Gurkhas here soon

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 274, 14 February 1989, Page 6

Gurkhas here soon

Flying into Waiouru soon will be B Company, Second Battalion of the Second King Edwards Own Gurkha Rifles. They will arrive in Waiouru around February 21 and leave April 7.

Living at Helwan Camp will be Officer Commanding Major S.L. Sessions (a British Officer), administration officer/pay master Major D.W. O'Keefe and approximately 130 other ranks. These men will be here under training in what is called "All Arms Limited War Training". This will include both dry and live firing exercises. The ranges out the back of Waiouru are ideal for this type of exercise. The Gurkhas will also train with Waiauru's artillery and armoured companies - in other words, doing exercises they are unable to do at their base in Hong Kong. Not all work but

some play, the Gurkhas will take part in a mock battle as part of this year's Desert Fair. As well as putting on a display of their national dancing they will run a stall. They will sponsor and run in a half-marathon which will also take place at the Desert Fair. For rest and relaxation they will be enjoying fishing, hunting, and sightseeing. There stay will include adventure training which will take them down the Wanganui River in an assault boat, lead by the New Zealand Army Guides. The final phase of their stay will involve a major exercise with the Brunei guns of the 16tj Field Regiment as

well as Waiouru's Q.A. Squadron. It looks set to certainly be a busy time for all the men but they will certainly be looked after by their Waiouru liaison officer, who is Captain J. Gibb of 4 ATG Workshop.