100 years ago — from our archives
ON Wednesday (writes our Balclutha correspondent) the men of the 14th South Otago Infantry Regiment went into quarters on the Show Ground (Balclutha) to undergo their annual training in camp. The camp had been carefully laid out prior to their arrival under the supervision of Captain A. C. C. Stevens, group commander, adjutant of the regiment, assisted by his staff, including Lieutenants C. Hamilton (Milton), assistant adjutant, and Q.M.S. Stechman (Milton). The parade state showed the creditable muster of 346 men, made up as follows: Officers 17, other ranks 329.
The normal strength of the regiment is 617, but owing to various causes, chiefly that of shortage of labour, a great number of men have been excused from attendance at this camp, provided they attend elsewhere to complete their annual training. The claim of the officers that the camp is a model one appears to be thoroughly justified. One or two features are worthy of special mention, such as the water supply, pumped direct from the river by an ingenious pipe arrangement; the hot water tank to give mess orderlies a constant supply of hot water; the soakage pit with a sieve on top to sift wet refuse from dry; and the incinerator alongside built out of kerosene tins filled with earth to burn all camp refuse.
The practical patriotism of the man of the broad acres is not one whit less than his proverbial openhearted hospitality. A typical instance of the neighbourliness and goodwill of the tillers of the soil towards one of their number proceeding on active service was outlined by the secretary at a meeting of the expert advisers to the National Efficiency Board last evening, when he stated that, in the case of an Awamoko farmer called up, the residents of the district, so as to facilitate his entry into camp, undertook to plough his land and permit of sowing operations before his departure. The speaker stated that no fewer than 12 teams were engaged on the land.
A correspondent writes to the New Zealand Herald as follows: ‘‘A few days ago I visited my son’s section at Riverhead — he is at Hornchurch, having been wounded in the Somme battle — and as a description of what I saw there may be instructive to recruits leaving New Zealand, I send you some details. I must first of all say, however, that he left without making any special provision for having his section looked after, merely closing the gate behind him.
‘‘The first thing I noticed was that the gate was wide open. Next I found that the wires — barb and plain — had been taken off and away from about 10 chains of the boundary fence. Then the whare — it was only a poor little shack — where he was going to live the life of a pioneer, was completely dismantled, and the material carried away. Even the few tools and pots and pans had been taken, making a clean sweep. Now I think the above conveys a lesson that even he who runs may read, and hope it may be taken to heart by those about to leave in future Expeditionary Forces.’’
Twenty New Zealanders who joined the British Motor Patrol Service arrived in England about the end of January, and at once entered on their preliminary training at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. After a month’s training at this college they proceed to Southampton for another month’s training, after which they enter upon active service in the British Navy.— ODT, 30.3.1917.