MAJ.-GENERAL P. H. BELL

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 February 1945, Page 8

MAJ.-GENERAL P. H. BELL

RETIREMENT ANNOUNCED.

WELLINGTON, February 18. In a statement to-day, the Minister of Defence (Hon. F. Jones) announced that Major-General P. H. Bell, C. 8., D. 5.0., A.D.C. to the King, New Zealand Staff Corps, district commandant of the Northern Military District, is shortly to retire from service, having reached the retiring age. “On the retirement ol? this distinguished Army officer,'' said Mr. Jones, “I would like to take the opportunity of paying tribute to the very fine service lie has rendered, especially during tin?, present war. Under normal circumstances, MajorGeneral Bell would have retired in 1941, when he reached the retiring age, but on account of the anti-inva-sion measures that had to be taken as a result of Japan’s entry into the war, the complete mobilisation of the Territorial Force, and the presence of large numbers of Allied servicemen in New Zealand, it was necessary io retain him on the active List.

“He will be succeeded in his appointment as district commandant by Brigadier A. B. Williams. D. 5.0., R.N.Z.A., to whom he is now handing over his command. Before proceeding to Auckland, Brigadier Williams was commandant of the Central Military District, which appointment he recently handed over to Brigadier L. Potter, D. 5.0., New Zealai'.d Staff Corps, who commanded a brigade in the 3rd New Zealand Division in the Pacific.”

Born at Wanganui in 1886, MajorGeneral Bell was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School. He became a member of military staffs at Palmerston North, Dunedin, Hamilton, Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 1913. In 1914 and 1915 he served with the Wellington and Auckland. Regiments, and from 1915 to 1919 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. In 1915 he was made a captain, and a lieutenant-colonel in 1918. He received the Distinguished Service Order and the Croix de Guerre, and was mentioned in dispatches three times. In 1919 he was unpointed to the New Zealand Staff Corps and from 1928 to 1929 was officer commanding the Samoa Military Police. He was appointed officer commanding the Southern Military District in 1937, subsequently going to Auckland in a similar position.