TANK COMMANDER

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 101, 5 December 1941, Page 3

TANK COMMANDER

Brigadier Returns From A Middle East NEWS OF N.Z. TROOPS

AUCKLAND. November 26.

To take command of the new Army Tank Brigade, Brigadier G B. Parkinson has returned to New Zealand from the Middle East Brigadier Parkinson brought cheering news of the spirit of the troops

and of the conditions tinder which the present campaign is being fought.

■Commenting on the offensive now m progress, Brigadier Parkinson said th? production of aircraft and armoured fighting vehicles in Britain and America had been such that ii had been possible to undertake this campaign under immeasurably better conditions than previously. While a large amount of equipment, particularly motor transport, tanks and aircraft, had been reaching the -Middle East from America, much had- also arrived from Britain.

•Inst before leaving for the Dominion Brigadier Parkinson visited the New Zealand Division and found that th? men were looking forward with eager ness to the battle which had now bee.i joined. The liaison, co-operation and fellowship with the other units which were to take, part in the offensive were most thorough and very cordial.

New Methods Studied.

Since being appointed to his new post Brigadier Parkinson has been studying the latest developments in tank warfare, -and with that purpose has visite 1 various British units in the Middl" East on his way from Egypt. He spent some time at an armoured fight ing 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 simi tar 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 till four months ago, and served in the Greek campaign, leaving from the beaches cast of Athens. The campaign, he said, had confirmed his opinions of the excellence of modern field artillery weapons It had also confirmed that the more or less drastic alterations in organization made just before the war were thoroughly justified.

Relinquishing the command of his regiment, Brigadier Parkinson was appointed to command a training brigade for all arms at a base in Egypt, and held that position till appointed to his new post. He will leave for Wellington tomorrow.