N.Z. ARMY TANK BRIGADE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23446, 29 September 1941, Page 6

N.Z. ARMY TANK BRIGADE

♦ SELECTING MEN FOR CREWS MOBILISATION PLANNED NEXT MONTH The mobilisation of men for New Zealand's first Army Tank Brigade will take place about the middle of next month, and it is expected they will be trained at the recently established Armoured Fighting Vehicle School at Waiouru. A number of officei's and non-commissioned officers have gone to Waiouru to undertake a special course in preparation for instructing other ranks. As with all Expeditionary Force mobilisations, each of the three military districts will be required to supply a proportion of the men. The total mobilisation will probably be about 3000. Many of the men will be technicians and others with specialised mechanical and engineering knowledge which can readily be adapted to the driving and maintenance of tanks. In addition there will be recruits without expert knowledge for training as members of crews and for various other tasks. Big men will not be suitable for manning the tanks, and such heights as Oft or over will probably cause some men to be passed oyer when they are called up. A height limit of sft lOin was imposed when officers and non-commissioned officers were chosen, but the needs of the brigade will not allow this restriction to be continued for technicians and others. ____________