The 30th Battery Busy Drilling

Published October 8, 1914
Aylmer Express Newspaper

The 30th Battery Canadian Field Artillery has been drilling two nights a week for nearly a month and has apparently made excellent progress. There is still room for a number of recruits. There seems to be a misunderstanding about enlistment. Let it be understood once and for all that the 30th Battery is a home defence unit, and no member of the Battery can be sent overseas unless he volunteers for his special service. The Battery with all other Militia units is for the defence of Canada only. The age limits are 18 to 60; but a few boys will be accepted to act as signallers, rangetakers, trumpeters, etc. The term of enlistment is for three years unless discharged or resignation is accepted before the term expires.

The Battery has been taught the elements of infantry drills and are now learning dismounted artillery drills without arms. As soon as rifles are issued rifle drill and shooting will be taught. Field artillerymen are expected to know foot drill, mounted drill, rifle shooting and gunnery and certain forms of field engineering. It is hoped that arrangements may be made so lectures, rifle shooting and physical drill and exercise may be undertaken during the winter months in a suitable building.

The Battery needs 28 drivers who will bring at least two horses each. The horses will be needed only for annual training or for field days. The pay for drivers is about $1 a day and for the horses $1.25 each with everything for men and horses found. This means that each driver will receive about $56 for himself and team for the sixteen days camp once a year. Most battery driers consider this ‘money found’ as the camps are held during the seasons when work is slack on the farms.. Most batteries have more men and horses offering than they can take to camp. The drivers who enlist now will be given the first chance. Mr William Warnock has the Service Roll and is authorized to take enrolments.