BACK FROM THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 142, 18 February 1915, Page 6

BACK FROM THE WAR.

MAJOR CORRIGAN INTERVIEWED. MAJOR RICHARDSON'S CROAT WORK. AUCKLAND. This Day. Major A. A. Corrigan returned to New Zealand by the Riverina. Leaving Wellington on July 1 he visited Montreal and England on private business. In London he was attached to the naval brigade, and was gasetted as major in the Royal Marines, which afterwards became the Royal Nava! Division and consisted cf a force of 24,000 men, who wore afterwards to be available for Kitcheners army if re-

quired. In the meantime they were placed at Die disposal of the Admiralty. The organising of that division was carried out by Major G. S. Richardson, of the N.Z. Staff Corps, and he was afterwards mentioned in despatches for his very brilliant services at Antwerp, being promoted to the rank of lieuten-ant-colonel “ I knew his services are very highly appreciated by the Admiralty.” stated Major Corrigan. He exhibited the military capacity which he was regarded to possess when in N.Z. I have heard of his splendid work in Antwerp. In the contusion resultant upon the crumbling of the defences, Colonel Richardson stood out in a very marked way., I heard from one of the staff that lie arranged the retirement of one brigade whose salvation seemed hopeless. He stood by the brigade near the burning oil tanks', and his coolness and extraordinary facility in the handling of men resulted in the bridge being kept for the passage of the troops, much loss of life being thereby prevented. He was a staff officer of General Harris, who had been in command of rp.; brigade. He was seen trudging along the route of the retreat, carrying cn c'no Shoulder a bundle bolonging to a Belgian refugee, and a Belgian child on the other. A motorcar at his disposal was crowded with Belgian women and children. The colonel’s hearing suffered from the fearful effects cf the bombardment cf Antwerp.