VICE-REGAL

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 28 August 1924, Page 5

VICE-REGAL

NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

GENERAL SIR CHARLES

FERGUSSON

SON OF FORMER GOVERNOR

(BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELLINGTON, Aug. 27. In the House to-night, the Prim© Minister (Mr W. F; -Massey) l announced that His Excellency the Gov-ernor-General had received advice from the Secretary of State for the Colonies that His Majesty the King has been, graciously pleased do appoint-General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., D. 5.0., M.V.0., . to be Governor-General and Commander-in-, Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand in succession, to . Admiral of the . JHeet.' Viscount Jellicoe of Scapa, whose period of office will shortly expire. In supplementing- this announcement Mr Massey said it was a happy coincidence that Sir Charles was a son of a' former Governor of New Zealand, who he remembered, while Lady Fergusson. was a daughter of Lord.: Glasgow., also a former Governor of the Dominion. “It had been suggested,” added Mr, Massey, “that we were likely to .get an admiral in succession to ,-our. present admiral Governor-General, but if that could not be we have at least got a brother of an admiral.”

(By Telegraph—Special to the Star.) .; WELLINGTON,- A-ng,. 27. In making tlie announcement' that General' Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart., has been appointed' Governor-General of New Zealand,' the Premier pointed out that General Fergusson,, who is. the eldest son of Sir James. Fergusson, Governor of New Zealand in 1873-1874, had had a splendid career. Mr-Massey considered it was .'very fortunate that His Majesty had selected the General to be his representative and GovernorGeneral for the next few year's. It was a wonderful ..coincidence that General Fergusson cable to New Zealand as the son of a former Governor, who many people remembered' Very well. Mr Massey said he remembered him, and when he first entered Parliament Lord Glasgow was Governor, and Lady Fergusson was Lord Glasgow’s daughter. We had every reason to be satisfied. He had been quite anxious as to whether the gentleman to be appointed would be able to'fill the position so satisfactorily occupied by Viscount Jellicoe, but now there, ivas. no reason to doubt it.

General Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart., K.C.8., K.C.M.8., is the eldest son of Sir Janies Fergusson, who was Governor of New Zealand in 1873-1874. He was born in January, 18(55, in Edinburgh, and married the second daughter of tlie Earl of Glasgow, former Governor of New Zealand. He has. a distinguished military record, including the Egyptian campaign in 1896-1898, the European war, in which lie commanded the sth Division and subsequently the 2nd and 17til Army Corps. He was military governor of tlie German occupied ferritorv in 1918-19, and was mentioned in despatches seven times. ‘

General . Sir Charles Fergusson, seventh Baronet of ; Kilkerran, is? the eldest sob of the sixth Baronet,. his deceased mother being the daughter of the Marquis of, Dalhoiisie. He was born at Edinburgh' on ' June' 7, 1865.

He was educated at Eton and._Sandhurst Military College, ; aiid passing out of the latter he joined the Grenadier Guards in 1883. He had consider, able service in the Sudan in the' campaigns of 1890-94, and lie joined the Egyptian army in 1895. He was present with tlie- Soudanese Battalion through the campaigns of 1896-97-98, .being severely wounded at Rassaires and gaining a medal with eight clasps, besides being '.mchtfoned-'live "tipies iiiTLdespatches and, promoted to the. brevet rank of colonel,, in which capacity he subsequently commanded- the 15th Soudanese. After being in-charge of ■ the garrisons and .district of. .Oinclm-man, the Dominion’s future Governor-General became Adjutant-General of the Egyptian Army, then Brigadier-General in Ireland, followed by the appointment of Inspector of Infantry. His later military services, were- -j,n the., great European war, . being mentioned seven: times in dOsoatehes' and receiving the K. 0.8. and K.C.M.G: General -Fergusspu is the first. Gover-nor-General whose father has filled the same high position, the Rt. Hon. Sir James Fergusson having been Governor of New Zealand.: from." June;’l4' 1873,to December 3, .187.4, in succession toSir George Fergusson Bowen. It is interesting to note that Sir James-was Governor of South'. Australia before coming to New Zealand, and, that at one time he wa.s Under-Secretary for India, so that administrative and diplomatic traits appear to' be well blended in fliis family with distinguished military services. ... ' . , Sir Charles married' in 1901/ Lady /Mice Mary Bovle, second daughter of the Earl of Glasgow, also a former Governor of New Zealand. They have three sons aiid one daughter.