Soldier Marksmen

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 304, 15 March 1928, Page 15

Soldier Marksmen

Battle Conditions at Trentham

Territorials and Cadets Compete

BATTLE conditions prevail on'the range at Trentham where the annual competitions of the Dominion’s Territorial and Cadet Forces are in progress.

Press Association. TRENTHAM, To-day. Ideal ehooting conditions prevailed yesterday, “which were taken advantage of by the marksmen, was was shown by the improved scoring in the territorial and cadet championships. In the Trentham match there were a number of five hits, and one competitor put all six shots into the moving target. Corporal Sanford was the winner. A number of teams competed in the anti-aircraft match. This being an innovation, the men were not familiar with the conditions. The direct hits recorded were considered to be satisfactory. White screen targets measuring 10ft by 3ft were erected, bearing three silhouettes of airplanes along the top, one to represent an a | plane crossing to the right, one to the left, and the centre one diving. Ten shots were fired at each plane by three separate men under service conditions, the time allowed being 755. The practice was keenly watched by Major-General Young. The cadet championship, was won by Sergeant Hudson, of Dunedin. His score of 199 exceeded the score of Corporal Collyer, of Hokitika, last year’s winner, by nine points. The aggregate generally showed a distinct improvement. The highest score in the territorial belt championship last year was secured by Petty Officer Griffiths, of the Renown, with an aggregate of 220, who was not eligible to hold it. It was won by G. Parker, Wellington, with 201. The winner of the belt this year was Corporal H. Simon, of Oamaru, with 199. The highest* score, 217, was obtained by Sergeant-Major Kearney, of the Permanent Staff. Parker and Lieutenant Duncan, Auckland, tied for second place, the former losing on the count back. The following are the results: Cadet Championship, 100yds range, second stage.—Duff, Christchurch. 105, £2; Burton, Hastings, 105, £1 10s; Bowling, Hamilton, 103, £1 10s. Forty-two scores from 103 down to 77 divide £7 10s. Aggregates: Belt and gold jewel, and £3, Sergeant R. Hudson, Dunedin, 199; silver jewel and £2, Sergeant L. Yook, Christchurch, 192. Bronze jewel and £l, E. Burton, Hastings, 190. Anti-aircraft Match, 30 rounds, 25yds, possible 60.—Lewis gun section: Hawke’s Bay, 17, £4; Otago, 15, £2; Engineers and Wellington teams, 14, equal, third. Fourteen teams competed. Hotchkiss gun section: Otago Mounted Rifles, 14, £4; Auckland Mounted Rifles, 11, £2. »ix teams competed. The following are the leaders of the 100 highest scorers in the championship series who will compete for the King’s Medal, four practices, rapid fire, at 300yds, snapshooting at 300yds, deliberate fire at 600yds, and fire with movement, 600yds to 100yds, Staff Sergeant-Major Kearney, 217; Sergeant McCurrie, 212; Corporal Simon, 199; Lieutenant Duncan and Lance-Corporal Parker, 157; Private Cathcart and Staff Sergeant-Major Bates, 195; Lieutenant Poolman, 192; Trooper Burgess, 188; Lieutenant Kenning, 187; Lieutenant Moore, 184; Cadet-Pilot Watt, 181; Captain Clifton, 180; Staff-Sergeant Stitchbury, 179; Lieutenant Denton, 177; Lance-Corporal Carmichael, 176; Corporal Large, 175; Corporal Ellis, Corporal Kenward, Sergeant'' Hutchins, Lieutenant Leeds, all 175; Private Rathbun, StaffSergeant Thomson, Colour-Sergeant-Major Mcßae, Staff Sergeant-Major Jordan, 173. The following? is the result of the Armv Championship, second stage.—Class 1:

Officers and permanent staff: Sergeant McCurrie, Dunedin, 121, £2; Lieutenant Duncan, Auckland, 110, £1 10s; SergeantMajor Kearney, Napier, 106, £l. Seven others divide £2 10s. Class 2: Rank and file: Burgess, Waipukurau, 114, £2; Corporal Kenward, Dunedin, 108, _£l 10s; Lance-Corporal Carmichael, Hastings, 103, £1 10s. Forty-four others divide £33.

NIGHT-FIRING MACHINE-GUNS IN ACTION The meeting advanced a further stage last evening, when night-firing competitions were held between teams of Vickers, Lewis and Hotchkiss-gun sections. The conditions of the Vickers competition provided for a shoot at 800yds of 200 rounds. At sunset the leader marked the position of the tripod and placed a peg 10yds distant in alignment with the target. It was a dark night and to give the direction of the target a lamp was hung on the peg. The First Battalion of the Hawke’s Bay Regiment made a remarkable shoot, being easily a record for New Zealand, and comparing favourably with the records of the British Army. The possible was 400, two points being awarded for each hit. The Hawke’s Bay team secured 264 of which over 60 wer in the centre of the target. Last year this match was won by the Waikato Mounted Rifles with a total of 47, when 15 teams competed. The Lewis Gun Competition, also under service conditions, proved spectacular. The possible was 141, teams being of seven men, three of whom fired 47 rounds each. To give direction, Verey flares were used. The gun will fire 600 rounds a minute, seven being allowed each marksman. It takes three seconds for a flare to rise and burst, so the actual time w’as five seconds. The ground being dry, the lights set fire to the grass on descending, consequently the men were firing through a smoke screen. The Wellington and West Coast Regiment, who were the winners, secured CO points, which was two points ahead of the First Battalion of the North Auckland team, who were last year’s winners, when conditions were more favourable. The Hotchkiss section was similar to the Lewis, but results were not equal to 1927, when the First Mounted Rifles, C.Y.C., won with four points. To give additional interest Colonel Burgess said he would endeavour to secure dummy tanks for next year. Competitions to-day include the Regimental Teams Rifle Match, and the New' Zealand Services Vickers, Lewis and Hotchkiss Gun match will be fired by the Territorials in addition to battle practice, while the team rifle matches and battle practice competition is the programme for the Cadets. Night Firing: Vickers guns; 150 s, Hawke’s Bay Regiment (D. R. Graham, W. J. Burton, P. T. Crawford, J. C. Cater and J. M. Forrest), 264; 1255, Otago Mounted Rifles, 86; 100 s, Auckland Regiment, 64; 755, Canterbury Regiment, 46. Seventeen teams competed. Lewis Guns: 160 s. Wellington and West Coast Regiment (W. Hutchinson,

I. James, L. H. Beardsmore, S. Troti, F. Signal, R. Rusden, G. Hayward, and M. Mowatt), 60; 120 s, Hawke’s Bay Regiment, 43; 80s, Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regiment, 31; 40s, Southland Regiment, 38. F«*rteen teams competed. Hotchkiss Guns: 120 s, Auckland Mounted Rifles (W. Buttimore, H. Wadaingon, J. Harcombe, K. McPherson, E. N. Vipond, A. Kewish, E. A Kerr and J. Jamieson), 22; 120 s, Nelson and Marlborough Mounted Rifles, 22;; 80s, New Zealand Mounted Rifles of Timaru, 19. Six teams competed. Prizes for the regimental teams match challenge shield were:—£l6, Hawke’s Bay Regiment, 579; £l2, Nelson and Marlborough Regiment, 557; £lO, Wellington and West Coast Regiment, 160; Wellington Regiment, 549; £6, Central Command. N.Z.P.S., 544: £4. South Command, 534. Twenty-six teams competed.