COMMONWEALTH DIVISION

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26970, 20 February 1953, Page 9

COMMONWEALTH DIVISION

“Best Unit British Army Has Known”

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, February 19. “The Commonwealth Division in Korea is perhaps the greatest single fighting unit the British Army has known,’’ says a special correspondent of the “Daily Mail” reviewing the division’s achievements on its withdrawal from front-line service for the first time since its formation nearly two years ago. “The New Zealand gunners have no peer in Korea; the British National Service men have created a new tradition of service for the British Army; the Australian infantryman is still the world’s best fighting man; the Canadians, who number 6000, are dependable and resolute fighters; and the British Centurion tank is the best piece of armour in the Bth Army. “When the Commonwealth Division swings into action nationalities are forgotten a s they are, indeed, in the Bth Army. “The Union Jack flies high over the division’s headquarters, and pictures of the Queen are in every mess. “In high military quarters serious consideration has been given' to making the Commonwealth Division a permanent fixture. “Big obstacles would have-to be overcome such as upkeep costs and political questions. A different government in Canada or Australia, for instance, might think contrary to the government now in power, particularly regarding where the troops should serve. “So as a peace-time organisation there is not much hope for a Permanent Commonwealth Division, but in war time or in an emergency such as Korea or Malaya there could be several Commonwealth Divisions. The experiment has proved successful, and the idea works,’’ said the correspondent. “There is no better fighting division in Korea today.” This tribute was'paid to the British Commonwealth Division by the former Comrnander-in-Chief (LieutenantGeneral W. Bridgeford) on his arrival in Darwin last night. General Bridgeford, who has been commander of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces, has come home to retire. He said: “The United Nations set-up is something you have to work with to appreciate. It has never ceased to amaze me that there could be such close co-operation among 21 nations. The same applies to a lesser extent to units from the various Commonwealth countries in the British Division.”