Honorary Colonel Takes Over

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 16

Honorary Colonel Takes Over

Brigadier T. B. Morten, a Banks Peninsula farmer and stock buyer, yesterday took over from Brigadier J. T. Burrows as honorary colonel of the 2nd Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

The battalion is the combination of the former Canterbury and Nelson-Marlborough-West Coast regiments. Brigadier Burrows, who has held the position since 1957, said yesterday that the honorary colonel was the only real bridge between the Army and the public. During his term the battalion had been granted the freedom of the cities of Christchurch, Timaru, and Nelson, and had had every cooperation from the civic authorities. “The cities would like the battalion to parade each year,’’ said Brigadier Burrows, “but it is not always possible to fit that in with the training programme- It is difficult to get all the Territorials together when they have to travel such long distances.” The duties of the honorary colonel are to foster esprit de corps throughout the battalion, ensure local interest in the battalion and liaison with the civil community and with allied corps or regiments in Commonwealth armies, and to

act as adviser to the battalion. Brigadier Morten joined the Canterbury Mounted Rifles in 1933, was commissioned the next year, and was posted to the 23rd Battalion at the outbreak of war.

1- He served in the Middle East as second-in-command of the 26th Battalion and then as e commander of the 25th Bat-

n talion. After the war he come manded the Ist Canterbury o Regiment, then the 3rd Brit- gade. He served as Territorial associate member of the Army

! Board for three years, and is ■ now on the retired list. ’ Brigadier Morten has been ’ awarded the C.8.E., the D. 5.0., ’ and the E.D. The photograph shows 1 Brigadier Burrows (left) ' and Brigadier Morten.