ARTILLERY UNIT FOR KOREA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 256, 16 August 1950, Page 6

ARTILLERY UNIT FOR KOREA

COMMANDER IS APPOINTED MAJOR J. W. MOODIE, OF DUNEDIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 15. Major J. W. Moodie, E.D., a serving territorial officer, of Dunedin, has been appointed commander officer of an artillery regiment in New Zealand’s K-Force. This was announced to-night by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. T. L. Macdonald). Major Moodie, who will have the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, will take up his appointment next week. He will assist in the selection of officers for the regiment, and will later be responsible for the regiment’s training. In civilian life, a clothing manufacturer in Dunedin, Major Moodie, who is now'aged 43, has had nearly 20 years’ service as an officer in t.he Army. He was commissioned in 1931 and continued to serve as a territorial officer until the outbreak of war. In Greece and Crete he served with the 7th Anti-Tank Regiment, with which he had left New Zealand in the 2nd Echelon. He then transferred to the 4th Field Regiment, and was with it in all the actions it fought up to Cassino. He was promoted in the field to battery commander in November, 1942. At Sidi Rezegh he was wounded, but remained with his unit. His present territorial appointment is second-in-command of the 3rd Field Regiment. Major Moodie is an old boy of Otago Boys’ High School. He played senior Rugby for the Pirates Club in Dunedin and senior cricket for High School Old Boys. He is also a keen golfer.