Obituary: Ian Burrows

Ian Burrows

Brigadier Ian Burrows, OBE, MC. Died aged 75.

Ian Hamilton Burrows was awarded a Military Cross for bravery during his time with the New Zealand Special Air Service in Malaya from 1955 to 1957.

But had the young soldier thought a little longer about his career when he left school, he might well have taken up portrait painting instead.

Burrows (nicknamed Buzz for his short, fuzzy hair) joined the army in 1950 and spent the next four years at the Royal Military College of Duntroon in Canberra. He was following something af a family tradition.

His father, "Gentleman Jim" Burrows, was a former All Black and a highly regarded soldier during battles in Crete and at Monte Cassino in Italy during World War II. He too reached the rank of brigadier. Later he was rector of Waitaki Boys High School, where Ian Burrows was educated.

The younger Burrows was awarded the Malayan Conspicuous Gallantry Medal for his efforts during that conflict. On his return home, he married Judy Jenkinson and the couple had three children by the time he was sent off to fight in the jungles of Borneo for two years. When Burrows retired after 32 years in the regular army, he had served variously as commander of NZ Army Land Forces, commander of NZ Forces in Southeast Asia, and commandant of the Army Schools in Waiouru.

Retirement brought the chance to devote time to painting, and Burrows acquired the skills he needed at the Auckland Society of Arts.

He remained involved in the community, however, joining the board of the Outward Bound Trust, and serving as president for a time.

He was also chairman of the Rothmans Foundation, which sponsored sports such as soccer, cricket, athletics and softball in New Zealand.

Brigadier Burrows was awarded an OBE in 1979. He is survived by his wife Judy, daughters Joanna and Wendy, sons Jamie (also a former member of the SAS) and Tony, and their families.