Gunners Keen To Fight

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30763, 29 May 1965, Page 1

Gunners Keen To Fight

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 28. Gunners have welcomed the official announcement by the Chief of the General Staff (Major-General W. S. McKinnon) of the posting to Vietnam of a detachment from the 16th Field Regiment, Papakura.

The names of those selected had not been released by 5 p.m. The only firm posting received is that of the battery commander, Major D. R. Kenning, of Waiouru, who will rejoin the unit on Sunday. Throughout the day, the regiment’s headquarters at Papakura prepared for a week-end camp for territorials, and the gunners’ day celebrations on Sunday. Outside training and maintenance work on guns and vehicles continued.

Major-General McKinnon will confer with senior officers of the unit at Papakura on Sunday morning. Afterwards, he will speak informally to the rest of the troops. The unit commander, Lieu-tenant-Colonel R. G. Grierson, said the news of the posting had been long awaited. “It is the best thing which

has happened to New Zealand gunners for a long time and the chaps are just itching to have a go,” he said. It was extremely hard for an army unit to reach and maintain peak efficiency unless it had a task. “Now we have a job to do and I know the men will acquit themselves well. After all, they have enlisted to be soldiers and wandering around Papakura camp for years and years is not going to do them much good,” Colonel Grierson said.

He said he hoped arrangements would be made to allow territorial gunners to serve short tours overseas.

“A six months’ posting

would be of immense value for those who cannot get away from their regular employment for longer periods,” he said. “This would be worked on a voluntary basis only.”