ARMOURED DIVISION

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20639, 20 August 1941, Page 5

ARMOURED DIVISION

AUSTRALIAN COMMANDER SYDNEY, Aug. 9. The Deputy-Chief of the Australian General Staff, Major-General J. Northcott, has been appointed to the command of the First Armoured Division, Australian Imperial Force, to take effect from September 1. Brigadier S. F. Rowell, Brigade Chief of Staff at General Blarney’s Headquarters, will leave the Middle East soon to take Major-General Northcott’s former position. Announcing these military changes, the Minister of the Army, Mr. P. C. Spender, said Australia was fortunate to have the services of such an experienced officer as Brigadier Rowell for the training of troops for Australia’s defence. “It has been arranged that Brigadier Rowell will visit the Australian Imperial Force in Malaya during his return trip,” Mr. Spender said. “He is expected in Sydney on August 19.” Major-General Northcott will continue his present duties until arrangements can be made for his final relief by Brigadier Rowell. __ ( Brigadier Rowell is a South Australian, who graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in the original first class, and attended the Staff College at Camberley (England). He later distinguished himself at the Imperial Defence College, to which few Australians have been invited.