OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 253, 22 July 1936, Page 10

OBITUARY

Lieut.-Gen. Sir James Babington

At one time in command of the New Zealand Military Forces, Lieut.-Gen-eral Sir James Melville Babington died ah Bucknell Manor, Bicester, England, on June 16 at the age of SI years. After his return to England at the end of the Boer War, he was given command of the New Zealand Forces, and when the period of this appointment expired in 1906 he retired from the Service with the honorary rank of major-general. He was created a C.M.G. in 1906 and a C.B. in the following year. In 1909 he was appointed colonel of his old regiment, the 16th Lancers, and, in 1911, colonel of the sth New Zealand Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars). From 1908 to 1913 General Babington commanded the Lowland Mounted Brigade (Yeomanry). At the beginning of the Great War he had not long to wait for an active command. In September, 1914, he was given the newly-formed 23rd Division, which he trained and took out to France. At the battles of the Somme, 1916, and at Messines and “Third Ypres,” 1917, the 23rd proved its worth. It was then sent to Italy, where it continued to do good work, and in October, 1918, General Babington succeeded Lord Cavan in command of the XIV Corps, which consisted of thp British 7th and 23rd Divisions. It was as corps commander that he fought, the decisive Battle of Vittorio Veneto, which included the passage of the Piave and resulted in the armistice with Austria. He had been made a K.C.M.G., promoted major-general, and restored to the active list in 1917. From January to March, 1919, as temporary lieuten-ant-general, he commanded the whole of the British forces in Italy, and then retired with that rank. His services were further recognised by his being'promoted to K.C.B. in 1919, and he received several French and Italian decorations. General Babington married Eleanor, daughter of Mr. T. J. Lawson, of New South Wales, in 1897. He leaves one son. Mr. A J. Farquhar Advice has been reee.ved at Auckland of the death at San Francisco of Mr. A. J. Farquhar, formerly racing editor of the Auckland "Star” and later secretary of the Avondale Jockey Club. Mr. Farquhar left the Dominion in March to visit his son in America.