N.Z.E.F. NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 76, 31 March 1941, Page 4

N.Z.E.F. NEWS.

OFFICIAL POST. MR. J. H. HALL RESIGNS MR. R. T. MILLER PROMOTED. Tin- IT-yinlini! ~f Mr .1 11. Hail, -'•nic'i win eorn-pondetit iiin! hi -toria n with Ihr Second New Zealand Kxpedi'K.iiniv Force, is annul;,iced by Ihe Minister ..f Di.fiMiiv. Ibo Hun. F, J.me-. Mr. Hall. who wa, K-L-iant-l. ,•!,„■ ~f Publicity in Xr.v Zealand before receiv - in;; hi- a ppoiiit incur as war cone-pun-dent, early in pip). -aile,| will, it,,. Se, ond K.-lip|..ii. which »a. diverted lo Kngland. j;,c,-nM\ he arrived in Ihc Middle Ka,t. He In,- now joined l'no army, I lie rank of captain, and has been appointed |x11 • li <- relations 0M',,.,., vice Major ('. A. L. Tread well, in the Deputy Judgo Advocate Ueneral's Department.

Mr. Knhin Temploton Miller, [ormerly war correspondent with the Second N'.Z.E.F. in the Middle Kast, has now been appointed official correspondent and historian, said the .Minister. The appointment of Mr. Miller as second correspondent was announced by tin; Director of Publicity. Mr. .1. T. Paul, on October •26, 1010. At that time he was serving as a_ sergeant with the Second Divisional Signals, having sailed with the First Kchelon. An "Auckland Star" Man. When Mr. Miller enlisted, on the formal ion of the N.Z.K.F. in 1933, he was a reporter on the staff of the "Auckland Star." A son of Mr. and Mrs. M. 11. Miller, of Kohimaratna, he was educated at the Auckland Grammar School and Auckland IHiversity College. He began newspaper work with the "Star," as lirst-year let, in August, \OS,\ Such was his ability tAat he won accelerated promotion, and made a iSune for himself by becoming a general reporter in his third year of journalism, a grade not normally attained fill a reporter has served for seven years. Assignments which ordinarily would be entrusted onlv to a. senior man of proven capacity, were handled by Mr. Miller early in his" cadetship, and his exceptional ability was fpiickly recognised.

On entering camp at Trcntham. with the first draft of Auckland volunteers, Mr. Miller did not seek appointment as an N.C.0., or commissioned officer, being determined to serve as a dispatch rider, with a section of motor cyclists in the Second Divisional Signals. Consequently he sailed from New Zealand in 1040 with the rank of signalman. He had for years been a keen motor cyclist, having undertaken various long rides in the Dominion, notably one in the South Island, in which he traversed the greater part of the main roads in mid-winter. Fine Descriptive Writer. Mr. Miller has a flair for interviewing and is a line descriptive writer. His personal popularity among Auckland colleagues was such that, on the night when he entrained for Trentham camp, they carried him shoulder high to th(C railway station. Shortly after entering camp he was selected to edit and publish a nnit newspaper, and on arrival in Egypt he was almost immediately entrusted with, the writing of cables and descriptive articles concerning the First Echelon, for publication in the newspapers of New Zealand. He also wrote script for the British Broadcasting Corporation. Most of this work he performed while still ranking as a signalman. From time to time he was released to participate in the hazardous work of t)x motor cycle dispatch riders across the Western Desert, when preparations for the big push, which culminated so successfully, were in train. A few weeks before liis promotion to the position of second war correspondent, Mr. Miller was promoted sergeant, in recognition of his publicity work on behalf of the N.Z.E.F. War correspondents in this war do not receive military rank, but otherwise they enjoy the status and privileges of an officer. Shortly after the outbreak of war the Government announced that when, the. Expeditionary Force went overseas two correspondents would be appointed, one of whom would act also as official historian. The Minister of Defence said yesterday that Mr. Miller was now correspondent and official historian, and it was not proposed to appoint a second correspondent. Mr. Jones also said the Government had decided not to appoint an official artist. It is understood that an official photographer to the N.Z.E.F. is under consideration. Captain Hall, who hns relinquished the post of war correspondent, began his journalistic career on the "Chridtcliurch Sun," and he rose to be editor. Later. he was editor of tho "Dominion," Wellington.