NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND ARMY AT HOME

TRAINING AT BROCTOX. THE CA3IP OF THE "DINKS." By H. T. B. Drew, 2nd Lieutenant. ■ Brocton. tlie camp of the "Dinks," is perched oil a (I) ill. Out back of it. in a. succession of deep valleys and rising hills, stretches the heather-clad moorland of famous Cannock Chase, the interesting past of which, if you would seek to know it, you will find duly recorded _in history or encyclopaedia. Away in the distance, reached by a ' road climbing out of a valley and winding yellow over t'lie dark-green moors, is Walsall. Somewhere beyond that are coalfields, and again in other distant parts of the moor are herds of ,deer and preserves of grouse. On the other side of the camp to the north the land falls gently away past the "Tommy" camp in the near distance to a ihomely, attractive scene of red-bricked farmhouses below and winding lanes, and thick green hedges and spreading trees, where the men love to ■\vp,lk. At times a boisterous wind sings howling fortissimo through the camp, swirling dust along in summer and snow in winter; but the air at other times is bracing and the outlook healt'liv. The Kifio Brigade camp is situated on the northern edge of Cannock Chase, County Staffordshire. Birmingham is not very far away in the south, and Stafford Town is five miJes distant by road.

The New Zealamd damp comprises about a hundred acres. Shortly after the war broke out the Imperial authorities established a large' Infantry camp here, and it is a portion of this camp that we have taken over. The small village of Brocton, from which the camp and the railway-station, half a -mile away, take their name, is quite handy. The whole of this area is in the English Northern Command, in dharge of which was the late General Davies, a New Zealander, who will be well remembered in the Dominion as being at one time in charge of the military affairs there. His headquarters were about half a mile from till© camp. On the outskirts of the New Zealand section six thousand Germans spend a hzy internment behind barbed wire—well fed, underworked, splendidly housed, and sometimes insolent, though not to New Zealanders!

The Dominion took up quarters here in September last. At that Sling became overcrowded with the accumulation of Reinforcements, and further accommodation was necessary. So the Rifle Brigade was sent there. The change has proved popular because of the pleasanter surroundings, and no doubt because of its lesser degree of isolation than Sling; and officers and men have all, from the first, entered with zest into the task of making it a model eamp. And this recalls that at Brocton, more than at any other New Zealand camp, is noticeable a keener interest in the camp itself. Men and officers seem to take a delight in inventing and installing little improvements here than there—little things that add character to a camp—and Colonel Roache, tine Commandant, needless to say, gives every possible encouragement. OAMP FEATURES. "Tin Town" the camp is termed, because of the tin huts. The latter are roomy, clean, lit with electricity, and warmed with a centrally placed coalstove. The dining-halls and cookhouses differ very little from those at Sling, whidh have been fully described. You see the same glossy stoves in the centre of a white and shining cookhouse, around the walls of which have been stencilled, in black, as a mural decoration, the badge of the regiment. Sergeants' messes are common to ali camps, but Brocton Urns its corporals' messes as well, and the innovation has proved a great success. contribution is a trifling sum per week, and one which the corporals can easily afford. In amusements arid attractions generally Brocton is well provided for. The Y.M.C.A.. as usual, figures prominent-

ly In its large hall, which is in charge of an energetic ohieer, are lipid concerts every week by talent drawn irom abroad. Here also is s'lmwn the camp's own cinema, which, together with the dynamo and oil-engine, were purchased out of the camp regimental funds and Bet up by experts in the cam]). The men themselves run it a. certain number of nights per week. Concert performances by camp talent are encouraged in every way. The oilicers (have a glee club, and they frequently delight their audiences and themselves with their concerts, which are really very fine. The hall in whie'hi these entertainments are held was converted' from a rough shed into the present theatre, with stage, scenery, drop-scenes, etc., this work being done by enthusiasts among the men. There is an excellent gymnasium in t'iie camp. But one of the outstanding features is the miniature rifle range, which is a source of great attraction to the men in the evenings. With much ingenuity the range has been fixed up to represent a section of landscape, out of which, by the manipulation of levers, figures supposed to be snipers, or machine guns, or bodies of troos, can be made to bob up. Competitions are held among teams of men, and the winners are given week-end leave, which it was found was a better kind of reward than money (which is really forbidden) or prizes. Quite o lot of enthusiasm has been worked up over this little side show, wliidhi serves also the useful purpose of improving the men's shooting.

