TERRITORIALS.

Evening Star, Issue 17316, 1 April 1920, Page 7

TERRITORIALS.

-1 V. [By Skirmisher.] The appointment of Second Lieutenant (on probation) T. R. Robertson, 10th (North Otago) Regiment) is confirmed. Second Lieutenant James 0. Prain, from the Unattached List (b), is transferred to 7th (Southland) Mounted Rifles as second lieutenant as from February 11. 1920. J Second Lieutenant Q. R, Kennedy is transferred from the 10th (North Otfum) Regiment to the 4th (Otago) Regiment S Iffl 8 s^rne ran k as from February Captain George Myers, Bth (Southland) Regiment, ia transferred to the Reserve or Officers, dated February 25, 1920. Major (temp. Lieutenant-colonel) James Fitzgerald, M.8., N.Z. Medical Corps, relinquishes the temporary rank of iieu-tenant-oolonel, and !8 transferred to the f-rve of Officers, dated, February 9, Second Lieutenant (temp.) Chas. F. Lucas 12th (Otago) Mounted Rifles, resigns his commission a a from January 28, 1920. Captain Gordon L, M'Cluro, Bth (South- i laad)Rogira6nt, is transferred to tbo sth ul S ton ) Regiment, dated March 1 1920. ' M*® MV notifies that it has been decided that free passages to the United Kingdom may bo granted to widows and f iJ aUS imperial Reservists recalled In® eolors from abroad on mobilisation, and who have died whilst serving during tho war, subject to the following reserva-tions;-—(1) Each caso to bo ono of proved hardship; (2) free passages only to be given to children in caocfl where the mother is returning to the United Kingdom or where they are orphans; (5) when the Reservist lived in a self-governing colony the wife and family only to he given passages provided the wife emigrated within three years before her husband’s death; (4) applications for passages should be submitted to the War OnUo, London, not later than March 51, 1921, for consideration. When applications for passages are not made later than that date passages will bo provided, othei’ conditions for entitlement being fulfilled, even though embarkation cannot bo arranged for until later. The Defence Department now has a large , number of Y.A.D.s on th 6 staff of the Hanmer Springs Hospital, most of them being engaged on light duties, the male staff doing the heavier work of

scrubbing, eto. As a result the wards present a bright appearance, to the great appreciation of the executive staff, who admit the success of the innovation. The V.A.D. staff is largely quartered at Clarence House, formerly a boarding-house, but now leased to the Defence Department. It is also used for isolation purposes, The patients isolated there for varying periods invariably improve from the treatment received. It is announced by tho War Office that the design of tho Victory Medal has been selected by a committee of experts composed of emin§nt representative of tho Royal Academy, Royal Society of British Sculptors, British Museum, and the Royal Mint. The choice has fallen upon the design submitted by Mr W. M'Millau, of 14a Cheyno row, Chelsea. At the end of August it was intimated that the King had been pleased to recognise by the grant of a distinctive medal the services rendered by H. M, Military Forces in theatres of war since August 5, 1914.* The Victory Modal will bo identical in design, ■though differing in specific treatment, with those issued by tho other Allied and Associated Powers, so as to obviate the interchange of commemorative war medals. It will be in bronze and attached to the riband by a ring. There will be no clasp. The riband is to bo red in the centre, with green and violet on each side, shaded to form the colors of two rainbows. In Mr MAlillan’s design there is on the obverse of the medal a winged figure of Victory, full length and full faced, while on the reverse is the in- H scription “ The Great War for Civilisation ” within an ornamental border. 11 is anticipated that at least 5,000,000 medals will have to be struck. Provided tho claims are approved by the’ military authorities, tho medal will be Issued to all officers, warrant officers, non-commis-.eioned officers, and men of the British, Dominion, Colonial, and Indian Forces, members of women formations who have enrolled under direct contract for service v, ith the Imperial Forces, civil medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses, and others employed with military hospitals who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war within the defined periods. Mr M‘Millan is a native of Aberdeen, and has made a considerable reputation ns a sculptor. He studied in London and in Italy. When the war broke out he joined tho Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry'. He served in the Ypros salient in 1915, and was discharged with shell shoe 1 --, from which, however, he has quite recovered. Some years ago he visited Canada at the invi-

tation of tho arohiteot to the Government! of Saskatchewan, and there erected a pediment 70ft long for the Parliament Building at Regina. The full dress uniform of the Territorial Force is khaki, with slouch hat. Certain officers of the staff, however, were entitled to wear red coats on ceremonial occasions before the war. In the case of the Royal New Zca(t;id Artillery blue was the recognised color for fall dress. It has now been decided, however, that for (he future the red and bine full dress and the blue frock coat will be discontinued 00 articles of drees by all officers of the New Zealand Forces. Officers of the active list of the ■ Territorial Force in possession of the regulation mess dress or blue serge jacket may wear these on such occasions as dinners, etc. • but the authorities state that there ia no necessity for Territorial officers to procure any but the khaki service dress. The of. white shuts and collars with khaki service dress when worn as full dress will be discontinued) the khaki flannel shirt, with collar to match, and silk khaki tie being worn instead. All officers of the Defence Force will wear their badges of rank on the shoulder straps ; but officers in possession of tunics with the badges on the cuffs will be permitted to wear them until they are worn out Regimental patches, etc., belonging solely to unite of the Expeditionary Force will not bo worn in future, as tliat force has ceased to exist. In the House of Commons Mr Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for War, stated that the question of battle clasps to tho were medal was being ii® rtigated. He expressed the opinion that 10 named battle clasps ought to cover the war in Franco and two or throe for tho, other theatres. They had to- deal with 6XO-0,000 or 7,000,000 medals, and he could not undertake that the medals should, be Jfccpt back until the clasps were completed.