DESERT REVIEW

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21534, 24 September 1941, Page 6

DESERT REVIEW

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS GENERAL FREYBERG SALUTED PRECISION SHOWN BY MEN (N.Z.E.F. omclal News Service) CAIRO, August 30 Carrying on with their desert training after being engaged on special duties for some time, an infantry brigade which left New Zealand a year ago almost to the day displayed a high degree of precision and steadiness before Major-General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., when he reviewed them in their desert camp this week. Impressiveness was added to the parade by the presence of the brigade transport, which was inspected after the march past of the troops and in its turn rolled past the general at the saluting base. In the slanting rays of the morning sun, while the day was yet cool, the infantry battalions marched on to their positions on the desert parade ground, behind them the lines of motor-cycles, bren carriers and light and heavy trucks. The alignment of the vehicles was as meticulous as the dressing of the soldiers, and at the wheel of each truck sat a bronzed New Zealand driver. Physical Fitness Much has been written of the high standard of physical fitness of members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., and this brigade was no exception. The men wore sun helmets, khaki shirts with sleeves rolled above tanned forearms, and khaki shorts. Their drill movements showed a fine precision and the steadiness was excellent as the general, accompanied by the commander of the brigade, passed along the ranks while the brigade band played a slow march. After the inspection General Freyberg told the men that had watched with interest their training. He had never had any doubts as to the solidarity of the basic material of the brigade. Mentioning that he had not had the opportunity to speak to this brigade before it left for Greece, he congratulated them on the part they had played in that campaign. They had fought much of the rearguard action, and had been the last brigade to embark from the beaches. The general wished the men to know that their actions had been entirely appreciated. He went on to congratulate the men on their turnout on this parade. Impressive March Past The general then moved to the saluting base, where he took the salute as the troops marched past—a South Island battalion, a Wellington battalion and an Auckland battalion. Sturdy brown knees swung by while the band played from the top of an escarpment behind the saluting base. Then followed the inspection of the transport. As he moved along the lines of vehicles General Freyberg stopped here and there to chat with a motor-cyclist or member of a bren-carrier crew, asking the men’s opinions on the desert-worthiness of different types of vehicles.

Back on the saluting base he took a salute from each vehicle as it rolled past. Motor-cycles roared by followed by a long line of brencarriers, the tracks clattering on the roadway. Then came the trucks, impressive by their numbers and the even spacing they kept in line. The brigade commander could not but be proud of the morning’s display given by his men. They are at present engaged in strenuous desert training, including much night marching and large-scale attack manoeuvres.