GISBORNE OFFICER GIVEN COMMAND OF 2nd INF. BRIGADE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22822, 17 December 1948, Page 4

GISBORNE OFFICER GIVEN COMMAND OF 2nd INF. BRIGADE

| In the list of senior officers appointed [ to command Territorial Force units appears the name of Brigadier 1. L. BoniI fant, D.S.O. and Bar. Gisborne, who has i been given the command of Second 1 Infantry Brigade.

Brigadier Bonifant, who came to Gisborne this year as manager of the local branch of Messrs. Dalgety and Company Ltd., from Christchurch, had an outstanding war career. At the outbreak of war Tie was head auctioneer for his firm in Christchurch. Travelling overseas with the Second Echelon, he served first with the Divisional Cavalry Regiment. Following the desert campaign and the invasion of

Italy there came the series of battles for Cassino. When the New Zealanders took over from the Americans and the division was built up to the strength of a corps under the command of sth Army, he was given his first command of a brigade—the 6th Infantry Brigade. In the final stages of the war, Brigadier Bonifant commanded the sth Infantry Brigade in the Senio River assault" which led to the folding up of German resistance and the chase to Trieste.

On his return to New Zealand, Brigadier Bonifant chose Regular Army service in New Zealand as a career and for three months was in command of Area 10, Christchurch, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. However, he resigned from the service, returned to his civilian occupation and soon was posted to Gisborne as branch manager.