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Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21223, 20 September 1940, Page 4

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WAIKATO REGIMENT CAMP TO TRAIN AT CAMBRIDGE Itrr: SPECIAL REQUEST TO MEN When the Ist Battalion of the 16th Waikato Regiment mobilises on a war footing on October 1, the unit will go under canvas at Cambridge. The decision was reached yesterday, and today the Public Works Department commenced work on several alterations to the buildings at the Cambridge racecourse and other preparatory work necessary for the establishment of the camp. When the unit mobilises the camp will be the largest territorial training centre established in the Waikato since the outbreak of war. Following the mobilisation of the men chosen in the first military service ballot to be held next week, the unit will comprise about 800 officers, noncommissioned officers and men. In providing the racecourse free ot charge and by co-operating in other ways, the Cambridge Trotting Club has been most helpful to the Army authorities. Advance Party Men On September 25 or 26 an advance party comprising between 70 and 80 officers, non-commissioned officers, and men will encamp to make preparations for the general mobilisation of the unit. This advance party will comprise five officeis, the regimental quartermaster-sergeant, five company quartermaster - sergeants, five sergeants, five corporals and 56 men. In respect of the 56 men required for the advance party a special request has been made by the Army authorities. These men will be required from Hamilton, Cambridge and Te Awamutu. So that there will be a minimum of inconvenience to employees, the Army Department has requested that any members of the unit whose employers can arrange to free them from next Wednesday, instead of the end of the month, should communicate personally or by telephone immediately with Captain F. B. McWhannell, M.C., adjutant of the regiment, at the Army Office, Hamilton. The unit will take over all the buildings at the Cambridge racecourse for offices, mess rooms, and so forth, and several alterations are necessary to suit the area for the running of the camp. TIMES FIXED MOBILISATION ORDERS FOURTH REINFORCEMENTS Plans have been announced for the mobilisation in the No. 4 (Hamilton) area of the men for the Fourth Reinforcements of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who will encamp during the first week of October. The arrangements extend from October 1 until October 3. Men who have been chosen to train at Burnham camp will assemble at the Drill Hall, Hamilton, on the night of October 1 at 7.30 p.m. They will leave Frankton by train for the south in the early hours of the morning of October 2. Trentham trainees will parade at the Drill Hall at 7.30 p.m. on October 2 and will leave by train shortly afterward for the south. Drafts going to Papakura and Hopu Hopu will parade on October 3 at the Drill Hall at 10.30 a.m. and will leave by train later from Hamilton. The trains for the southern camps will be specials conveying men from the Northern Military District. Men in the south of the No. 4 (Hamilton) area will join the train down the line, but Te Awamutu troops have been instructed to come by train to Frankton Junction to join the military train. More than 600 men will be mobilised in the No. 4 area for the Fourth Reinforcements, the draft being the largest yet called up. Of these 330 will train at Papakura, 78 at Hopu Hopu, 130 at Trentham and 75 at Burnham.