INVASION POST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 106, 6 May 1944, Page 7

INVASION POST

BRIGADIER J. HARGEST COMMENT BY MINISTER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Friday. Asked to comment regarding the recent appointment of Brigadier J. Hargest to the War Office, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, said that, with the full concurrence and approval of the Government, General Montgomery had arranged for Brigadier Hargest to be attached to the forces to take part in the coming operations in Western Europe.

"The experience Brigadier Hargest will gain in this theatre will be valuable both for himself and officers of the New Zealand Army staff, to whom, of course, full reports will be made," said the Minister.

Brigadier J. Hargest, C.8.E., D.S.O. and two bars, M.C., M.P., has a distinguished record in two wars. In this war he brought the Fifth Infantry Brigade through Greece and Crete, and was awarded the Greek Military Cross (first class). After further service in Libya Brigadier Hargest was taken prisoner at the Sidi Aziez airfield, near Bardia, in November, 1941. Brigadier Hargest was captured at the same time as the late Brigadier R. Miles, D.5.0., M.C. Both escaped from imprisonment in Italy, but Brigadier Miles died in Spain. Brigadier Hargest escaped through Switzerland, and arrived safely in Britain toward the end of last year. He entered Parliament in 1931 as member for lnvercargill, and held this seat until 1935, when he successfully contested the Awarua electorate. He was member for that electorate when he went overseas, and still retains the seat.