N.Z. FORCES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 220, 16 September 1940, Page 6

N.Z. FORCES.

IMPORTANT POST. i _________ • ' SIR ANDREW RUSSELL. MADE INSPECTOR-GENERAL. WELLINGTON, this day. . Major-General Sir Andrew Russell has been appointed Inspector-General to the N.Z. Military Forces. Other important changes which are under consideration will be announced in due course. "For some time past the Government has been giving careful consideration to * programme for expanding and strengthening the New Zealand Military Forces," eaid the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in making this announcement. "Seven officer* of the Army are busily engaged on the work of organising, equipping, administering and training the very much increased Territorial Army as well ae maintaining a regular flow of drafts of reinforcements for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force Overseas. The-taske involved are indeed heavy, and in order to assist in these, and relieve the pressure of work which devolves upon officers at Army Headquarters, and also at the. same time to utilise fully his experience and capabilities, the Government has decided to appoint Major-General Sir Andrew Russell as Inspector-General of the New Zealand Military Forces. Well-Knowb Figure. "Sir Andrew is well known to all New Zealanders, especially to all those who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during 1914-18. He was born in 1808 and educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. . After five years' service as a. lieutenant in the British Army, ho came, to New Zealand. His service in the New JZealand Military (Forces dates from February 5, 1900, when he was appointed captain of the Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles Regiment. In 1908 he was promoted to major, and in 1910 was promoted to the rank of lieutenantcolonel, appointed to command that unit on the formation of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Brigade. In March, 1911, he was appointed its commander and promoted to the rank of colonel. A year later he proceeded to England for six months. During that time he was attached to a British Army- unit for training, and attended the* manoeuvres held in August and September, 1912.

"When the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was formed, then Colonel Russell, was selected to command, with the rank of temporary brigadier-general, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade which proceeded to Egypt with the Main Body. He remained in command throughout the operations in Egypt and GallipoK. For his services he was created K.C.M.G., and also promoted to the rank of majorGeneral in 1915. The constitution of the New Zealand Division followed in March, 1915, and Major-General Russell was selected to command it. He rapidly established a reputation ae a resourceful and highly efficient divisional commander. He remained in command of the Xew Zealand Division throughout the operations in France, Belgium, and during the period spent in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. Army Decorations. "In 1917, Sir Andrew was awarded the C.8., and in 1918 his services again received recognition by h» being created K.C.B. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honour, Ooix de Offkier, and Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Order of Leopold, the Serbian Order of the White Eajrle Ist Class, and the Montenegrin Order of Danilo. He was mentioned in French Army order*, and nine times was mentioned in Britiah dispatches.

"On bis return to New Zealand in June, 1919, he was placed in the reserve of officers class 1 (A), and resumed his former occupation of sheep farming, but hie interest in his old comrades of the Great War did not diminish, as he undertook the presidencv of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association in 1921, which office he held until 19<>4 and again from 1927 until 1935. ' "Although placed on the retired list in 1932," concluded the Minister, "Sir Andrew has always maintained the keenest interest in military affairs, particularly in the Wellington Beviannt