N.Z. FORCES IN KOREA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27638, 20 April 1955, Page 15

N.Z. FORCES IN KOREA

Incidents Of Service Recalled

ADDRESS BY BRIGADIER J. T. BURROWS

Incidents ranging from the peace talks at Panmunjon to Rugby games in Japan were described last evening by Brigadier J. T. Burrows, formerly commander of K Force, in a talk to the Tin Hat Club of the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association.

Brigadier Burrows was introduced by Mr C. H. Upham, V.C. and bar. Mr Upham was in the 20th Battalion at the same time as Brigadier Burrows, who was a captain when he joined the unit.

Mr Upham paid a warm tribute to Brigadier Burrows’s qualities as a soldier. Brigadier Burrows’s nickname in the battalion had been “Gentleman Jim,” he recalled. “It’s one thing to be responsible for soldiers in time of war and another thing to be responsible for them in times of peace,” said Brigadier Burrows, admitting that when he was appointed to the command of K Force, he was not sure whether to be pleased or not. He found that New Zealanders were no worse than soldiers'of other nations, “and, better than some I could mention” in this unaccustomed situation.

Bearing in mind that “idle hands make mischief” and also that the truce negotiations might not lead to a settlement, he had kept his men in constant training, said Brigadier Burrows. It would take a wiser man, or a bolder man, than he was to venture a prediction on the eventual outcome of the situation in Korea, said Brigadier Burrows. From what he had learnt in Korea, though, it was obvious that the South Korean was a tough fighter, and there was still a United Nations force—if only a token one—in Korea. It had been interesting to him to meet, at Panmunjong, Indians who had served in the Western Desert, said Brigadier Burrows. They were very careful in what they said, for they were there as members of the United Nations Repatriation Committee. A strange rivalry sprang up in Panmunjon while negotiations between the Communist and United Nations representatives were in progress, he said. One day, one of the United Nations nissen huts would have received a new coat of bright green paint. The next day one of the Communist huts opposite would have a better, brighter shade of colour.