WELL-KNOWN SOLDIERS

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 71, 22 September 1919, Page 8

WELL-KNOWN SOLDIERS

RETURN TO NEW ZEALAND

TWO BRIGADIERS AND A V.C.

Three of New Zealand's most distinguished soldiers are on the Corinthic, which is expected to arrive in stream at 4.30 this afternoon. They are BrigadierGeneral C. W. Melvill, C.M.G., D.5.0., N.Z. Staff Corps; Brigadier-General E. Young, C.M.G., D.5.0., and Captain W. J. Andrew, V.C., of Wanganui. Genorals Melvill and Young, both, of w"hom commanded New Zealand Brigades on the Western front, will take over the commands of the Canterbury and Wellington' Military Districts respectively. CAREERS OF THE BRIGADIERS. General Melvill, who has been a member of the New Zealand Staff Oorps since its formation, was at Staff College in England, when war broke out in August, 1914. He immediately joined the British Expeditionary Force and went over to France, where he got blown up. Upon his recovery in England he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on Gallipoli, and served on the staff of the Infantry Brigade until the evacuation. He proceededl witih the Division to the Western front as a battalion commander, 1 and as a result of his services was appointed to command a brigade, a post which he filled with distinction until the end of the war. He succeeded Brigadier-,I General Richardson as Officer Command-1 ing New Zealand troops in England,! when the latter returned to the Dominion. General Young, who is to command I the Wellington .military district, is a son j of the Rev. R. Young, Vicar of Carterton, and was born at Nelson about 42 years ago. He' took up dentistry as a profession, and established himself in practice at Marton. Keenly interested in soldiering, he early identified himself with volunteers, and later with the Territorials, finally holding the rank of major in the 7th Wellington. (Wesf Coast) Regiment. ;He left New Zealand in October, 1914 as a major in the Wellington Battalion of tJie Main Body, and served through .the Galliopli campaign, finally receiving command of the Ist Canterbury Battalion. For his services on, the Peninsula he was awarded the O.M.G. and D.5.0., and was made a member of the Legion of Honour. . He was wounded during the campaign. He proceeded with the division to the Western front, and was accompanying the late Brigadier-General F. E. Johnston when the latter was killed by a bullet from a sniper. . Lieutenanti-Colonel Young was hit in the neck almost afc the same time, ,probably by the same man. ( He';-was subsequently promoted to the commaiid of the 2nd Brigade with the rank ofßrigauier-General, and continued as such throughout the remainder of the war. . , HOW CAPTAIN ANDREW WON THE ■ ■ ■.; ; .v.o.i ■. Captain L. W. Andrew, V.C., hails from Wanganui. The exploit for which he was awarded his proud distinction was officially recorded in the London Gazette as follows:— . For most conspicuous bravery when in charge of a small party in an attack on the enemy's position. His objective was a machine-gun post which, had been located in an isolated building. Onleading his men forward he encountered unexpectedly a machine-gun post which was holding up the advance of another company; he immediately attacked, capturing the machine-gim and killing several of the crew. He then continued the attack on the machine-gun post which had been his. original N objective. He displayed great skill and determination I.in his disposition, finally .capturing the post, killing several of the enemy and putting the. remainder to flight. His conduct throughout was unexampled for cool daring, initiative and fine leadership, and his magnificent example was a great, stimulant to his comrades.