SUDDEN DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 137, 13 June 1938, Page 9

SUDDEN DEATH.

CITY DEPUTY-MAYOR.

SIR G. RICHARDSON'S LIFE.

FINE SERVICE TO DOMINION

A long life of service to New Zea-, land and the Empire was terminated with tragic suddenness 011 Saturday afternoon with the death of MajorGeneral Sir George Richardson. Originally a "ranker" of the British Army, lie had. through courageous effort and great organising ability, risen to one of the highest- ranks in the Xew Zealand Forces with honours, including a kniglr.liood, thick upon him; and he had with his retirement from active service transferred those abilities to the civil field. He was Administrator of Western Samoa from 1!»2. - 1 to 11128 —and later was associated with nuiny civic activities in Auckland. His great love for children was shown in his enthusiastic service for the Community Sunshine Association, his unremitting thought for the returned soldier in his presidency for a period of the Auckland U.S.A., and his eivie responsibility in his service as a citv councillor. He died "in harness," as deputy-Mayor of the city. Few men have lin-u «s active a life, few men have gathered about them as great a multitude of friends. Active Civic Work. The death of Sir George occurred in his 72.id year, at his home, 21, Omahu Road, Remuera. Until the day before his death he was actively engaged in City Council business. He attended a meeting of the City Council on Thursday evening, and on Friday afternoon, as chairman of the employment committee. he was associated with the town clerk, Mr. J. Melling, in discussing means whereby the city could co-operate with the Government in providing work during the winter months. He had been entertaining friends and was in his normal state of health on Saturday afternoon, when he retired to rest for a while on a couch. Shortly afterwards he was found to have died of heart failure.

Sir George Richardson was a man of great resource, noted for his tact and initiative. He started commercial life in Northampton, but a military instinct asserted itself, and he joired the Royal Garrison Artillery at Woolwich in 1880, subsequently serving as a gunner at Gibraltar. Such zeal did he show that upon the recommendation of the O.C. at Gibraltar lie received special promotion and was sent to Shoeburvness for the "long course in gunnery." He finished at the top of his class, and was recommended to the Xew Zealand Government as gunnery instructor.

He came to Xew Zealand in ISO 1 as master gunner, and when his three years' engagement expired, owing to representations made by the then Prime Minister, the late Richard John Seddon. he was retained in the Dominion and given a commission. He received accelerated promotion, and in 1012 iie qualified for entrance to the Camberlev Staff College, England. There he 'met with signal success, and was still ion leave of absence from Xew Zealand as Xew Zealand representative in the War Office when the Great War broke out. War Service. At this time England was short of experienced ofTiccrs and General Headquarters desired the services of Sir George, but the Xew Zealand Government intervened and claimed him, and he was then made officer commanding the Xew Zealand troops, in the United Kingdom. Before this, however, he went to Antwerp to organise a force of 2."..000 sailors and marines for the defence of that city. He was mentioned in dispatches and promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After the naval division returned to England he proceeded to the French front and joined the army of General French. When an expedition was being prepared for Gallipoli he was again required in England to organise and refit the Xaval Division, and he sailed with it as quartermaster-general. Subsequently he was promoted to the rank of major-general. After the evacuation of Gallipoli, where he served at Cape Helles, he was appointed general officer commanding the Xew Zealand Forces in the United Kingdom, and War Office representative. When he returned to Xew Zealand he did so with the honours of the C.8.. C.M.G., C.8.E., the Legion of Honour (of France), and the Belgian Croix de Guerre. He was appointed general officer in charge of administration at General Headquarters, Wellington. Later he was Administrator of Western Samoa, and a special representative of Xew Zealand at the Geneva inquiry into the question of the mandated territories. He received his knighthood in 192;>, while in Samoa.

Work for Children. Upon his retirement in 1928 he entered actively into civil life. He was for a tim's president of the Auckland R.S.A., and for eight years was 011 the executive of tho Community Sunshine Association. At the time of his death he was. president of that organisation, and president also of the Auckland advisory council of the Xational Federation of Permanent Health Camps connected with the King George V. scheme. That work was one of his major interests. In 19:51 he was asked to stand as a Reform candidate for Auckland East, but decided not to enter national politics. However, he accepted nomination by the Citizens' Association for the City Council in 1935 and was returned. He was re-elected in May this year and was appointed deputy-Mayor. Sir George was patron of the Auckland Old Association and Dominion representative. Sir George is survived by La.'ly Richardson and by three sona and two daughters.