VETERAN BACK IN SERVICE

Evening Star, Issue 23682, 16 September 1940, Page 4

VETERAN BACK IN SERVICE

SIR A. RUSSELL INSPECTORGENERAL OF. FORCES HI6 CAREER IN THE GREAT WAR [Special to the ‘Star.’] WELLINGTON, September 16, Major-general Sir Andrew Russell has been appointed Inspector-General to the Now Zealand Military Forces. Other important changes are under consideration and will be announced in due course. “ For some time past the Government has been giving careful consideration to the programme of expanding and strengthening the New Zealand military forces,” said the Minister of Defence, in making this announcement. “ Seven officers of the Army arc busily engaged on the work of organising, equipping, administering, and training the very much increased Territorial Army, as well as maintaining a regular flow of drafts reinforcements for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force overseas. The tasks in-

volved are indeed heavy, and in order to assist in these and relieve the pressure of work which devolves upon the officers at Army Headquarters, and also at the same time utilise fully his experience and capabilities, . the Government has decided to appoint Majorgeneral Sir Andrew Russell as Inspec-tor-General of the New Zealand Military Forces. “Sir Andrew is well known to all New Zealanders, especially to all those who served with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force during 1914-18. He was born in 1868. and educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. After five years’ service as a lieutenant in the British Army he came to New Zealand. His service in the New Zealand Military Forces dates from February 5, 1900, when he was appointed captain of the Hawke’s Bay Mounted Rifles Regiment. In 1908 he was promoted major, and in 1910 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and appointed to command that unit.. Gn the formation of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Brigade in March, 1911. he was appointed its commander and promoted to the rank of colonel, and a year later proceeded to England for six months. During that time he was attached to a British Army unit for training. He attended the manoeuvres held in August and September of 1912. When the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was fornjcd Major-general (then Colonel) Russell was selected to command, with the rank of temporary brigadier-general, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, which proceeded to Egypt with the Main Body. He remained in command throughout the operations in Egypt and Gallipoli, and for his services was created K.C.M.G., and also promoted to the rank of major-general in 1915. The constitution of the New Zealand division followed, and General Russell was selected to command it, and rapidly established, a reputation as a resourceful and highly efficient divisional commander. He remained .in command of the New Zealand division throughout the operations in Franco and Belgium, and during the period spent in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. In 1917 Sir Andrew was awarded l the C. 8., and in 1918 his services again received recognition by his being created K.C.B. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honour, the Croix de Officier, and the Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Order of Leopold, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle (first class), and the Montenegrin Order of Danilo. He was mentioned in French army orders and nine times mentioned in. British despatches. . On his return to New Zealand in June. 1919, he was placed in the Reserve of Officers (Class 1A), and resumed his former occupation of sheep farming, hut his interest in his old comrades of the Great War did not diminish, as.he undertook the presidency of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in 1921, which office he held until 1924, and again from 1927 until 1935. “ Although placed on the retired list in 1932,” concluded the Minister. “ Sir Andrew has always maintained the keenest interest in military affairs, particularly in the Wellington Regiment, being appointed honorary colonel of that unit in 1934.”