NEW BATTERY

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19888, 18 May 1936, Page 6

NEW BATTERY

FORMATION IN HAMILTON. OLD UNIT REVIVED. TO PARADE ON SUNDAY. In view of the fact that the Second Medium Battery recently re-estab-lished by the Defence Department in Hamilton is to hold its first official parade on May 24, the occasion of the presentation of the New Colours to the Waikato Regiment, this date will no doubt be of historic interest when the annals of the battery come to be written at some future date. A few remarks on the old battery and its present successor are here appropriate. From the inception of the territorial ement in 1911 Hamilton had an artillery unit known in those days as the G. Battery, but since the war the batteries throughout New Zealand were renamed after the batteries which served with the N.Z.E.F., in Gallipoli and France, the idea being to preserve and hand on to posterity the history created by these units in the various engagements in which they took part during the war.

In conformity with this arrangement the old G. Battery at Hamilton became the Second Battery and carried on under this title until 5 or 6 years ago when the Defence Department, for economic reasons, was forced to disband It. The old battery was a held battery comprising six 18pounder guns but the new battery is what is known as a medium battery and comprises 4 guns tiring projectiles weighing GO pounds. The new battery comprises guns heavier in very way than the old battery. Heavy Artillery. The 60-pounder can be fired effectively at ranges up to 20,000 yards. The gun is exceedingly accurate and was used during the war principally for counter battery work and for neutralising hostile fire. It was also used in barrages for the purpose of cutting and blowing up barbed wire entanglements in order to make a way for advancing infantry. Artillery work offers an interesting hobby particularly for anyone of a mechanical turn of mind and it is hoped that this may be an inducement to recruiting. Owing to the heavy nature of the guns recruits desiring to join the gunners need to be of good physique, although in the signalling branch this is not so essentialThe new battery is under the command of Captain E. F. Clayton-Greene who has associated with him Captain J. Tait and Lieutenants C. A. Speight, D. Malins and Sellars. Sergeant-Major Gallagher, who was on the Hamilton station in the old days, has been transferred from Auckland to take charge of the station here.

Although the unit does not officially come into existence until June 1, there are already 30 men on the battery roll apart from the officers, all of whom will be parading on May 24.