NEW ZEALAND ABROAD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 167, 9 April 1919, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND ABROAD

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON (Prom Our Own Correspondent.) London, February 27. Yesterday's investiture at Buckingham Palace was New Zealand's day. Six 'V.C.'s were decora the King, and no less than four of tliein were New Zealanders—2nd Lieutenant John Grant, Wellington Regiment; 2nd Lieutenant Reginald Judson, Auckland Regiment (also D.C.M. and M.M.); 2nd Lieutenant Harry Laurent, N.Z.R.8.; and Private James Criclitbn, Auckland Regiment. With the exploits of these New Zealand heroes, Dominion reader? will be thoroughly familiar. After the investiture the four V.C.'s proceeded to the High Commissioner's, where their ■•portraits were taken.

His Majesty having signified his wish personally to decorate all overseas troops Before their return to their dominions, numbers of New Zealand recipients of medals and orders have been, present at the-two investitures held. The list comprises the following:— C.M.G.-Bi'igadier-Gencral IT. Hart, N.Z.R.8.; Lieut.-Colonel C. Tewsley, N.Z.M.C.; Colonel Eugene O'Neill. N.Z.M.C.

D.5.0.-Lieut.-Colone] W. Alderman, Ist Auckland Regiment; Lieut.-Colonel 11. Glendinning, N.Z.F.A.; Major G. Mitchell, N.Z.M.R.; Lieut.-Colonel J. Hargest, Ot'ago Regiment. M.C.-Captain P. Cooke, N.Z.E.; Captain A. Nimmo, 'Wellington Regiment; Captain H. Potvine, N.Z.A.S.C; Major N. Annabell, N.Z.E.; Lieut. A. Byrne, Ctago Regiment; 2nd Lieutenant J. Ellis, Otugo Regiment; 2nd Lieutenant K Lang, Auckland Regiment; 2nd Lieutenant L. Pulliam, N.Z.P.A.; 2nd Lieutenant E. Stewart, N.Z.R.8.; Lieutenant T. Tomos, Wellington Regiment; and 2nd Lieutenant H. Ellen, N.Z.R.B.

General Richardson was entertained at a, farewell dinner on Tuesday evening by the officers attached to Headquarters and the administrative officers of the various depots. The gathering took place in the Counaught Rooms, nnd some 1(10 officers were present, General Melvill, the now G.0.C., presiding. In proposing the toast: of the guest of the evening. General Melvill referred to the splendid work General Richardson hail dono for New Zealand during the war. The outbreak of war found him New Zealand linson officer at the War Office. 'Ho transferred to the Admiralty, and went to Antwerp with the Naval Brigades. By marvellous organisation his brigade saved everything in the retreat, and was flic only one to do so. General Riehivrdson then went with the Naval Division to Gallipoli, where he was (afterwards at 'corps headquarters. In 1916 he was summoned to London to take up the administrative duties which he had just laid down. He came much against his own inclination, and took up his,duties in May, 1910. The wisdom of tho appointment was plainly -feen in the splendid organisation General Richardson had built up. He had inaugurated many useful movements, and it was to him that the Dominion was indebted for the splendid work that' had been inaugurated for the.re-education of soldiers for civil life.' ' . ""--.

