BRITISH ARMY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 September 1940, Page 9

BRITISH ARMY

SOME IMPORTANT CHANGES IN COMMAND. HOME GUARD AND NORTHERN IRELAND. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September' 27. Important Army changes are announced by the War Office. Lieutenant-General Sir H. R. Pownall, Inspector-General of the Home Guard, has been appointed to command the British troops in Northern Ireland. Lieutenant-General Pownall served as Chief of the General Staff under Lord Gort during the recent operations in France. Upon the formation of the

Home Guard, he was appointed to the newly-created post of Inspector-Gen-eral in order that his experience might be utilised to co-ordinate and supervise the organisation of this new and highly important force. His place as Inspector-General of the Home Guard is being taken by MajorGeneral T. R. Eastwood. Major-Gen-eral Eastwood distinguished himself in the Great War, serving at Gallipoli and in Egypt and France. Immediately previous to the outbreak of the present war he was Commandant at the Royal Military College at Sandhurst. During the recent operations in France, including the Dunkirk evacuation, he served with distinction as Major-Gen-eral of Staff under Lord Gort. Major-General Eastwood served with the N.Z.E.F. in the last war. He was for some time brigade major of the 3rd N.Z. Rifle Brigade, afterward receiving a similar appointment on the formation of the 4th Brigade. Early in 1918, he became G. 5.0.2. on Divisional Headquarters, retaining that appointment till October, 1918, when he rejoined the British Army. He was a very popular officer with the New Zealand troops.