MILITARY FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 August 1939, Page 6

MILITARY FORCES

APPOINTMENTS ANNOUNCED MAJOR J. H. IRVING TO COMMAND HAWKE’S BAY REGIMENT. COLONEL MAUNSELL ]N CHARGE OF MOUNTED RIFLES. Major -I. H. Irving, E.D.. of Masterion. lias appointed to command the Ist Battalion. Hawke’s Bay llegiment, in succession to Lieut.Colonel A. -I. M. Manson. M.C.. E.D.. who is 1 ransl'erred to the Heserve of Officers, and Colonel 11. B. 'Maiinsell. 0.8. E.. E.D.. of Masterton. has been appointed to command the 2nd New Zealand Mounted Hides Brigade. Major Irving joined the forces in 1912 in Southland and served for 3 years overseas (1915-18) with the Otago Regiment, being promoted to the rank of captain while_ in the Somme in 1918. In June of that year he was severely wounded at Hebuterne. In 1925 he was promoted to the rank of Major as 0.C.. C. Company, Masterton, Hawke’s Bay Regiment and for the last four years Major Irving has acted as second in command of the Hawke’s Bay Regiment. Wairarapa residents and others will join in congratulating Major Irving on his latest appointment, which follows many years faithful service with the Defence forces. Colonel Maunsell joined up with the forces in 1913 and on the outbreak of war left with the main body of New Zealand troops as lieutenant of the Wellington Mounted Rifles, proceeding to Egypt and Gallipoli. He was wounded at Gallipoli in 1916 and visited England before returning to New Zealand at the end of that year. For the remainder of the war he did duty in New Zealand. He has taken an active interest in the Territorial forces ever since and in 1930 was appointed to command the Wellington-East Coast Mounted Rifles. In 1937 he took command of the 2nd Composite Mounted Regiment. Last September he was appointed to the rank of Colonel. Congratulations will be extended ,to Colonel Maunsell on his appointment. Other’ appointments of interest are: Colonel J. L. Saunders, D. 5.0., V.D. (Wellington), to command the 2nd Infantry Brigade, and Major G. S. Wilson (Gisborne), to command Welling-ton-East Coast Mounted Rifles.