Women Fill Men's Posts In Defences

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1942, Page 4

Women Fill Men's Posts In Defences

Detachment at Auckland anti-aircraft station. Auckland, Aug. 26. Although they have had only a week's experience of their daily soldiers' duties, members of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps who have been posted to one of Auckland'? anti-aircraft stations have already impressed their officers- with their keenness and rapidly increasing efficiency. Before they were posted to the station they had a month's course at a training centre, with visits to various battery posiions. The ti can be no doubt about the value of the work they are doing. They are fully replacing men, enabling the men to be used on the guns. "They are doing a real job," said their commanding officer. The detachment at this post lives in a near bv house which has been taken over by the army. Day of 14 Hours. Their day is of 14 hours. They stand- to at exactly the same time as the men, have precisely the same meals, do the same work. and have the same leave. The only apparent difference is that whereas the men sleep in the gun positions the women have a house, although it is still barely furnished. There is a telephone from the commanding officer 's quarters to the house and they come at the double when he calls them to standto. If their battery position is ever attacked they will stand the same risks as the men on the guns. At present they are learning, and showing excellent progress in, the use of the predictor, a piece of equipment of considerable complication and exacting demands. It is vital to the successful firing of the guns and the girls are expected to reach high efficiency. So far they have shown that they are keener and quicker in learning their job than many men. They are equally steady. In addition to the predictor they have to- know how to use the identification telescope, upon their efficiency with which depends whether a hostile aircraft is identified as such, and the height and range finder. another instrument which ; is also vital to the gun crews. The three instruments have protection from bomb blast and splinters; they have no more protection than the guns. Duty in Battledress. At work the girls wear battledress, gaiters and boots. All are ordinary service issue. Although the necks of the tunics may be a little large, the girls' general appearance is smart and soldierly. Off duty and on leave they have a serge walking-out uniform of coat and skirt. At least, they will have. This particular detachment has not yet r«ceived them, although fittings have now started. One on their number is a bombardier and another a lance-bombardier. They are responsible for the internal discipline of the detachment and are also in direct charge of the detachment's smartness, soldierliness, maintenance of their quarters and so on. Their drill is usualiy taken by an officer, but if he is on other duties the bombardier takes over the instruction. Orders are obeyed immediately. Although this detachment is ihe Auckland beginning of the corps, as far as its use in battery positions is concerned it has all the appearances of a very good beginning.