NORTHERN COMMAND

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1937, Page 11

NORTHERN COMMAND

NEW SENIOR OFFICER

COLONEL R. MILES

The appointment of LieutenantColonel R. Miles, ■ D.5.0., M.C., R.N.Z.A., p.s.c.i to the command of the Northern Military Command, with the temporary rank of colonel, has been announced by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. , Colonel Miles succeeds Major-General 'J. E. Duigan,. D.5.0., A.D.C., who was recently appointed General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces.

Educated at the Rangiora High School and the Royal Military College, Duntroon; Colonel Miles is 43 years of age. He was one of the first party of New Zealand Cadets to enter : the college'when'it was opened-'in June, 1911.; He graduated specially in 1914 to serve with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, passing out top of the college,

and receiving the first graduation certificate issued by the Royal Military College of Australia. Colonel Miles left New Zealand with-the 4th Howitzer Battery of the New Zealand Field Artillery in 1914. He served on Gallipoli, and on the subsequent reorganisation he was appointed to command the 15th Howitzer Battery.

Colonel Miles served with the battery in France until the winter of 1917. He was awarded the Military Cross on the Somme in 1916, and until April, 1918, he held different staff appointments, later commanding the 6th Howitzer Battery.

The Distinguished Service Order (immediate award) was won by Colonel Miles during the German advance on the Lys in April, 1918. He was wounded, and on returning to France he became brigade major of the New Zealand Divisional Artillery, retaining the position until the end of the war. , . ■ ; Returning to New Zealand after the war Colonel Miles commanded .the guard which attended the Prince of Wales during his Dominion tour. He was later adjutant to artillery units in Wellington and Christchurch, and in 1924 and 1925 he attended the Staff College, Camberley, England. For the first six months of 1926 he was attached to the War Office. - On returning to New Zealand he served with the. Northern Command, first as officer commanding the Royal New Zealand Artillery and later as General Staff Officer. He was gazetted lieutenantcolonel in December, 1934.