Soldiers 9 Preparations

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30680, 20 February 1965, Page 1

Soldiers 9 Preparations

(N.Z. Press Association) , AUCKLAND, Feb. 19.

Several soldiers attached to the First Ranger Squadron of the Special Air Service spent today making out their wills.

As the S.A.S. detachment is standing by at Papakura Military Camp, awaiting orders to leave for Borneo, its 40 members are using their spare time to arrange their personal affairs.

Writing a will is a normal and essential part of this.

Since 30 members of the squadron arrived back from parachute training in Australia last week-end they have undergone a rigorous jungle training course at Ardmore. The men spent some of this afternoon Sprucing up their gear for an inspection by the Chief of the General Staff, Major-General L. W. Thornton tomorrow. This afternoon the commander of the squadron. Major W. Meldrum. outlined what he and his men would be doing in Borneo. As well as deep jungle pat-

rolling near the Borneo-Sara-wak border, he said, his men would give medical assistance to the Borneo tribes. “A few men from the squadron have been working off and on in the casualty department of Auckland Hospital, to get experience for this sort of medical assistance,” said Major Meldrum.

“The public idea of a guntoting soldier does not apply

in South-east Asia. In the past I have found it possible to swing the attitudes of Communist-influenced tribes merely by being nice guys. “The soldier now finds himself in the position of fighter and diplomat. We can now play the Communist at his own game by winning the hearts and minds of local people and so get their good will and assistance.”