WHO'S WHO GOING TO THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue LXXXVIII, 12 September 1914, Page 4

WHO'S WHO GOING TO THE WAR-

PRINCIPAL STAFF OEFICERS RECORDS OF SERVICE. SOME STRIKING CAREERS.

Following are particulars of the careers of the principal officers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force proceeding to Europe, and of additional officers in camp with the troops at Palmerston North: — MAJOR-GENERAL SIR A. J. GODLEY, K.C.M.G., C.B. ■ Major-General Sir Alexander John Godley, K.C.M.G., C.8., the commander of the Expeditionary Force, is well known in New Zealand as the maker of our citizen army, _ and he now has the satisfaction of being about to test its ' efficiency on tits held in Europe. General Godley has had a distinguished military career. He was born in County Cavau, on 4th February, 1867, and was educated at Haileybury College, ab the United Service College, Westward Ho! and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Joining the Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1886, he was* promoted to the rank of Captain in 1895, and in the fol- j lowing year was appointed Adjutant Of the battalion of mounted infantry or- j ganised* for special service in Rhodesia. ! Later, he was appointed staff officer with tho Mashonaland Field Foice, and commanded a column during the operations under Major-General Sir Frederick Car- I rington, being mentioned in despatches. He was rewarded with the brevet of Major, dated Bth May, 1897, and Ihe medal. lOn his return to England, he commanded a battalion during the Salisbury Plain manoeuvres of 1898, and some twelve months .later graduated ab the Staff College. In July, 1899, when trouble was brewing with the Boers, he> was sent out to South Africa, on special service to assist in the raising of colonial mounted troops. On the outbreak of hostilities he was serving as Adjutant of the Protectorate Regiment, and was shut up in Mafeking during the whole of the siege, being one of Colonel Baden-Powell's most trusted officers, and frequently performed distinguished service, particularly in connection with tho western defences, of which ho had command. After the relief of Msfclcing, on 17fch May, 1900, Major Galley con binned t-o take an active part in tho v. ar with credit to himself and to the forces of which lie had command. Jfc was mentioned in despatches and vus i awarded with a- brevet Lieutenant-Colonelcy and medals v-'ith clasps, and a C.B. On his return to England he filled various positions and was promoted to the lank of Colonel^ Hp was appointed Commandant of (lie New Zealand Forces in October, _ 1310, and has held that position ever since, being graded MajorGcucral on the Imperial General Staff. In June last, as a special recognition of his valtiablo services in the organisation and training of the New Zealand Aimy, he was knighted by His Majesty tho King, being created a, K.C.M.G. COLONEL WIAITHWAITJ3, D.5.0., Colonel W. G: Braithwaite, D.5.0., who will occupy the post of -j in command of the expedition, has held the position of^ Chief ot the General Staff of the New Zealand Defence Forces since 10th July; last. He comes from a noith country family, Westmoreland, England, and was educated at Marlborough College, England, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 23rd May, 1891, was appointed adjutant of the regiment on 2nd March, 1898, and proceeded with it. to South Africa in 1899, upon tho - outbreak of tho war. His war service is recorded in the Army List aa follows :— "South African War, 1899-1902— Served as adjutant, Ist Battalion R.VV. Fusiliers, 17th November to sth May, 1900. Operations in Natal, 1900. ''.Belief of Ladysmith, including action at Colenso^ operations- on Tugela Heights (14th to 2/th February, 1900); and action at Pleters Hill. On Staif, and as AssistantDistrict Commissioner. Operations iv the Transvaal in May and June, 1900. Operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29th November, iyUU, including actions at Frederickstad (17th to 25th October). Operations iv Cape Colony, north of Orange River, including action at Ruidam (slightly wounded). Operations in the TransvaaJ, 30th November, 1900, to olsT, May, 1902. Despatches, London Gazette, Bth February and lOtli September, ltiOl. Queen's medal with five clasps King's medal with t/wo