N.Z. BRIGADIERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 287, 4 December 1941, Page 6

N.Z. BRIGADIERS

FEARED CAPTURED

M.P. AND ARTILLERY HEAD

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday.

The Prime Minister, Mr. P. Fraser, announced to-night that he had been advised by the Middle East Command of a report that Brigadier J. Hargest, M.P., commander of the sth New Zealand Infantry Brigade, and his staff, had been captured by enemy forces. Mr. Fraser said he sincerely hoped that the reports of the capture of Brigadier R. Miles and Brigadier Hargest would not be confirmed. "The removal from the active list of two such tried and efficient officers would be a great loss to the New Zealand Division,'' Mr. Fraser added.

Brigadier J. Hargest, D.5.0., M.C., has had command of the sth New Zealand Infantry Brigade since its formation, and took it through the Greece and Crete campaigns. Brigadier R. Miles, D.5.0., M.C., was tne chief artillery officer of the New Zealand Division. His duty was to give expert advice to the general officer commanding, General Freyberg, on the use of the artillery, and supervise its tactical employment. While a member of divisional headquarters, and required to keep in touch with the commander, he would have to move freely among the three artillery regiments and the anti-tank guns, and also co-ordinate artillery action with neighbouring divisions. A message of congratulation on the work of tne New Zealand Division in the present campaign in Libya has been received by Mr. Fraser from Mr. Oliver Lyttelton, British Minister in the Middle East. Mr. Lyttelton, after referring to the excellent accounts of the fighting qualities and spirit of the division, states: "New Zealand may well be proud of her troops."