GREYTOWN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 July 1941, Page 7

GREYTOWN

HOME GUARD SUCCESSFUL FIELD DAY. (“Times-Age” Special.) When the cease fire sounded at 3.15 o’clock on Sunday afternoon the defenders of the Matawhera Cutting were still in possession. Favoured with a gloriously fine day the South Wairarapa Battalion of 700 Home Guardsmen carried out a successful field day. The orders issued from the Battalion Headquarters at Greytown for the assembly of all units on the property of Mr R. Barton, at Te Mare Road, were carried out without a hitch, and the 81 vehicles were safely parked on the high country behind Mr Barton’s homestead according to plan. The traffic control platoon, under Inspector Nicholson and Sergeant Major D. C. Collins, controlled the traffic most efficiently. For the first time since its formation the battalion assembled in mass. The Carterton Company under the command of Mr D. L. Taverner, gave a fine exhibition of drill movements. The Greytown units put up a section of wire entanglements, Mr G. S. Maloney being responsible for their instruction. The physical drill squad were supervised by Mr M. Whimp. The Featherston Rifle Platoon under Lieutenant C. Carter, gave a fine display of rifle exercises. The Martinborough bayonet fighting exhibition was very well done, Mr Gray, the commander, putting on a fine display. The Lower Valley Company contributed an exhibition of the famous Molotov cocktails. Mr D. Sutherland explained their composition and method of throwing. The shock troops of the battalion, the motor cyclists and mounted rifles, both carried out drill movements. The bomb-throwers, .constructed by Messrs Broadbent and Trounceson, proved to be highly effective. The battalion then marched past, Colonel R. St. J. Bc-ere, D. 5.0., District Commander, taking the salute. After lunch the Rev. H. Bloomfield conducted a church service. The tactical operations commenced at 1.15 p.m. and under the escort of, the motor cycle platoon, commanded "by Mr H. Morgan, the whole battalion proceeded to the Lower Valley. The ambulance section, under Mr N. Langford, established dressing stations and the wounded were transported by the transport section of the Red Cross Society which was under the command of Mrs L. Fairbrother. These ladies carried out their duties most creditably, and their convoy driving was excellent. The signal unit, despite lack of equipment, gave full co-operation and at one section made contact by telephone per medium of the wires on a fence line. The engineers put effective tank traps and blocks in the cutting. On the bugler sounding the “cease fire” all units marched back to the Tuhitarata School where the Quartermasters had afternoon tea ready. The area commander, Captain Birch, M.C., and his staff, watched the operations and Lieutenant Hibbs, the Masterton Battalion Commander, was also present. Captdin R. Wakelin and Lieutenants Glen and Gooding, of the Hawke’s Bay Regiment, acted as umpires. At the conclusion the Battalion Commander, Captain H. G. Carter, expressed his satisfaction at the results attained. GOLF CLUB COMPETITIONS. Playing for the Balfour Badges, Messrs G. Burns and Ray Ingley defeated F. C. Bunny and E. Williams. In the intermediate championship F.’Dewhirst defeated G. Te Whaiti at the 20th hole. RED CROSS SOCIETY SUCCESSFUL DANCE. There was a good attendance at the Red Cross Society’s dance held in the Odd Fellows’ Hall on Saturday evening. Te Tau’.s orchestra supplied the music, and Mr S. Shedden carried out the duties of M.C. Extras were played by Mr T. Drysdale and Mrs H. G. Carter. The Monte Carlo dance was won by Mr and Mrs H. G. Carter. The supper arrangements were in the hands of members of the Red Cross classes. Personal Items. Misses D. Roes, B. Feast, C. Gray, K. Leigh and M. Skeet, were Wellington visitors to Greytown at the weekend. Private Eric Bennett, of Trentham Camp, was home for the weekend. Mesdames R. Beu and W. G. K. Wiggins have returned from Wellington whore they attended the annua) conference of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. Mr and Mrs H. Langley, of Johnsonville, were the guests at the weekend of Mr and Mrs Langley, Senr., Main Street. Hockey. The chief game of interest to local enthusiasts on Saturday was the meeting of Excelsior and the local ladies. This match took place at Mastertonunder excellent weather conditions. In. the first half Greytown were the superior team and held their own territorially, although the opportunities of goaling were not numerous. In thfe last fifteen minutes to go the Greytown team had a bad attack of missing the ball or mis-hitting, and this kept them in hot water for some lime. Underterred by their opponents’ lead, however, they set up continued assaults on the Excelsior goal, but were kept out.