HAWKE’S BAY REGIMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 June 1939, Page 9

HAWKE’S BAY REGIMENT

IDENTITY REGAINED. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HASTINGS, June 13. The separate identity which was lost by the Hawke’s Bay Regiment when it was included in the Second Composite Infantry Battalion will be regained under the recently-announced army reorganisation throughout New Zealand, and recruiting efforts are now in force in the regimental district in Poverty Bay, Hawke's Bay. and Wairarapa. to bring the unit up to full establishment of 35 officers and G3l other ranks, slightly above the full strength before the inauguration of the composite scheme. The reversion has been welcomed by both serving territorials and former members of the regiment, which in the short number of years it has existed has established a proud tradition of service. At full strength the Hawke’s Bay Regiment in the various centres will be as follows: — Napier: Battalion headquarters; A Company, less one platoon, plus one machine gun platoon; total strength,, nine officers and 131 other ranks; in addition the Regimental Band stationed in Napier comprises one officer and 35 other ranks. Hastings: D (support) Company, less two platoons; two machine gun platoons, one rifle platoon; total strength. six officers and 115 other ranks. Dannevirke: Two platoons; total strength, two officers and 54 other ranks. Masterton: C Company, less two, platoons; one mortar platoon: total strength five officers and 85 other ranks. To bring the unit up to total’establishment 304 other ranks are needed to make up 631. Of this total Hastings requires 80 recruits and Napier the same number. At the fortnightly parade last evening, 31 recruits presented them-: selves for enrolment, and after medical examination 29 of them were pass-, ed as fit. This leaves Napier 51 men to find, and it is expected that'at the next parade in Hastings there will be a similar response.