clasps- D.5.0," Ho was brigade -major oi the 6th Fusilier Brigade, South Africa, from 6th May, J9OO, to 27th March,' 1901, and D.A.A.G. South Africa from March to August, 1901. He was an instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from January, .1906, to September, 1907, and adjutant to the- Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from September, „1907, to January, 1910. He graduated at the Imperial Staff College, Camber-ley, 1910, since which timo he has been ou 'the General Staff in New Zealand. Upon the return of Colonel E. S. Heard, Chief of th© New Zealand General Staff, to England in July last, Colunel Braithwaite was appointed to succeed him. COLONEL E. W. C. CHAYTOR, ADJUTANT-GENERAL. Colonel E. W. 0. Chaytor, the Adjut-ant-General to^ the Expedition, and therefore the ±U. in command, is a New Zealauder, being at present Adjut-ant-General to the New Zealand Defence Forces. He is a son of Mr. J. C. Chaytor, of Marshlands, Marlborough, and became identified with .the Marlborough Mounted Rifles, being appointed captain in 1892. Ho served in tho South African War from 1900 to 1902, beino- in charge of the- 3rd New Zealand Contingent from 19th to 26th May, 1900, when -he was severely wounded, and in command of, the 2nd Regiment, Bth New Zealand Contingent, from 19th March, 1902. His war service,- as given in the Army List, is as follows :— "1900-02. Operatious in the Orange Free State, 'April and May, 1900. ' Operations- in the Transvaal 'in May, 1900, including action - near Johannesburg. Operations in the Transvaal east of Pretoria, September to 20th' November, 1900, including action at Rhefloster Kop. Operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria, .September to 29th November, 1900. Operations in the Orange Raver Colony, August and September, 1900. Operations in Cape Colony, March and April, 1900. Operations in tho Transvaal. §>th November, 1900, to February, 1901, and April to 31st May, 1902. Operations in the Orange' River Colony, March, 1901, and April, ISO 2. Operations in Cape Colony, February-March^ 1901, and May, 1902." He waa mentioned in despatches and was awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps. Upon his return from the war he filled the position of Assistant Adjutant-General to the New Zealand Defence Forces, and later went to England, wJire he passed the Staff College fourae at Caml>ertey. In December, 1910, hu was appointed Officer in Command of the Wellington Military District, with headquarters at Palmerston North — a position Which he held until 16th July last, when ho was reappointed AdjtitantGeneral to the New Zealand Defence Forces. He is the wearer of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Dccoratioy.

COLONEL F. E. JOHNSTON, Infantry Brigade Commander. Colonel Francis Earl Johiistou, the commander of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade proceeding to Europe, is an old Wellington boy, being the son of the Hon. C. J. Johnston, M.L.C., of this city, and having been born here. He joined the Frince of Walea's (North Staff ordshiie) Regiment as second lieutenant on sth December, 1891, and was promoted lieutenant on 30th November, 1895, captain on 13th May, 1900, and major on 16th February, 1911. Ho accompanied the expedition to Dongola, Sudan, in 1896, and look part in the operations on 19th September, receiving the Egyptian medal with cla3p and also tho English medal. He served in the South African war from 1900 to 1902, takiug part in operations in the Transvaal (October, 1900, to 31st May, 1902). He was mentioned in despatches on 18th and 29th July, 1902, and received the Queen's medal with three clasps and the King's medal with two clasps. On 16th July last, while on furlough in New Zealand from India, he was appointed to the command of the district in which ho was born for one year, succeeding Colonel Chaytor in that office. LIEUT-COLONEL W. G. MALONE. Lieut. -Colonel W. G. Ma lone, officer commanding the Wellington Infantry Regiment, is a ■well-known Taranaki man. Corn in 1859 he was educated privately in England and Franre, and arrived in New Zealand in ISBO, and sened in the Armed Constabulary Force from ISBO to 1882. He then settled upon the land in the Stratford district, and while farming took up the study of the Jaw and qualified as a solicitor in 1804. Abandoning farming