N.Z. GUNNERS IN KOREA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27151, 22 September 1953, Page 11

N.Z. GUNNERS IN KOREA

Work Since Signing Of Truce

(N.Z. Army Information Service) KOREA, September 19. For eight weeks the 16th New Zealand Field Regiment has sweated and toiled preparing new gun positions behind the demilitarised zone. Much remains to be done but the back of the work has now been broken.

“Our. first big task was to clear our gun positions and observation posts in the demilitarised zone,” said the commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Burns (Wellington). “This had to be completed by September 13 and every piece of equipment that could be salvaged had to be brought back. We are still salvaging from former positions behind the demilitarised zone, but we have completed the rest of the work.

“Second priority was given to the preparation of our new defence positions. That work is still going on.” The new area was virgin country when the regiment first moved into it, Colonel Burns said. Before thp move was started, roads had to be made, drains dug and living areas levelled. As the various tasks were completed more time could be spent improving the regimental area. “These vital tasks have meant that everyone has had to work long, arduous hours,” he continued. “It is practically all hard manual work but most necessary. After all, the fact that the truce has been signed does not mean that the war is ended and we must be prepared for whatever the future holds.”