PRIVATE TO COLONEL.

Taihape Daily Times, 3 October 1919, Page 6

PRIVATE TO COLONEL.

A NEW ZEALANDERS’ RECORD.

FORMERLY A PO-LICEMAN.

Among the soldiers who arrived in Australia by the Takada is Lieuten~a-n-t-Colonel ’Maurice Wilder-Neligan, -G.M.G., n. 5.0., and ba‘r‘rD-'O-M-, Croix de Queue, one ofthe most notable examples in the Australian Imperial Force of prom-o‘t'l'oll,‘ due to gallantry and merit. Lieut-Colonel 'WilderNeligan, who is only 33 years Of age, enlisted as a private at. Townsville, under the «name of Maurice Wilder. On April _26, 1915, as a sergean't on Gallipoli, he won the DistinguislledsConduct Medal at Gaba Tepe. Here, with a noneomtmissioned oflieer, afterwards killed, he carried »a- wounded man to safety under fierce Turkish fire, and‘ subsequently led back s‘t.ragglers to the firing line.’ Appointed second-lieuten-ant.in. the same month, in the following August hewas granted his lie-utenaney. and promoted temporary captain in September. While holding this rank in the 9th Battalion, on the night of July 1, 1916, he successfully commanded ha. raiding force on the West ‘Front, which killed 53 of the enemy and took 24 prisoners. The raiders also -captured s_a machine gun, many rifles and equipment. Captain Neligan was wounded, but would not leave his command. For his gallantry in this exploit he was awarded the Distinguished _Serviee Order. ,

His captaincy having been confirmed in March, 1916, he was promoted Major in October of that year. In June, 1917, he was granted a temporary lieut-enant-coloncy.‘ I‘-Ie commanded the 10th (S.A.) B'a=ttalion until .March, 1918, when the command of’ the 9th (the battalion in which he enlisted) was given him. In this month he was reported injured,’ but resumed‘ ie'omm'an'd of his battalion after a few days; Transferred to the 10th‘again ‘in May, 1918, he led this unit until the end of hostilities. His valuable services as -a ‘commander were rewarded with a Com. lpanionship of St. Michael and St. George, the award of’ the decoration being announced among the Birthday Honours last year. In ‘the. London.Gaz-‘ ette of November 7, 1918, the award of a bar to the D.S.O.' was announced for eonspicuoug gallantry -in night attack one. village. Owing to his skill and courage, ‘the plan of enveloping the village was successfully carried. out, resulting in the capture of two hundred prisoners and ‘thirty machine gune. The attacking force suifered less than tv.ven"ty casualties. So highly werehis military qualities }'csteenre.dg by the French authorities that in 1918 they conferred on him the Cr-oiv de G=_le:~'. ‘. Lieui.-Colonel Wilder-Nelig-.n mass for a time in the police 3°-3r'c.3— :'n ‘Queensland, being stationed at Proseripixzc in that State.‘ Before coming to jfiustralia he had been a lieutenant in lthe Royal Horse Artillery. He is a [New Zealander by birth.