NATIONAL LOSS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 277, 19 August 1944, Page 8

NATIONAL LOSS

Mr. Holland Expresses

Sorrow

“The passing of Brigadier Hargest removes one of New Zealand s most gallant soldiers and a man of distinguished mark in the community,” said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, in a tribute. “The national loss is a grave one; my personal loss is deep, for he was an intimate friend and a loyal and staunch colleague, whose wise counsels, based on his extraordinary contact with men and his profound experience, 1 eagerly looked forward, to being-applied 1 when the great problems following the winning of the .war had to be faced. “Self-sacrifice and self-effacement characterized his whole life. He was indeed a true patriot of his native country. His remarkable accomplishments on many battlefields in the two great wars, his inspiring leadership of his men, his dauntless courage, his intense determination so vividly displayed in that testing crossing of the Pyrenees with the late Brigadier iR. Miles after escaping dramatically from an Italian prison camp, and more recently his important work as an observer with the Allied invasion armies make one of the most colourful life stories of any nbn-professional soldier. _ “In his civilian life, as well as in his long anti brilliant military life, Brigadier Hargest’s actions were dominated by his feelings for the well-being, protection and security of his fellow men. » “While we of the National Party feel a special sense of personal loss, that Brigadier Hargest will not be with us again. New Zealand will grieve the loss of so distinguished and gallant a son. The grief we all feel is Intensified by the fact that his younger son, Geoffrey, laid down his life in the same cause only a few days ago in Italy, and to Mrs. Hargest, Miss Hargest and the two sons will go doubly expressed sincere sympathy of a nation filled with gratitude for the full life of service and sacrifice of Brigadier Hargest and the sacrifice of a: son who promised so '.much. The whole country honours the name of Hargest.”