MILITARY FORCES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 86, 5 January 1935, Page 12

MILITARY FORCES

Extension of Term of Commander

NEW DEFENCE PLANS

Work of Major-General. Sir William Sinclair Burgess

MINISTER’S STATEMENT

The Government has decided to extend for a period of two years the appointment of Major-General Sir William L. H. Sinclair Burgess, Kt., C. 8., C.M.G., D.S.O. N.Z.S.C., as General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces. Sir William, who has a distinguished military record, was selected to fill this important oflice of the State’s functions for four years from April 1, 1931, and was due to retire on April 1 'of this year.

In announcing the Government’s decision yesterday, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, spoke highly of the general’s services during his term of office, particularly emphasising the efforts he had made to build up the Territorial Force into an efficient military body. The Minister also expressed pleasure at Sir William’s acceptance of an extension of his appointment which was, he said, necessary in the completion of the Government's policy to strengthen the defences of New Zealand as a whole.

Modernising Defence.

Major-General Sir William Sinclair Burgess’s taking up the supreme command of tiie New Zealand Defence Forces synchronised with the eaneetlatiou of compulsory military training in the Dominion, said Mr; Cobbe. HI'S task of building up a territorial force had been a particularly hard one, and opinion to-day in military circles give him great credit for the success of Ills plans to overcome many difficulties.

The announcement that the Government has extended Sir William’s appointment for two years would be popular not only at defence headquarr ters, but throughout the Territorial Forces of the Dominion. The lengthened period of office of Sir William should be even more crowded with problems of organisation than had been his first term of G.0.C., for much had been done by the Government of late and much was to be done in the near future to modernise the defences of the Dominion. Minister’s Tribute. "It is a pleasing announcement ‘for me to make,” remarked Mr. Cobbe to "The Dominion” representative yesterday, in referring to the extension of the period of office of Sir William Sinclair Burgess. "It is pleasing td me mainly in two ways—first, that the Government has given by the further appointment it has made due recognition of the great value of .Sir William’s services as General Officer Oom mantling our forces, and second, that as Minister of Defence, I am to continue to have this distinguished and efficient chief executive officer at the head of affairs in the carrying out of the Government’s policy of strengthening the country's defences. Sir William assumed his responsible office dut- ! ihg the earlier period of my occupancy of the portfolio of Defence. 1 very quickly discovered that the Govreument had chosen ail able military officer whose general capabilities aim experience would do much to place on a sound foundation the defence forces of the Dominion. Compulsory military training had been abolished and the' policy of voluntary enlistment was i everted to. There lay ahead of the new G.O.C. the task ff building up the Territorial Forces to efficient strength under the changed conditions. By dint of hard work, bis personal charm, his powers of organisation and remarkab'e efficiency Sir William succeeded In grappling with the difficulties and problems which faced him and the lealisation. of his plans was soon apparent. To-day he is able to muster a very tine and efficient body of Territorials of whom any country would be proud. The men like their G.0.C., his knowledge and experience enables him to study them and his treatment of them i.s always just. I was able co obtain proof enough M thi-- during my inspection last year of the Territorial Forces—senior a'nd junior—of both islands of the Dominion.” Mr. Cobbe described the -duty that was cast upon him when the slump .was felt at its worst in New Zealand

of carrying out wholesale retrenchment in the Defence Department—as one of the sad snenu>ries of his ministerial office. “It had to be, I was sorry to have to admit” the Minister said, “and we had-to lose the services of some fine officers and close up some of the arms of the iepartment when •ill were working so well. In this unenviable situation I had the valued assistance and advice of Sir William Sinclair Burgess, who felt the duty which in turn I had ro pl.-u-e upon him as much as I (lersonalfy did " Referring to the work oi remodelling and strengthening the defences of (he country which bad been going on quietly for several months past. Mr Cobbe said that very shorHy now much of the now plant would have arrived in Hie Dominion ready for assembling. ‘Quite apart.” the Minister statel. • from hisservices in other directions, the Government wouid have been unwise to allow itself to be bereft of the invaluable assistance Sir William Sin'■lair Burgess ’can give in the bringing to a proper conclusion its defence plans Sir William r.as an intimate knowledge of the policy of tin- Govern- i ment in these matters, and any break • now in the continuity of his command

of the forces would be distinctly inadvisable.”

Distinguished Career. The military career of Sir William Sinclair Burgess can from all angles be described as meritorious. Born at Longsight, England, on February 18, 1889, a son of the Rev. George Burgess, F.R.A.S., at one time at Papakura, Auckland, this soldier who rose to such distinction had nine years’ service in the New Zealand volunteers prior to joining the permanent forces. His first appointment to commissioned rank (on probation) was on March 17. 1911. Promotion was rapid and sustained as follows: Temporary captain, July, 1911; captain, June, 1913; major. August, 1919 lieutenant-colonel, August, 1919; colonel, April, 1924; temporary brigadier. July. 1928; general ollicer commanding New Zealand Military Forces, with rank of major-general, April 1 1931. Under the system of interchanging officers, the present majorgeneral went to Tasmania in 1913. In 1914 lie proceeded on active service with s the Australian forces- He received the following decorations. D.S.O. (1916), C.M.G. (1918). C.B. (1919). star (191415). general service'medal (1914-1918), Victory medal (1914-18), Croix d'Oflicier Legion d’Honneur (1917). American distinguished service medal (1919). He was appointed A.D.C. to his Majesty the King in October. 1928. In January, 1934. Major-General Sinclair Burgess received the honour it knighthood. With the rank of colonel he visited England during 1928 to attend the Army, manoeuvres, and obtain information respecting post-war developments in training, armament. equipment. particularly mechanisation.