NEW POLICE CHIEF

Hokitika Guardian, 12 October 1931, Page 6

NEW POLICE CHIEF

A IETROPOLITAN AREA. LORD TRENCHARD SELECTED. LONDON, October 7. Lord Trenchai'd has been appointed Commissioner'of Police for the Metropolitan area in succession of Lord Byng. Known as the creator of' the Royal Air Force, L)rd Trenchard, who was raised to the peerage in 1930 for Ms ■services in that direction, commanded the force from its inception in 1918 until his retirement in 1930. He was born in 1873, and has been Chief of the Air Staff since 1918. He entered the Army in 1893, and .served in the South African War, being dangerously wounded. He later saw service in West Africa. During the Great War he had a distinguished career with the R.F.C. and R. A.F., being promoted majorgeneral in 1916, and subsequently receiving the thanks of Parliament and being voted £IO,OOO. Since the war he has been promoted to air marshal, air chief marshal and marshal of the Royal Air Force. He was made a baronet in 1919.

It was announced on "December 21, 1928, that big resignation had been accepted as from January 31, 1930, and Sir John Salmond wais appointed! to succeed him. At the time of Jjord Trent-hard's resignation the aeronautical correspondent of The “Times” wrote: “The announcement will not cause surprise in service circles, ais some recent changes in other appointments rather suggested this eventuality. No man has had a greater influence on a service that Sir Hugh Trent-hard, as lie was then. The unified air service of to-day and an Air Ministry supreme in its sphere are mainly due to his energy and determination, while the high standard of discipline and the fighting efficiency of the Royal Air Force are entirely due to bis example and capacity. He has been christened ‘Boom’ which rather suggests a martinet, but those in close contact with him know that, while he insists on a high standard, there is a very human personality behind the apparently autocratic soldier.”