TANK COMMANDER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1941, Page 4

TANK COMMANDER

BROUGHT BACK FROM MIDDLE EAST COMMENT ON THE LIBYAN OFFENSIVE. ' I NEWS OF NEW ZEALAND DIVISION. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 26. To take command of the new Army Tank Brigade, Brigadier G. B. Parkinson has returned to New Zealand from the Middle East. Brigadier Parkinson brought cheering news of the spirit of the troops and of the conditions under which the present campaign is being fought. Commenting on the offensive now in progress, Brigadier Parkinson said the production of aircraft and armoured fighting vehicles in Britain and America had been such that it had been possible to undertake this campaign under immeasurably better conditions than previously. While a large amount of equipmenjt, particulary] jmotor transport, tanks and aircraft, had been reaching the Middle East from America, much had also arrived from Britain.

Just before leaving for the Dominion Brigadier Parkinson visited the New Zealand Division and found that the men were looking forward with eagerness to the battle which had now been joined. The liaison, co-operation and fellowship with the other units which were to take part in the offensive were most thorough and very cordial. Since being appointed to his new post Brigadier Parkinson has been studying the latest developments in tank warfare, and with that purpose has visited various British units in the Middle Easf on his way from Egypt. He spent some time at an armoured fighting vehicle school in India and observed the methods employed in raising new units in Australia. He was also able to discuss the methods being! adopted and to examine questions simi- i lar to those met with in New Zealand in the creation of armoured fightingvehicle units.

Brigadier Parkinson, who left with the First Echelon, commanded an artillery regiment till four months ago, and served in the Greek campaign, leaving from the beaches east of Athens. The campaign, he said, had confirmed his opinions of the excellence of modern field artillery weapons. It had also confirmed that the more or less drastic alterations in organisation made just before the war were thoroughly justified.

Relinquishing the command of his regiment, Brigadier Parkinson was appointed to command a training brigade for all arms at a base in Egypt, and held that position till appointed to his new post. He will leave foi’ Wellington tomorrow.