The weather has certainly not treated the §.V.C. Infantry well on the occasion of their Whitsuntide camp. Saturday was o beautiful day, and the Infantry mustered in small numbers in the Municipal Compound previous to marching down to their camp at the new Rifle Range. The German Company were there in strong force, but the "A", "B", Customs, Mounted Infantry, and Signallers were not well represented. However, many journeyed down to the camp in the cool of the evening after the day's sports were over.
On Saturday night rain commenced to fall and fell continually during the night and on Sunday, so that our defenders had not a very enviable experience. The troops are housed in matsheds close to the Rifle Butts station and the matsheds appear to be fairly waterproof. There are just over eighty mon in camp, and everything is being carried out in a very businesslike manner. Several of the men braved the elements on Sunday and had rifle practice at the shorter ranges, but owing to the unfayourable conditions the marksmanship was not particularly brilliant. Service was held at the camp on Sunday morning, at which the Rev. A. J. Walker, M.A., chaplain to the Corps, delivered a stirring address.
The officers present in camp wore:—Major Keswick, in command of the Infantry; Capts. Collyer (Adjutant), Wade (Customs Ca.), Trueman ("B" Ca.) and Sanders (Maxim Ca.); Lieuts. Fleming, Hudson and Pilcher (""A" Ca.), Innocent (Customs o,), Ridder' (German Ca.), and Surgeon Lieut. Hanwell; with Colour-sergeant Studd. Major Watson (Commandant) and Major Wedemeyer (Staff Utticer) visited the camp on Sunday for Church Parade and inspection.
In addition to the above-mentioned officers the Companies in camp were represented on Saturday night as follows "A" Company—l sergeant, 2 corporals, 2 lancecorporals, and 20 privates, oF 25 in "B" Company—1 colour-sergeant,
or 10 in all.
Japanese Company—2 privates.
German Company—2 corporals and 16 privates, or 18 in all.
igualling Company—4.
There were thus 72 officers and men in Camp on Saturday night, the Customs Company not arriving until next morning.
At Church Parade on Sunday morning these numbers were considerably increased, "A" Company being reprosented by 28 officers and men, " B" Company 11, Customs Company 13, German Company 19, Mounted Infantry 7, Signallers 5, Japanese 2, Maxim Company J officer, Bugler 1, and Staff 7, making a total of 94.
The Town Band was present at the service in full force and furnished the music for the hymns. _As previously stated, the Rev. A.J. Walker, B.A., delivered an excellent address, which was heartily appreciated by those of all During Sunday and Monday strict camp routine was enforced and adhered to, Reveille sounded at 5.30 am., and during both days there were musketry parades, class firing, company drill, route marching, guard mounting, and fatigue duty. The tattoo was sounded at 9.30 p-m., the last post at 10 p.m., and lights out at 10.15 p.m, In the class firing some of the recruits made excellent practice.
On Monday night an enjoyable smoking concert was held, Capt. Collyer presiding, and Colour-sergeant Pearson acting as Vice-chairman. Corporal Woodward opened the ball with a pianoforte solo, and songs were rendered by Colour-sergeant Pearson, Private Whittick, and of The German Company contributed some glees which were much enjoyed, and proceedings were further enlivened by selections on the gramophone. Several toasts were proposed and responded to, including that of the German Company, and a very enjoyable entertainment came to a close at 11.30 p.m., with the singing of "God Save the King," in which our German friends heartily joined.
On Tuesday morning camp was struck, all leaving camp by seven o'clock.
Four} oticers and 26 rank and file took part. in the march back to the Settlement, which was headed by the Town Band. The Mounted Infantry brought up the rear in charge of the baggage. The letter Company promises to be a very smart addition to the Corps.
We re et to hear that one of the men] met with an injury on Sunday while in-bulging in a game of leap frog. He was laid out for the time being and had to be put in charge of the doctor,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.