No fewer than seven billiard-tables aro available in the camp. The sergeants' and the corporals' messes each have one, and three are in the Y.M.C.A. Music-making is assisted by seven pianos wliiich companion the billiardtables in each of the social centres. All these pianos are of a standard pattern, and were specially constructed for the camp. The camp has its band also, and proud of it indeed are the men. In connection' with the canteen institute and the reading and writing room is a library, which is something better than those usually found in training-camps. And I find in my notes that, in that portion of the canteen which is set apart for eatables, are made and sold nightly, at one penny each, one hundred dorfen buns, with whidlii go cups of tea for another penny. ■

PLENTY TO INTEREST THE MEN. So that even with this very brief reference to things it can easily be seen that in their spare time the men have plenty to interest them, and that tihe officers are doing all they can" to keep them away from undesirable attractions at nights. No English camps cater for their men to the same extent, and one could not help noticing how the "Tommies" steal into our canteens whenever they (have reasonable excuse to do so. New Zealand parents would appreciate to its full this good work for their soldiers if they only were able to see for themselves what is being done —work which, because •it is especially encouraged by HeadqArters in London generally, and watched and praised —as far as Army Regulations permit praise to be 'given—fords ready propagation through the ranks downwards, t'hough one may also say with perfect truth that the New Zealand officers have perhaps an especial regard for the comfort and happiness of their men, which no doubt comes from the close personal touch between them. Tlhough a hospital is £iUnited at Walsall, a few miles away, the Camp Medical Officer retains a sufficient accommodation in the camp for at least 120 patients. The huts are purely for men when report sick from day to day, and who are not bad enough to send away. They can thus be kept under observation by our own doctors and among their own mates, and treated, if not too ill, though it makes more work, for the Medical Staff. A Dental Officer is also attached to the camp. For training and administration the men in this eamp are apportioned into companies, which are under the command usually of a Captain or Lieutenant who has seen service at the front, and who has been brought over from France for this purpose. The companies comprise one battalion under a Commanding Officer, usually a Major, and over tllie whole is the Group or Camp Commandant. The training is carried out under the group systemyi.e.. with one set of instructors for the whole camp. Six 1 officers and fifty noncommissioned officers carry out the training, which is virtually the same as at Sling, with innovations here and there. The camp Bias its model platoon, which demonstrates how work as near perfection as possible should be carried out. Periodically demonstrations of attacks under open-warfare and under trench-warfare conditions are given. These are great events, made, realistic and awful by the aid of smoke barrages, with imitation shrapnel bursting overhead ntid unexpected guncotton-explo-sioivs to represent shells, besides the expenditure of mudln small arms blajik ammunition. It gives a good idea of the real thing to the recruits. For musketry courses the men are taken to ranges away in the moorlands. These are pleasant .days iE the weather is fine, for lunch is carried and a day made of it. For live bombing and bayonet instruction actual warfare conditions are taken into account to a greater extent than usual; indeed, this camp ingenuity has aided considerably the realism of tflie actual thing, and this 1 induces a greater interest on the part of the men, who soon tire of exercise and work when the ultimate reason of it is not shown to them.

An enthusiastic signalling officer has.at a cost of £SO linked up the whole camp by telephone, so Mint one private sitting in the "exchange" does the work," with one relief, of a number of runners.

It is a most ingenious piece of work.

Cultivation of the ground is carried out round the camp. The plough has been put over fifteen acres this .year, and potatoes and vegetables have been planted. Flower-gardens and tree en-

closures also decorate the place. i Finally lliere. as at Sling, the officers have no reason to complain at their lot. Accommodation equal to anything at any camp (except, perhaps, the New Zealand Artillery's permanent brick eamp at Ewshot) is provided for ninety officers, though such a large number arc rarely found there. The mess is what the officers tiiiemselves have made it — cosy, bright, and comfortable, with ample reading matter, a first-class billiard table, and gramopbum** ad lib.