he built up a legal practice which rapidly extended from Stratford to practically every town in Taranaki. He passed as a barrister in 1889. He was chairman of the Ngaire Road Board, member of the Hawera County Council, I and member of the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board from 1885 to I 1890. and clerk and -treasurer of the Stratford County Council from 1890 to ISO 7. He has always taken a keen interest in defence questions. In 1900 he was appointed captain of H Company, 4th. Battalion Wellington (Taranaki) Rifle Volunteers, captain and adjutant in 1903, major in 1905, and Lieut.Colonel Commanding the 11th Regiment (Taranaki Rifles) in 1910. He unsuccessfully contested the New Plymouth seat at the by-election in 1907. CAPTAIN A. H. WILKIE. Captain Alexander Herbert Wilkie, captain in the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, is a pubhq, accountant and auditor, and prior to joining the Expedition was practising at- Ohakuno aud ttafetihi. He \& a. son of the late Mr. James Wilkie, journalist, being born at Oxford^ (near Christ-church) in IS7B, and -was educated at Ashburton. He joined the Ashburton Rifle Volunteers in 1893, and subsequently transferred to the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, in which he won a shooting cup. He joined the First New Zealand Contingent, and served throughout the 'South African War from 1899 to 1902, his services there being recorded in the Army List as follow : — "South African War, 1899-1902: Belief of Kimberley. Operations, m the Orange Free State, February to May, 1900, including actions at Poplar Grove, DreifoflteinHoutnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River (uth and 6th May), and Zand River. Operations in \ he Transvaal in May aaid June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg. Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11th and 12th June). Operations in the Transvaal eaet of Pretoria, 22nd July to October, 1900. Operations ra the Transvaal west of Pretoria, 22nd July to November, 1900, including action at Zilikats Nek. Operations in Cape Colony south of Orange River, November, 1899, to February, 1900, including actions at Colesberg (Ist January to 7th February). Operations in the Transvaal, May, 1902. Queen's medal with five clasps." He was at tho Vireeninging camp in 1902 when peace was signed. He was returned continuously on the Ohakune Town Board from its inception, and then on the Ohakune Borough Council with an unbroken record. He is a Justice of the Peace, and was president of tho. Ohakune Chamber of Commerce for some time. CAPTAIN L. M. SHERA, N.Z.E. Captain L. M. Shera, Officer Commanding Field Troop, New Zealand Engineers, was born at Auckland on 26th January, 1879, being tho third son of the late Mr. J. M. Shera, M.H.R.,- oi Auckland and of Cootehill, Ireland. Captain Shera was educated at Queen's College, and afterwards entered the Government service. He was for many years in the Public Works Department, but a short time prior to joining the Expeditionary Force was transferred to the Public Health Department." • Captain Shera comes from a family "of iighters. flis grandfather, Colonel Balneavis, of the 58th, Regiment, was prominent in the Alaori War, and was afterwards apuointed Officer Commanding the Auckland Military District. Lieutenaiit-Gen-eral Balneavis, father of the Colonel, served under the Duke of Wellington throughout the Napoleonic Wars, and was afterwards Governor of Malta. Other members of the family, which is sp'run» from tho Scottish clans of Stewart and MacpheKson, have also held important military offices under the British flag. Captain Shera has always been deeply interested in military matters. He joini cd tho College Rifles, at Auckland, as a. private m 1897. He served in the second Boer War as a lieutenant (King's Medal, three cla&ps). and upon his return to New Zealand rejoined Ids old company with the rank of senior-lieu-tenant. About eight years ago ho was approached by the members of No. 3 (Auckland) Field Company New Zealand Engineers, and asked to take command. Captain Shera accepted the position and continued in charge of the company until joining the Expeditionary Force. _ In addition to the South, African decoration, Captain Shera is in possession of the sixteen years' long service medal. During the industrial