N.Z. Troops "Welcome' In U.K.

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 1

N.Z. Troops "Welcome' In U.K.

(■Special Crspdt. NZ.PAJ j LONDON, October 21. J “I have gathered I the impression that 1 English people on the whole are very pleased s to welcome our j soldiers in this new 1 role,” said Brigadier 1 C. L. Pleasants, senior 1 New Zealand Army liaison officer in Lon- ] don, discussing the , impending visit to the i United Kingdom of J troops for guard duty s in London. t “It is a role which, some ’ feel, presents a new side of t Commonwealth relations. t “On the other hand there have been one or two who s have asked why the New Zea- a landers are taking over these I guard duties, and whether itlii

is necessary. To these people I have replied: ‘She is our Queen as well, and we don’t get many such opportunities’.” The visit by the New Zealanders is arousing interest in Britain, and already at New Zealand House letters have been received offering private entertainment for the troops. Brigadier Pleasants expressed appreciation of the offers, but could not say whether the troops individually or collectively would have the time to avail themselves of such hospitality. “We expect that most of them will have some relatives in England they will want to see,” he said, “and we do not therefore, want to cover them too much at this stage.” The detachment of 150 soldiers is now expected to arrive by R.A.F. transport at Lyneham earlv on the morning of Saturday, October 31.

It will be met by Brigadier Pleasants and LieutenantColonel F. Rennie, of the New Zealand liaison staff, as well as by representatives of Southern Command. Sir Thomas Macdonald, the high commissioner, will meet the visiting troops at the Chelsea barracks on either November 10 or 11. No parades will be held. The gathering will be informal, for it is the High Commissioner’s desire to meet and chat with the soldiers. It is probable that he will see them rehearsing at Chelsea for their guard duty, which begins on November 12. Until the detachment moves to Woolwich on November 7 before entering Chelsea barracks, the troops will be working with the units to which they are attached—the gunners at the Lark Hill School of Artillery and the Armoured Corps with

the Royal Dragoons at Tidworth.

The former will get training on the 105 mm gun which has recently been introduced in New Zealand.