N.Z. ARMY TO RECRUIT YOUTHS SOON

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1948, Page 5

N.Z. ARMY TO RECRUIT YOUTHS SOON

P.A. WELLINGTON, April 23 in addition to young men of 18 and over from whom enlistments are normally accepted, boys between the ages of 16 and 17 years and 11 months, are now to have the opportunity to join the Regular Army.

As regular force cadets, these boys will train in a special school at Trentham, most of them joining the army for an initial term of eight years. They will train not only as soldiers, but as experts in one of a wide variety of. trades, the remainder signing on for five years. At first they will learn to be army instructors. This development in army policy was announced to-day, by the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones said that the army would be offering regular force cadetships annually for the first quota, which was 100. The applications would close on June 1.

New Quarter-Master General for N.Z. Forces

P.A. WELLINGTON, April 23. Lieutenant - Colonel (Temporary Colonel) R. C. Queree, C.8.E., D. 5.0., aged 38, who returned to New Zealand ■ recently from an appointment on the directing staff of the Staff College at Camberley, has been promoted to be colonel, temporary brigadier, and appointed QuartermasterGeneral of the New Zealand Military Forces. He succeeds Brigadier F. L. Hunt, 0.8. E., who retires from the army. The appointment was announced to-day by the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones.

Colonel Hunt joined the army in 1908, served in both wars, and was appointed quartermaster-general in September, 1946. Brigadier Queree had distinguished service in the Second World War. He began his military career after graduating from Sandhurst in 1929.