Personal

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 19, 3 November 1939, Page 4

Personal

Group Captain H. W. L. Saunders, M.C., D.F.C.. M.M., Chiet of Staff, Royal New Zealand Air Force, who will represent this Dominion at the conference of air chiefs in Canada, is a South African who has risen from the ranks. He served with the infantry in France, joined the Royal Air Force in 1917 and soon distinguished himself as an offi of exceptional courage. After the war he held important positions in Egypt and Iraq, before being appointed to the New Zealand command, Squadron Leader T. W. White has been appointed to command the Royal New Zealand Air Force School at Weraroa. He left New Zealand with the Main Body, later joined the R.A.F., and was taken prisoner when his plane was forced down in France. Since the war Squadron Leader White has been successfully associated with commercial flying in New Zealand. 2 Squadron Leader A. G. Gerand, who has been appointed to command the Observers’ School at Ohakea, New Plymouth, was formerly operations manager, Union Airways. He is an Australian who came to the Dominion above eight years ago. Squadron Leader G. L. Stedman, who served with the Royal Air Force in Mesopotamia during the last war, is now commanding No. 1 Elementary Training School for the Air Force at Dunedin. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1916,when serving with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. Squadron Leader D. M. Allan has been appointed to command the Flying Instructors’ School at Mangere. At the outbreak of the last war he was in command of the Auckland Territorial Squadron. Major C. J. Duff, formerly New Zealand Liaison Officer with the British War Office, is now commanding an antitank unit in England. Ormond Wilson, formerly M.P. for Manawatu, has joined a New Zealand anti-tank unit in England. B. T. Sheil has been posted to the active list with the rank of flying officer, Royal New Zealand Air Force, and given honorary rank as Squadron Leader. He will act as publicity officer at Air Headquarters, Wellington. R. M. S. Orbell, son of Dr. Orbell, Timaru, is a member of the Advanced Training Company for junior officers at Trentham. Several well-known Canterbury men are with the Advanced Training Capany for junior officers at Trentham. These include G. F. Bristed, of Aulsebrook and Company, Christchurch; J. Ensor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Ensor, Rakahuri; P. H. Wood, son of Mr. Peter Wood, Christchurch; Warner Westenra, son of Mr. and Mrs. Derek Westenra; J. Flower, son of Mr. A. E. Flower, ‘Christ’s College; E. A. McPhail, of Christchurch; and Hamish Deans, of Homebush.