Last minute training for Bosnia troops

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 12, Issue 538, 6 September 1994, Page 4

Last minute training for Bosnia troops

By

Michele

Monaghan

The remaining members of Kilo Company bound for Bosnia descended on Waiouru in force last week. Along with last minute training came the official pomp and ceremony with

several dignitaries visiting the training area during the week to wish the soldiers well. Defence minister Warren Cooper visited the troops, as did DepUty Prime Minister Don McKinnon

along with hisfatherMajor General W alter McKinnon, who was Chief of General Staff when New Zealand sent troops to Vietnam. On Father's Day a 100man guard paraded for the Governor General, Dame Cath Tizard, in Linton. After the guard a luncheon was held and Dame Cath spoke to the soldiers soon leaving for Bosnia. Among the advice she gave them, she told them to "keep their bloody heads down." An advance party of about 50 men has already left New Zealand. About half of these men are at the United Nations transit camp in Dole, Croatia, and are helping the British to maintain some of their armoured vehicles. The other half are

getting on with the business of setting up for the bulk of the contingent to arrive. New Zealand engineers are helping to construct a camp at Santici about 50 kilometres north west of Sarajevo, where Kilo Company will stay on their arrival, in the

former Yugoslavia. Remaining members of the 250-strong company are due to fly out of New Zealand around 12 September. About 60 soldiers from Waiouru make up the 250strong contingent that is expected to return to New Zealand in March.