CENTRAL DISTRICT COMMANDANT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 15, 13 October 1943, Page 4

CENTRAL DISTRICT COMMANDANT

Brigadier A. B; Williams To Succeed Col. H. M. Foster Brigadier A. B. AVilliams, D. 5.0., R.N.Z.A., is shortly to assume the appointment of district commandant, Central Aiilitary District, vice Colonel H. Al. Foster, N.Z.S.C., who has held the position since April, 19-12, and who is taking over an appointment elsewhere. Brigadier AVilliams was from February, 1942, till last month, head of the New Zealand Joint Staff Alission in Washington. Then the Government, in view ot the increasingly important part played by the R.N.Z.A.F. in the Dominion’s war activities in the South Pacific, decided to appoint a senior air officer, Air Commodore J. L. Findlay, AI.C., as senior member of the mission in AVashington. Brigadier AVilliams served in tlie Great War with the New Zealand Field Artillery, being overseas from June, 1915, till 1919. He had a fine record in the fieid and was awarded the D.S.O. He rose to major and battery commander. He took up soldiering as a full-time career on his return to New Zealand, when he was appointed to Staff Corps, He held various staff appointments and before the present war was officer commanding, R.N.Z.A., Southern Command, and brigade major, 3rd New Zealand Infantry Brigade. In 1937 he went to Australia on an exchange plan, and was temporarily attached to the Royal Australian Artillery. In December, 1939, he was appointed commander, New Zealand Artillery, A.H.Q., AVellington. He was absent’ in Canada and the United States from Muy to August, 1941, relinquishing his A.li.Q. appointment in February, 1942,- to represent the New Zealand Army on the Joint Staff Alission in Washington. At the same time he was promoted brigadier, lie returned to New Zealand last month. Colonel Foster has been with the Central Alililary District for four years, going there as G. 5.0.1, later being appointed 0.C., Administration, and on Brigadier N. A)’. AleD. Weir, then district commandant, being given a divisional command, he succeeded to the district command. 'L’his was in April, 1942. In the few mouths preceding this appointment, and since then Colonel Foster was actively concerned in the major problems that arose on full scale mobilization rmd recently in tlie onerous work that: followed demobilization. He paid keen personal attention to nil parts ot his command, which extended as fur as 11 ink’s Bay on Hie East Coast. Every part: of tlie district which had a camp or even .small post was intimately known Io him as (lie result of his close attention not only Io the efficient organization of every section of his command, right, down h> the smallest, hut also •(’ the welfare of lhe Irnops and their living conditions. The Central District Tram-, ing Unit camp in tlie Alamiwatu was irt its embryo stages when Colonel Foster was appointed district commandant, and under his direction it: became second' to none in tlie comfortable conditions it offers troops —a particularly vnjmible aspect to recruits having their initial contact with army life.

■Since war began the Central District has I fortunate in having as successive commanders soldiers of considerable initiative—’Brigadier 11. A. Row, D. 5.0,, N.Z.S.C., Brigadier Weir, and Colon''! I''osler- nod the new eoinnuindant. Brigadier AVilliams. takes up his appointineiii with tlie background of distinction in tile field and as an administrator, plus the knowledge acquired in his important job in AVashington.