BRIGADIER TO RETIRE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1041, 4 August 1930, Page 10

BRIGADIER TO RETIRE

IN CHARGE OF NORTHERN COMMAND 33 YEARS IN N.Z. FORCES A career of 33 years as an officer in the New Zealand Military Forces will end when Briga-dier-General H. R. Potter, C.M.G., N.Z.S.C., officer in charge of the Northern Military Command, reaches the age of retirement on September 30. Brigadier-General Potter's administrative work has been particularly apparent in Auckland, where he has served for many years. On January

6, 1919, lie was appointed ColonelCommandant of Auckland military district, and he was later promoted to brigadier commanding the Northern district. Upon his retirement BrigadierGeneral Potter will be in the reserve of the New Zealand Permanent Staff. He was born at Hamilton in 1575 and he started his career as a soldier in 1897, when he was elected a lieutenant of No. 1 Company of the New Zealand Native Rifles' Infantry Battalion. Auckland. Not long after this appointment the war in South Africa took many men from New Zealand. Brigadier-General Potter achieved notable service in South Africa, and his ability was recognised when he was promoted captain in the field. He was appointed aide-de-camp to Lord Methuen, and also had the distinction of being mentioned in dispatches by Lord Kitchener. For his service, in South Africa, BrigadierGeneral Potter was awarded the Queen’s Medai, with three clasps, and the King’s Medal, with two clasps. His service in the South African campaign was probably the longest achieved by a New Zealander during the war. His active service was for two and a-half years. On his return to New Zealand lie was appointed deputy-assistant ad-jutant-general for the Auckland district. In 1907 came promotion to the responsible post of adjutant of the Canterbury military district. Brigadier-General Potter gained another distinction by being the first New Zealand officer to be sent for training in the forces in India. That was in 1912 and be studied military operations in India for more than a year, including an arduous term on the North-West Frontier. He represented New Zealand at the Indian Durbar and was awarded the special Durbar Medal. .Returning to the Dominion, he was appointed Brigadier-Major of the Wellington Infantry Brigade and he held that post until the outbreak of the Great War, when he was appointed commandant of the Main Body camp at Awapuni, near Palmerston North. Later, he was appointed commandant of the Tr.entham Military Camp, and he held that position until the end of the war.

In 1917 ho was made Companion of St. Michael and St. George for his services and, two years later, from his post as Colonel, he was a’pointed to the position of" Colonel-Commandant in the Auckland district. Since hia appointment in Auckland he has won prominence for his administrative work. He has inspected many important military spectacles.