IN KHAKI AGAIN

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21280, 26 November 1940, Page 4

IN KHAKI AGAIN

OLD SOLDIERS TRAIN NATIONAL MILITARY RESERVE WEEK-END AT RUAKURA FARM The efficiency of the 6th (Hamilton) Company of the National Military Reserve was demonstrated during the week-end when the unit its first full week-end camp - i RuakUi u vary c’-e 1".-., men were fully uniformed for the first time, and throughout the manouevres they demonstrated that the thorough drilling at evening parades since the company was formed more than a year ago has brought the ex-service-men up to an efficient standard. The importance of the National Military Reserve as a fully mobilised unit in Hamilton cannot be overestimated. The keenness of the men and the efficient training they have been engaged upon since the unit was formed have created one of the most valuable defence units in the Dominion. All old soldiers, the reservists would be well-prepared for any emergency. Putting Back The Clock To see the uniformed men dodging in and out of cover and drilling at Ruakura during the week-end was to gain the impression that these old soldiers had turned back the clock a decade or so. to be once again very active troops of lirst-class calibre. Everyone of them has contributed in the past to the creation of the wonderful name earned by New Zealand troops. During the past year the members of the company have spent many hours on weapon drill, the men doing, as far as possible work on weapons with which they were associated in the last war. This has brought the standards of the company to a higher pitch than the majority of reserves in the Dominion, and now the week-end tactical exercises are extending their modem military knowledge. The camp this week-end concentrated on field exercises and weapons were not used. W.V.A.C. In Action Six officers and 104 men of the company left Hamilton on Saturday afternoon for the unit’s barracks, which have been made available to them at the Ruakura Farm. The entire week-end was spent in the area, the men sleeping at the barracks and messing in the dining room attached, Members of the Women's Auxiliary Volunteer Corps assisted in the catering, which was greatly appreciated by the men. On Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday and Monday the company was engaged upon tactical training and field craft. Every assistance was given by the farm authorities. At 2.30 p.m. yesterday the company left Ruakura to return to the Drill Hall, Hamilton, where they were dismissed. This, to the majority of the troops, was the most regrettable stage of the week-end. 1 On Hands and Knees The efficiency of the reserve was demonstrated during the field craft training as the men recalled the knowledge learned during the last war. Actively they crawled through undergrowth, dashed across the open fields to cover of trees, bush, and hedge-rows lo take up imaginary positions for machine-gun posts or to prepare for another advance of infantry troops. Although the reserve has had very limited training in this work recently, the fact that the men had the experience of active campaigning a generation ago ranidlv developed an efficiency which was pleasing to the officers. During the week-end training the company was directed by its commanding officer, Major L. E. Haines, D.S.O.