OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 264, 3 August 1932, Page 10

OBITUARY

Lieut.-Colonel R. O. Chesney LONG MILITARY SERVICE Many in Wellington were shocked to learn of the sudden death of Lieuten-ant-Colonel Robert Oswald Chesney,, which occurred in a private hospital at Lower Hutt yesterday morning. It was not,thought that anything was seriously the matter with him, and the end was consequently quite unexpected. Colonel Chesney had many friends and was extremely well known, particularly through his interest in golf, and the news of his death made a profound impressidh in the city yesterday afternoon.

Colonel Chesney was born on October 16, 1884, at Hokitika, where be wafk educated at the Hokitika High School. In 1900 he was appointed a cadet in the New Zealand Permanent Militia, and later went to South Africa as a member of the 9th New Zealand Contingent, holding the position first of assistant. adjutant and later of adjutant, South Island Battalion. On December 4, 1901, he was appointed lieutenant in the Royal New Zealand Artillery, and two and a half years later went to England to undergo the Gunnery Staff Course, in which he qualified as a gunnery instructor, with first-class certificate, in June, 1906. Early Days With Artillery.

A few months later Colonel Chesney returned to New Zealand, and on November 1 of the same year resumed duty with the Royal New Zealand Artillery at Wellington as acting-ad-jutant of the regiment. In another two months he was appointed staff officer to the Inspector-General of the Forces, Colonel R. H. Davies. Promotion to the rank of captain followed on May 31, 1909, and he was transferred to the New Zealand Militia and appointed Assistant-Adjutant-General, Wellington Military District. At about that time officers were all merged into the New Zealand Staff Corps. . In 1912 he passed the examination for admission to the Staff College, Camberley, .England, find went Home to attend college in the same year. He graduated at Oamberley in 1914, and on the outbreak of war was attached to the War Office, being later temporarily attached for duty to the staff of the South Midland Division, Territorial Army, with which he was G. 5.0., second grade. On November 10, 1915, he was appointed acting-brigade major, Ist Infantry Brigade, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and after serving on the strength ofj divisional headquarters returned on August 25, 1916, to the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, with the appointment of Deputy Assistant Adjutant and QuartermasterGeneral, New Zealand Division, an appointment he held for a year. With the same rank he was appointed in October, 1917, to the Infantry Reserve, Sling Camp, and on December 15, 1917, became brigade major, sth New Zealand Reserve Brigade. After the War. By the end of the war his record included active service in France, Gallipoli and Eygpt, and he had been mentioned in dispatches by Sir Douglas Haig. He arrived in New Zealand by the Tainui in May, 1919, with the rank of temporary lieutenantcolonel. On June 4he became major in the Staff Corps and was appointed Coast Defence Commander, Auckland district. He was promoted to lieu-tenant-colonel in the Staff Corps in August, and was later acting camp commandant at the G.H.Q. School at Trentham. He relinquished his appointment on July 31, 1921, and was transferred to the Reserve of Officers. Colonel Chesney had the Queen's South African Medal with clasps, Transvaal and South Africa, 1902, the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His mention in dispatches was early in 1917. The death of Colonel Chesney will come as a severe blow to golfers, as lie was not only an active member of the Hutt and Wellington Golf Clubs but for years past took a prominent part in the administration of the game. At various times he has held the position of president and captain of the Hutt club, and for the past few years has occupied a seat on the New Zealand Golf Council. As a mark of respect to his memory the Hutt club will close its links today and on Saturday. The funeral will take place to-morrow. Private F. Foreman The funeral of Private Frederick Foreman, who served with the First Canterbury Infantry, took place at the Soldiers’ Cemetery, Karori, yesterday. Among those present were Colonel A. Cowles, representing the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and representatives of the Pensions Department and the Women’s National Reserve.