ARMY LIFE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21207, 2 September 1940, Page 8

ARMY LIFE

BATTERY ENCAMPS TERRITORIAL TRAINING ACTIVITY AT CLAUDELANDS While officers and non-commis-sioned officers of the 7th Medium Battery, New Zealand Artillery, often found the cold, damp, and unsheltered conditions of the Hopu Hopu military camp somewhat trying during the two months’ intensive training course just concluded, they are not expecting any discomforts at the Claudelands racecourse, which today became the training ground for the entire battery. Conditions should be very healthy, and provision is being made for a selfcontained camp to provide every reasonable comfort for the men. Today the men of the ranks were mobilised for the first time under the Government’s scheme for intensified home defence training of territorials. They will train at Claudelands for at least a month before proceeding to Walouru. This morning about 90 officers, non-commissioned officers and men from Headquarters Troop and B Troop, Hamilton, entered camp, and this afternoon a further 90 officers, non-commissioned officers and men from the A Troop (Auckland) of the battery arrived by the Taneatua express. They disembarked at the Hamilton station and marched to the camp. The unit will shortly be brought up to war strength by the conscription of additional men. Erection of Tents At Claudelands this morning everyone was hurrying about the hundred and one tasks, big and small, which were necessary to complete the erection of the camp. The actual training will not commence until tomorrow morning. Only the officers’ tents have so far been erected, as the heavy week-end rain had made conditions too wet for the erection of the men’s tents. A start was made later in the day, however. For the first night, at least, the men will sleep on the grandstand seats to avoid lying on wet gicund. Officers of the battery expected that, the showgrounds would make an ideal camp site. One very clear advantage is the large number of buildings. With abundant indoor shelter, training will proceed uninterrupted on even the wettest days. All the pavilions are available to the unit and it will be possible even to put the big guns under cover for instructional purposes. During the day the 60-pounder guns and the six-inch howitzers of the unit were taken to Claudelands. Mounting the Guard The main entrance to the camp will be on Hukunui Road, where a guard was mounted this afternoon. Every afternoon the ceremony of changing the guard will be held. A guard will be maintained for 24 hours a day. The area generally used for machinery exhibits at the show will be the parade ground, car park, and gun park. The officers’ tents have been erected on the lawn in front of the main stand. The men’s tents will be placed in six lines, two for each troop, on the area between the totalisator house and the entrance at the comer of Grey Street and Hukunui Road. The dog pavilion will be fitted up as a gymnasium. In the totalisator house the Q.M. stores are housed. As the men entered camp today they were provided with a uniform of denims, and other equipment will be handed out later. Each man will receive four blankets, the stock of which in the stores is valued at about £BOO. Clothing and tents and other equipment is also in the store, which occupies the entire totalisator house. The stores arrived at the week-end from the Q.M. Store, Hopu Hopu, the goods occupying three railway trucks. Feeding the Troops Ablution benches have been erected along the Grey Street boundary, and a hot and cold shower house for officers, officers and men is being erbeted. The sergeant’s mess and the men’s mess are located in the main stand dining room. The officers’ mess is in the stewards’ stand. A large gang of men was employed this mcr-rng on cleaning the mess rooms and kitchens. Cooks, who have received two or three weeks’ training at Hopu Hopu, will provide the mess for the camp. Meat, bread and milk will arrive fresh every day from Hamilton suppliers. Other provisions will come from Government stores, many cases of which have already arrived at Claudelands. The cooks appear to be very efficient, for a batch of scones baked this morning as the first product of the ovens augured well for a first-class mess. Visiting Days The Regimental Aid Post and the medical orderly are located in the main stand building also. The racecourse main bar has been converted into a recreational room. A piano is available and table tennis, writing and reading facilities will be provided. Magazines donated by the public would be appreciated. The administration block Is situated in the stewards’ stand, where the officers’ ante-room is located. A canteen is being provided at the camp, but it will not be wet.

Tomorrow morning the military training will commence at 8.15 a.m. It will be carried out in thyee-quarter-hour periods with fiveminute breaks. Physical training will be given to the troops every day. The battery is encamped under Captain F. M. Yendell, of Hamilton, officer commanding the 7th Medium Battery. Lieutenant D. P. Dumbleton, N.Z.S.C., is camp adjutant.

leave will be granted to the troops as occasion permits and arrangements are being made for visiting days. Details will be announced later.