N.Z. Man To Head British Signal Corps

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 22

N.Z. Man To Head British Signal Corps

The next Signal Officer in Chief of the British Army will be a New Zealander, Brigadier J. E. Anderson, a former Director of Signals of the New Zealand Army. Brigadier Anderson was born in Christchurch and educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School. After 13 years with the British Army he came to New Zealand on loan for two years in 1950 as the Director of Signals Of the New Zealand Army. When his appointment ended in 1952 he returned to Britain and later served in Germany. During World War II Brigadier Anderson spent six years in the Middle East with the 7th Armoured Division.

The retiring Signal Officer in Chief, Major-General P. E. M. Bradley, arrived in Christchurch from Australia yesterday. In the next six days he will visit various New Zealand Army establishments. General Bradley said there was a close liaison and affiliation between the Army signals corps in Britain and New Zealand. Asked about the New Zealand Army Signals Corps converting to American communications equipment at the expense of British, General Bradley said this was a matter for the New Zealand Army to decide. Colonel S. W. Brackenbury, the Director of Signals of the

New Zealand Army, who met General Bradley, said there had been a swing to American equipment and Vietnam had to some measure influenced tills.

“There has to be some standardisation in communications. Australia has already followed the Americans, and it seems only natural that we will do likewise if we are to fit into the over-all system,” he said.

General Bradley is on a tour of Army signal units within his command in the Far East Land Force headquarters, Singapore, and in Australia. He will return to Britain after his New Zealand visit