SENIOR OFFICERS APPOINTED FOR TERRITORIALS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22822, 17 December 1948, Page 7

SENIOR OFFICERS APPOINTED FOR TERRITORIALS

WELLINGTON. Dec. 17.

The names of the commanding officers of Territorial Force units were gazetted last evening. The Minister of Defence, Mr. F. Jones described this as the second important step toward building up a post-war Territorial Force, the first having been the reconstruction of units as announced in the Gazette about a month ago. The most senior appointment gazetted is that of Brigadier F. M. H. Hanson, D. 5.0.. 0.8. E., M.M., posted to headquarters, New Zealand Division. Tiie Minister said that the next step would be the appointment, in consultation with the commanding officers, of other officers and any N.C.O.'s who volunteered to serve. Referring to the recent reconstruction of units, the Minister said that the organisation then set out, representing a division, including three armoured regiments and some additional troops besides static coast and anti-aircraft units, would be unchanged whether service was to be universal or voluntary. It was now, therefore, possible to proceed with the preliminary work of building up a Territorial Force in a logical and orderly manner.

Refresher Courses Planned

Discussing the next step, which will be the appointment, in consultation with the commanding officers, of other officers and any non-commissioned officers who volunteered to serve, the Minister said these officers would then be given a refresher course so that when it had been decided whether military service was to be universal or voluntary the Territorial Force would begin its training under experienced leaders who were familiar with the latest training methods and latest developments in military techniques. Mr. Jones said the commanding officers whose appointments were now announced had all had distinguished service in the recent war. They were prepared to continue serving in the Territorial Force until other officers had been trained and were capable of taking over from them. *T wish to thank those officers who have been commanding these units since the end of the war and have assisted materially in keeping alive the traditions and spirit of the old Territorial Force,” said the Minister. “They have now handed over to the new commanding officers and have gone into honourable retirement. Officers Selected The appointments of commanding officers include the following: Second Field Regiment, R.N.Z.A., Captain (temp. Lieutenant-Colonel) W. D. Philp D. 5.0., E.D., to be Lieutenant-Colonel. Fifth Anti-tank Regiment, R.N.Z.A., Colonel J. M. Mitchell, D. 5.0., E.D., to be Lieutenant-Colonel.

Tenth Coast Regiment, R.N.Z.A., Lieutenant-Colonel K. W. Fraser, 0.8. E E.D.

Fourteenth Composite Anti-Aircrafi Regiment, R.N.Z.A., Temp. Major R. G Bannister, to be Lieutenant-Colonel.

Second Armoured Regiment, R.N.Z.A.C., Lieutenant-Colonel H. A Robinson, D. 5.0., M.C., E.D. First Divisional Regiment, R.N.Z.A.C (New Zealand Scottish) LieutenantColonel R. P. R. McGlashan. 0.8. E. Second Infantry Brigade, Temp. Brigadier I. L. Bonifant, D. 5.0., E.D., to be Brigadier. The Royal N.Z. Army Service Corps, Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Blazey 0.8. E., E.D., to be Lieutenant-Colonel Second General Hospital, R.N.Z.A.M.C., Captain (Temp. LieutenantColonel) E. D. Button, 0.8. E., M. 8., Ch.B., F.R.C.S. (Eng.), F.R.C.S. (Edin.) to be Colonel.

Second Field Ambulance, R.N.Z.A.M.C., Lieutenant, (Temp. LieutenantColonel) J. K. Elliott, 0.8. E., M. 8., Ch.B F.R.C.S. (Eng.) to be LieutenantColonel

The Royal N.Z. Army Ordnance Corps, Temp. Major D. E. Harper, to be Lieutenant-Colonel.

The Royal N.Z. Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Lieutenant-Colonel N. L. W. Uniacke, 0.8. E. The Royal N.Z. Corps of Signals. Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel G. L. Agar, D. 5.0., 0.8. E., to be LieutenantColonel.