New D.C.G.S. Has Meteoric Army Career

Chronicle (Levin), 1 April 1948, Page 4

New D.C.G.S. Has Meteoric Army Career

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, April 1. The Minister qf Oefence, Mr. Jones, lias approved the appoint- j ment-of Cqlonel Leonard Whitmore { Thornton, N.Z.A.-, O.B.E., to the- "A position of Deputy Chief aof t X M General Staff. He succeeds Colonel ^ J, I. Broqke, whp becomes directpr ; of cadets and rifle clubs. Colonel Thornton's rise to ! prominenee in the Army has been meteoric, and at the age of 31 he is*. j probably the youngest D.C.G.S. the lfistqry Qf the New * gealana|i« Army. " 1 He was with the Fourth and l Fifth Fiptd Regiments of the Sep- I qpd N.Z.E.F. during the war, se,ry- 1 ing in Greece, the Westem Desert and Italy; and in June, i945,' was appointed to the eonlmand of the aftillery of the Se'cond N.Z.E.F. with the temporary rank qf brigadier, At the conclusiqn of the war .he was appointed commander pf •the 0.C.O.F. spb-area of Tokiq, anfi qfi his retiirn to New Zealapd beeame director of operations • afid intelligence. . ' V . . '•-• " ' .'.■!■■■■. V Vv .A.; . ' - >