"THE SHINY SEVENTH".
Lt. Col. K.F. Mckay LEWIS, M.C. R.A. COMMANDING
7th Survey Regiment R.A.

I have been given the opportunity of writing an introductory article
to our magazine and, as it will not reoccur, I want to use it primarily
to welcome all ranks to my Regiment. You will notice that I say "my"
Regiment. I do so not only because King's Regulations state that "a
C.O. is responsible to the King for the maintenance of discipline,
efficiency and a proper system in the unit under his command", and not
only because I am very proud to command the 7th Survey Regiment. I call
it my Regiment because I had its interests very much at heart long
before it became a Regiment on paper.
I have then more at heart now that the Regiment is half-formed, and
those interests will become more and more absorbing as time goes on
and too complete Regiment, fully formed, trained, and equipped, mobil-
ises and goes into action.
From my own knowledge alone (though military history for ages can
point the same lesson) I know that the success or failure of a regiment
depends on its commander. I want all who read to realise this for, if
they fully appreciate its significance, I shall then feel that they will
readily give those things which cannot be "drummed into them" on the
barrack square, but which count most in the long run -- whole-hearted
*and intelligent co-operation towards making the 7th the best of all the
Survey Regiments in the Royal Artillery.
Now it is part of my job to get to know all I can about every single
soul in my Regiment. Its a tall order, but whilst I am filling it I
can, so I've been told, do my part by telling you something about
myself an so, as it were, make the introduction complete.

I am a Regular Officer of 23 years experience. I went to France in
1916 at the age of 19 and found myself in command of a battery, as an
acting captain, at the age of 21. I have twice been an aide-de-camp to
G.O.G's. and so have seen something of the Staff at work. I have been
seconded for two tours of duty under the Colonial Office. This was when
peace time regimental soldering became too monotonous for me-- so I
went off "tch**hacking" as it is called.
I did three years in North Kurdistan (Iraq) with the Levies at one
time, and another tour in Northern Nigeria (West Africa) with the Royal
West African Frontier Force. On these two tours I was, for the time

being, an infantry officer and had a company of natives. There was a
healthy lot of scrapping but not too much, and one lived a very free,
but NOT easy, life, with a fair amount of responsibility (something
like 100 square miles half-full of unrepentant savages to keep in
order).
I have done my tour in India (five years) and there I was lucky
enough to get the Survey Troop at the School of Artillery for 3 1/2 years
That was where I got "bitten" and realised for the first time both the
importance and the essential practicability of R.A. Survey. Here again
I was with natives, for some of whom I have a great liking.
The Survey Troop had only three British officers and the rest were
Indian Officers and other ranks. Of course, one had to know the lang-
uage pretty well, but the strain of putting across the meaning of
sidereal time and teaching the newly-joined the reasons for the in access
-ble base, or 0-45 computations, was sometimes pretty severe.
I left the Survey Troop on promotion to Major and was sent to Quetta,
in Baluchistan, to form a new Mountain Battery on Sikhs and Punjabi,
Mussalmans. Six months after formation we returned from our first
practise camp not having completely covered ourselves with Glory, but
having many more successful than unsuccessful shoots to our credit
and I went on leave.
Whilst at home I was offered the command of the Training Battalion
of the Military College of Science. I took it, thus getting out of my
sixth year in India. As I am married and have a family the question of
separation from them somewhat swayed my decision.
On the outbreak of war, we moved to Lydd where I spent my time
striving, to make a half-finished hutted camp into a liveable and com-
fortable place for 1200 permanent establishment and 800 on courses.
In January 1939 I was called to the School of Artillery at Larkhill
to become "I. G. Survey". In April I went to the newly-formed R.A. School
of Survey as Chief Instructor, and later became Assistant Commandant.
Now I have the "Shiny Seventh". I call my Regiment the "Shiny Seventh"
because I want it to shine in every way. Military History proves that
the best regiments at their job--which is fighting-- have always been
the smartest. You can all help to make this Regiment the best at its
job, in both peace and war conditions, by taking the following truths
to heart:-
Shiny buttons and boots show a man's persona pride and smartness.
Clean, well-cared-for vehicles and technical equipment betoken mental
appreciation of their value and their readiness for war. A clean body
(inside as well as outside) denotes a fit man. Dulled brains and minds
are of no use --but the mind that is shiny and polished by use---
brilliant, in fact, is best for any task.
I hope you will all use my regimental nickname, for if you do,
you must then, for regimental pride's sake, act always on the lines I
have given above.
I would like, in conclusion, to point out that though I am essent-
ially a Field Gunner of the old 18-pr, school, by both choice and
training I have spent long enough in R.A. Survey to really know it and
study it as a practical Gunner. That study and experience has con-
vinced me that a Survey Regiment properly handled in war is an indis-
pensable part of that "finding out" and then "knocking out" of the
enemy artillery which is the job of the field, medium and heavy guns
of the Royal Regiment of Artillery.