SIR "TOM" BRIDGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 36, 13 February 1928, Page 3

SIR "TOM" BRIDGES.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNOR. ON BIS WAT TO ENGLAND. SORRY TO LEAVE THE PACIFIC. "It is with much regret that I atn leaving Australia and particularly South Australia, and I wish it had been possible for me to have seen more of Xew Zealand," said Sir G. T. M. Bridges, Jv.C.M.G., C.8., D.5.0., ex-Governor ol South Australia, who arrived by the Aorangi from Sydney last evening. *"I have just completed my term of five years and have made many friends whom I am loth to leave. It is my Intention to spend a holiday here in the same way as I did last year—that is, a fortnight's sword fishing -up north and a similar time trout fishing at Taupo—and then I expect to be Home for Easter."

General Sir "Tom" Bridges visited Xew Zealand last year and in the middle of his holiday was recalled to Australia rather hurriedly. He considers the fisfting here is the best in the world, but it was not sufficiently advertised, particularly in Australia, it was his opinion that many people who went to Colombo for their holidays could be induced to come over to Xew Zealand if more about its attractions were known.

Prior to his appointment as Governor of South Australia in 1922, General Bridges had a brilliant military career. He entered the Army as a gunner in 1892 and during the South African War was present at the reliefs of Ladysmith and Mafeking. During the Somaliland operations in 1902-04 he was severely wounded and was awarded the D.S.O.

One of General Bridges' most distinguished services to the Allied cause during the European war was performed at the time of tie German push for Calais, which he stopped by personal initiative. The General was with the British Military Mission to the Belgian Army, and with the greatest difficulty induced the Belgians to open the sluices of the Yser and thus flood the country. In 1916, when he was in command of the 19th Division, he was severely wounded and last a leg. General Bridges subsequently became military member of the Earl of Balfour's mission to the United States, and head of the British War Mission in the United States in 1918. Later he was head of the military mission to Constantinople and Smyrna.