LOSS TO N.Z. ARMY

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

LOSS TO N.Z. ARMY

“The loss of Brigadier Hargest in action in France is a severe loss to the New Zealand Army and' an even more severe loss to New Zealand generally, ’ said the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, Lieutenant-i General E. Puttick. “As brother soldiers in two Wars, we were close friends, our most intimate association being on the battlefields of Greece and Crete iu 19411, where bis tactical ability and’unruffled example and powers of command were outstandingly apparent. and of great service, both in the conduct of the operations and in ensuring to the greatest, possible extent the wellbeing of his troops. - “He was a man of great friendliness and of the highest integrity of mind and purpose, and as a citizen, especially as a representative of the people iu Parliament. his fine qualities and bis almost unique and varied experiences in the army qualified him to play a distinguished part in the conduct of affairs after the conclusion of the war. My deep personal sympathy and the sympathy of his very numerous friends and comrades in the army are extended to his bereaved widow and family.”

Brigadier Hargest arrived in Britain late last year after escaping from a prisoner of war camp in Italy. He was aged 53, and in civil life was a farmer in Southland. He hold a territorial force commission from 1911 and served through the last war iu Egypt. Gallipoli and France, rising from first, lieutenant, to lieutenantcolonel in command of a service battalion at. the ag’C of -G. Early in the Suvia I’ay battle lie was Hie only officer surviving after .-in attack by his squadron, wlneb readied its objective. He was wounded in this battle and was invalided buck to Now Zealand 101 l returned to ai-tion in tlie following year. For live years up to 1930 lie was an aide-de-eanip tn tlie Governoi'-Gonet-nl, and he had been a member of Parliament since .1931. in January, 1910- after being appointed to command' tlie Fifth Infantry Brigade of flic Second N.Z.E.F.. Brigadier Hargest went oversells at tlie head of lite Second Echelon. lie served witli distinction in E'-vpt Greece and Crete, but was caplirfed by tlie Italians in 1941 during the second Libyan campaign. Several months before the fall of Mussolini lie escaped from Italy to Switzerland with oilier high officers—tt (hiring exploit, the full story of which Ims not. yet. been told. Later lie made his way through Spain, and arrived In Britain some months ago. In Hie two wars lie received a numtier of decorations, including the D.S.O. and two bars. Brigadier Hargest’s escape from Italy was effected b.v live months’ work b.v himself and others digging n tunnel under the castle in which they were imprisoned near Florence. Their only tools were n kitchen knife and smite iron bars which they used n« levers When captured near Bardin iu Novi-nibor, .1911. tic told Hoinnicl. who was (lisnlcased nt his not saluting, "t 1" not. salute enemy officers. I only salute superior officers of my own army.” Brigadier Hargest was then taken by submarine and motor torpedo-boat to Italy. He was attached to the British forces by permission of Hie Now Zealand Government. and during the early stages of the attack on Normandy received superficial wounds from which lie recovered, ■fhc Inst report stated Hint ho was temporarily with II famous division.