LT.-COL. ANDREW, V.C., TO GO TO ENGLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 27 December 1946, Page 4

LT.-COL. ANDREW, V.C., TO GO TO ENGLAND

■Press Association

Bv Telearavh—

WELLINGTON, Dec. 26.. Lieutenant-Colone'l L. W. Andrew,Y.C., D.B.Q., New Zealand Staff Corps, is to attend the 19^7 course. at the Imperial Defence College, England, as part of the GoA-ernment's posttraf policy of furthering the education of senior ofiicers. Brigadier C. E. Weir, C.B., C.B(E., •D.S.O., now in the, United Kingdom, \VaiS to attend' the course, but the Minister of Defence (Mr. .Jones) said today that unfortunately it had been neeessary for Brigadiei; Weir to go into hospital. As he woulS iiot • be fft for dnty for' some months, the Government had decided to substitute LieutenanfGolonel Andrew for liixn. Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew was born in Ashhurst in 1897 and enlisted in the Army in 1'915. At La Basseville in J'uly, 1917, while a corporal in charge of a smali party he won the V.C. by attaclcing and capturing two enemy machinegun posts. The citation to the award stated that he showed great skili and determination and that his eonduct throughout was unexampled for cool daring, initiative and line lead'ership.

Commissioned in 1918, he served for a sliort time in England before returiting in 1919 to New Zealand, where he joined the Staff Corps. Erom 1927 to .1929 he was attached' to the British Army in Jndia, serving with the Highland Light Infantry. in .1937 he went to England with the Coronation Contingent. Shortly after the outbreak of war he was appointed to the commarid of the 22nd (Wellington) Battalion and sailed with the Second Eehelon in eommand of that unit, serving until 1942 in the Middle East, where he was awarded tlie D.S.O. and mcntioned in dispatches. The need for experienced officers at home led to his being returned to New Zealand in this 3rear and placod in comruand of the Wellington fortress area, which position he held until the fortress area became merged in area 5 in 1943, when he took command of that area. In 1945, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Andrew was appointed hunorary A.D.C. to the GovernorGeneral, and last year aecompanied the Victory Contingent to England.