The High Commissioner is progressing satisfactorily after his operation at tho beginning of the week, but it is expected that it will be about two months lfcforr he resumes his duties. Colonel 11. Stewart, D.5.0.. M.C:, -relinquishes his duties as Director of Education on Saturday, to begin work on the history of the New Zealand share of the war in France, which the Government has commissioned him lo write. Colonel Stewart expects to bo occupied for about six months' on this work. I understand the history is to be in one volume, and will bo distinct from tho full official history and written more in popular style than that of the usual raany-volumed official record. Major Pa B. Northcroft, Assistant. Director of Education, will succeed Colonel Stewart as Director. Mr. T. E, Herd, of Wellington, has arrived to succeed Mr. H. I?. Spenso as New Zealand Customs representative in London. Mr, Spenee is returning to New Zealand next month. - Sir James Mills and Mr. J. H. B. Coatos are away on -a joint visit to Prance. Lieutenant H. T. B. Drew, formerly of Walingtori, who has 'been acting Press publicity agent for the Expeditionary Force for some, time past, and has been responsible for the appearance in the papere of much matter referring to New Zealand, returns by ono of this month's boats to New Zealand. The following officer:? go out as O.C. troops on the transports named •.—Westmoreland, Lieutonnnt-Colonel Emus; Willochra, Lieutenant-Colonel Glendmning; Kia Ora, Major Murphy; Bhamo, Major Logan; Northumberland, J ieuten-ant-Colonel Mitchell; Corinthic, -Lieuten-ant-Colonel Row; lonic, Major Thornsj Tainui, Lieutenant-Colonel Chesney; Beniuera, Lieutenant-Colonel Hargest; Paparoa, Captain Tracey; Pakeha, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Narbey; Rimutaka, Major Hayter. Major E. S. Westmacott (Auckland) is in charge of tho New Zealand War Museum collection, which is 'now being prepared for ehipmont. It ;s hoped here that one central collection will be made in the Dominion of all tho trophies, and not a dispersal among existing museums. Miss K. Isitt, foimerly of Wellington, who has long been a regular contributor to tho "Manchester Guardian," has received an appointment in the London office of that journal. i Captain Eichard Errol Wardell Eiddiford, M.C, 0.8. E. (Military Division), whose death from pneumonia was announced in "The Times" of February 13, was tho son of the late Eichard Eiddiford, of Wairarapa, New Zealand. He was educated at Wanjinui College, N.Z., and afterwards settled on the East Coast, where, through his ability and industry, at a comparatively young age he became one of tho most successful of New Zealaud pastoralists. He joined the New Zealand Division when it was formed in Egypt after tho Gallipoli evacuation, and first saw active service as a subaltern in tho trenches at Armeutieres. There he earned his Military Cross in one of tho raids with the Now Zealandors. In tho second battle of the Somme ho did magnificent work in getting supplies and am. munition through beyond Piers in tho faca of what seemed insuperable difficulties. Latterly ho was camp commandant and ono of General Russell's A.D.C.'s. A correspondent writes: "An employer of labour in the back-blocks of New Zealand, he knew how to handle men, ami this knowledge ho used to advantage in Franco and Flanders. And thero was 1.0 man under his control but respected him tor his just yet kindly nature and for those qualities of grit and determination that go to make tho good soldier as well as the successful colonist. He, bad como through the war without a scratch, and spent his last days in France in tho personal service of his general, and was on his way to England and New Zealand when ho was .taken ill with influeuza." On? who knew'him well writes: "It's not only the personal loss, but tho. loss to New Zealand that 1 feol so much. I iiad looked forward to his being ono of tur great men. I never canm across a finer character—intiger vitae, salorisquo pirnis. What would ho not have been worth to us in a .troubled future? His absolute sense of duty, his transparent honesty of purpose, his ovor-ready unselfishness, his care for others, and his unflinching determination to do what was right appealed to all who knew him." Second Lieutenant Guy Campbell Russell, who died in London on February 21 of pneumonia contracted while travelling homo on leave' in a cattlo truck from Liege, was (he vounger and only surviving son of Arthur Russell, of Pulmerslnn North, Now (Zealand. Born in 1879,- ho was educated at Wellington College, passing into Sandhurst in 1010. In 11)17 ho was gazetted to tho ICth Lancers, and was on active service in Franco. Ho vas a grandson of Colonel A. If. Russell, of tho SBth Regiment, a nephew of the Into Sir William Russell, and a first cousin of Sir A. Hamilton Russell, C.M.&.. Commanding tho New Zealand Division. A friend writes: "Tho deatli of Second Lieutenant Guv C. Russell will be deeply regretted by his many friends, to whom his singularly happy dis]>osition had endeared him. He came of a. military family, of which it may be truly said that it. has deserved well of its country. Of three brothers. Sir William Russell lost two sons; ono in tho South African and cno in the present war. Mr. Herbert Russell has lost two sons out of three serving; Captain llussell has lost one son out of twD serving; and Mrs. Donuison, a. sister, has lost ono son out of two serving, all in tho present war,"