TANK COMMANDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24133, 27 November 1941, Page 8

TANK COMMANDER

BRIGADIER'S RETURN MIDDLE EAST EQUIPMENT HIGH MORALE OF TROOPS To take command of the Army Tank Brigade, Brigadier G. B. Parkinson has returned to New Zealand from the Middle East. He brought cheering news of the spirit of the troops and of the conditions under which the present campaign is being fought. Commenting on the offensive now in progress, Brigadier Parkinson said the production of aircraft Jind armoured fighting vehicles in Britain and America had been such that it had been possible to undertake this campaign under immeasurably better conditions than previously. While a large amount of equipment, particularly motor trans port, tanks and aircraft, had been reaching the Middle East from America, much had also arrived from Britain.

Since being appointed to his new post Brigadier Parkinson has been studying the latest developments in tank warfare and with that purpose has visited various British units in the Middle East. On his way from Egypt he spent some time at the armoured fighting vehicle school in India and observed the methods employed in raising new units. In Australia he was also able to discuss the methods being adopted and to examine questions similar to those met with in New Zealand in the creation of armoured fighting vehicle units. Brigadier Parkinson, who left with the First Echelon, commanded an artillery regiment until four months ago and served in the Greek campaign, leaving from the beaches east of Athens. Relinquishing command of his regiment, Brigadier Parkinson was appointed to command the training brigade for all arms at the base in Egypt and held that position until appointed to his new post. He will leave for Wellington to-day.