HIGH SCHOOL CADETS

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1926, Page 9

HIGH SCHOOL CADETS

FIELD DAY AT OMATA. In furtherance of the field instructional work in military training given to the cadets at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, field day operations were carried out yesterday at, Omata. The plan of campaign was that a foreign force was supposedly advancing on the town in the vicinity of Omata and that another force of two battalions was moving on Hawera. The First Cadet Battalion (Taranaki Regiment) had "secret” orders to mobilise in New Plymouth and then to meet and check the advance of the invaders. The advance guard, consisting of the Second Cadet Battalion (Taranaki Regiment), marched to Lloyd’s Hill on Mr. E. Ansford’s farm, Omata, where they encountered the enemy outposts, which valiantly attacked in an endeavour to gain the position held by the defenders. The imaginary campaign was carried out by over 400 cadets divided into two companies, A Company under the command of Lieutenant Dyer, who had associated with him Lieutenants J. Leggatt, R. Wilson and J. Earl, and B Company under the command of Lieutenant F. J. Eggleton, who had associated with him Lieutenants A. Blundell and W. Shrimpton. The whole scheme of the campaign was organised by and under the control of Captain L. W. Andrew, V.C., N.Z.S.C., and Major G. F. Bertrand. Special trams conveyed the cadets as far as Mission Hill whence they marched to the field of operations. It is interesting to note that the sham campaign was fought upon the very soil upon which the Battle of Waireka took place. The attackers, in spite of their strenuous efforts, were unable to dislodge B Company from their practically impregnable position. • At the conclusion of the morning’s work the cadets marched back to the paddock adjoining Mr. Ansford’s homestead where the lunch, provided by the school authorities, was done full justice to. In the afternoon, upon the return home, an advance guard action was carried out with success.