trouble towards tho end of 1913, ho was in command of the special foot constables stationed at the Drill Hall, Auckland, in the centre of the city. Captain Shera takes a keen interest in all sport, and its connected with many social organisations in Auckland. CHAPLAIN G. J. BUSH-KING. The Rev. Charles J. Bush-King, Anglican Chaplain to the Forces, was born in Wellington on' 3rd March, 1875. his father being Mi. T. E. King, youngest son of one of Wellington's earliest set-. Mere. His mother was a. daughter of Mr. W. Catt. well known in the Wairarapa. The Rev- C. J. Bush-King was educated at Selwyn College, Dunedin, and while there obtained the L.Th. of Durham University, England. He was made deacon aud ordainprl to the priesthood 6f the Church of England in 1911 and 1912 respectively, and was licensed Curate of tho parish of St. Matthew's, Dunedin, under Canon Gurzon-Siggers, the present Vicar. He started work amongst the seamen at St. Matthew's, and after about twelve months' work was •appointed by the London executive Hon. Chaplain for Dunwlin of the Missions to Seamen. Having established this useful .work, ho also began to work amougst the military men. ami begun Regimental Institute work al the volunteers' camps in Otago aiid Southland just belore the present Territorial system was established. 'He successfully conducted the institutes in the Otago military district, having attended nearly e^ery camp in that

district binco 1910. ' Through tho Church of England Men's Society, the chaplain organised the work throughout the Do- j minion. This class of 'work ha« become veiy popular with the m6n, enabling them to read, write, have music, game 6, and entertainment under the Church's influence. The Rev. C J. Bush-King bow holds a record in ,the Dominion in that he has spent more da-ys on the tented field during the last five years than any other officer or Territorial. During this period he has spent 572 days in camp, in all kinds of weather. In addition to these duties and hie parish work, the chaplain is diocesan secretary of the C.E.M.S., and is one of three diocesan secretaries of the Dominion now on active service with the Expeditionary Forces. CAPTAIN W. HOBBS. Captain W. Hobbs, who has been appointed to the Arawa (Troopship No. 10) as dental officer, has' served about eeventccu years in the volunteer forces of New Zealand, tie was captain of the Zealandia. Rifles' of the Ist Wellington Battalion (now the sth. Regiment), and formed tho Hutt Valley Rifles, being the first captain. His energy and enthusiasm wero responsible for the building of the Drill Hall at Lower Hutt, and ho and his officers approached tho late Mr. E. J. Riddiford, who gave the necessary land. Captain Hobbs also formed the Eastbourne Rifle Club, and has been its piesident for some time. As a keen rifle "shut he has held the Champion Belt of the Zealandia Riflce and the Eastbourne Rifle Club Shield, and has competed at the Trcntham Rifle Championship meetings for several years. He has practised his profession in Wellington for the last fourteen years, and has been abroad to further his. experience. LIEUTENANT A. E. ALEXANDER, N.Z.E. Lieutenant Arthur E. Alexander, of the Divisional Signal Company, New Zealand Engineers, is a. 'son of Mr. A. Alexander, of Otago, being born at Outram on 3rd September, 1888. He was educated at the Mornington Public School, and joined the Dunedin Cycle and Signalling Company of Volunteers when that company first undertook signalling work. He filled each non-com-missioned rank to that of colour-sergeant. Upon the inauguration of the Territorial scheme in New Zealand ho successfully passed the qualifying examination for the position of sergeant-major on the Permanent Stall', being -the youngest staff sergeant-major then in the service. He purchased his discharge from the Staff in May, 1912, and was given a commission in the Bth Southland Regiment, and command of H Company. He transferred to Wellington in June-, ,1913, and commanded the Wellington Divisional Communication, Company up to the time of joining the Expeditionary Force. While in Wellington he was iv the employ of Mr. Robert Martin, of Mannersstreet, and while in Dunedin served with James Wren and Co.. In the camp at Palmerston North ho is filling the position of camp quartermaster for the corps of the New Zealand Engineers.