically any temperature may be obtained. Underneath this platform the space has been utilised for the erection of showers for the use of officers, but if anything the rank and hie have the better accommodation. The engine house for the heating of the water is situated close by, and from it a steam pipe leads into another building—the sterilisiug house—where wearing apparel and other articles used by soldiers are treated. From the time the men left the train and were drafted to their respective units they ceased to be civilians and assumed a military spirit without any second bidding. What he saw of the men in camp all seemed happy and well contented. "While looking through tho camp I happened to come into contact with Corporal F. N. Fussell. The military spirit had evidently taken possession of him, and his civilian manner had completely vanished." Lieutenant Gray said he also saw Corporal H. Old, of "D" Coy., Stratford, and when questioned as to his camp life he immediately replied: "Tip top, and I like it well." The Lieutenant said during his visit he had very little time to watch training operations, but what he saw showed that tho men had greatly improved, and military discipline was noticeable everywhere.

"It is rather a coincident meeting a man with whom I fought side by side in the Boxer rebellion about 14 years ago under the famous Admiral Seymour," said Lieutenant Gray. "One can guess tho greetings we exchanged when we recognised one another. Had it not been that we were both wearing the Boxer rebellion war medal ribbon we would have passed without recognition. There being so few of these ribbons in New Zealand, I looked a second time, and one can imagine my feeling when my 'old chum'— Private Young—recognised me." The Lieutenant said they had parted ships company at Hong Kong after the China war when tho inen-o'-war were ordered back to their respective stations. Private Young went back Homo— England—while Lieutenant Gray sailed for the Colonies. The two men were both bluejackets then. Private Young told the Lieutenant that he had been in New Zealand for twelve months and could not resist the temptation of "getting into another scrap" as he termed it. The old ex-navy man—Private Young—said New Zealand was- a fine country, and he was proud to light for it, but at the same time lie would like to have seen tho New Zealand men recognise the same fact.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/STEP19151026.2.37

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 48, 26 October 1915, Page 8

Word count
Tapeke kupu
765

TRENTHAM CAMP. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 48, 26 October 1915, Page 8

TRENTHAM CAMP. Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 48, 26 October 1915, Page 8

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