NEW POSITION CREATED

Southland Times, Issue 24233, 17 September 1940, Page 6

NEW POSITION CREATED

Sir Andrew Russell Appointed

INSPECTORGENERAL OF FORCES

PROGRAMME OF EXTENSION FOR ARMY

(United Press Association)

WELLINGTON, September 16.

Major-General Sir Andrew Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., has been appointed Inspector-General of the New Zealand Military Forces. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) said that for some time the Government had been considering a programme for extending and strengthening the military forces. Seven army officers had been engaged in organizing equipping, administering and training a much-increased territorial army as well

as maintaining a regular flow of reinforcements for the forces overseas. In order to assist these officers and to relieve the pressure of work and at the same time, utilize fully his experience and capabilities the Government had decided on Major-General Russells appointment. Other important changes were at present under consideration, he said.

Sir Andrew Russell is a graduate of Sandhurst Military College. From Sandhurst he joined the Border Regiment as a lieutenant, resigning in 1892 to return to New Zealand. He joined the Mounted Rifles Volunteers in 1900 with the rank of captain and in 1911 became lieutenantcolonel in charge of the Wellington Brigade. At the outbreak of the Great War he enlisted with the Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, as Colonel, Temporary Brigadier-General, of the Mounted Rifle Brigade. In 1915 he took command of a division with the rank of major-general. He served in Egypt, Gallipoli and France and returned to New Zealand in 1919. He was wounded during the war and was mentioned in despatches. He was created K.C.B. in 1918. K.C.M.G. in 1915 and C.B. in 1917. Sir Andrew was born at Napier in 1862. His father was Captain Andrew Hamilton Russell, of the 58th Regiment, Imperial Army. He was educated at Harrow and on resigning from the Border Regiment he gained pastoral experience as a cadet on his uncle’s station, Tunanui, which he now owns. Sir Andrew has been president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association on two occasions—from 1921 to 1924 and from 1926 till 1935.