MAJOR WALLINGFORD, M.C.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 October 1924, Page 9

MAJOR WALLINGFORD, M.C.

HIS AIAGNIFICENT RECORD. THE “AIAD AIINUTE.” LONDON, Aug. 2. “A Prince of Riflemen” is the title of an interesting article contributed to the August issue of Chambers’ Journal by Lieutenant-Colonel J. L. Sleeman, C.M.G., who was Director of Military Training to - the New Zealand Forces from 1916 to 1921. The subject of his highly appreciative article is Major J. <A. Wallingford, M.C., who, in 1911, transferred from the British Army t-o the New Zealand Forces, and went with the Auzacs to Gallipoli as infantry brigade machine gun officer in 1915. In New Zealand and on Gallipoli, Colonel Sleeman was immensely impressed with the absolute unanimity with which men trained to arms expressed their admiration for AA Tallingford’s wonderful handling of the rifle and machine-guns, and his utter disregard for his life during those critical days. “For the colonial soldier is ever a severe critic, and seldom gives credit unless it is absolutely deserved.”

( “Apparently in the early days on Gallipoli, when a particularly obnoxious Turkish sniper manifested himself, who proved too difficult for the ordinary shot to locate or dislodge, it was the custom to send for AVallingford. He would arrive in the trench nearest to the sniper, as cool and unconcerned as if in Bond street, and, after ■ receiving all particulars* regarding the supposed position of the Turkish sniper, would expose himself over the parapet in order to obtain ‘first-hand 5 information as to the exact position. His amazing knowledge, gained in many years of musketry experience, enabled him almost- invariably to judge the position of a sniper, once he had been fired at, by a well-nigh ‘Sherlock Holmes’ power of deduction. Once the sniper’s position had been ascertained, AVallingford would charge his magazine and engage ln a rapid-fire duel with the sniper, which always ended in AVallingford’s success. In most cases I was assured that AVallingford was able to fire at least three shots to a sniper’s one. So niuch for the value of musketry training during times of peace.’.’ In Colonel Sleeman’s opinion, “unquestionably the Germans failed to gain a victory in the Great AiVar owing to their initial blunders of 1914. Chief among these was their ignorance regarding the power-value of the modern rifle when used by our highly experienced long-service soldiers. Time after time in 1914-15 the mighty hordes of the German army were stemmed by an insignificant number of ‘Old Conteipptibles,’ compelled by circumstances to rely almost entirely upon the rifle for their, defence. So excellently were their rifles used that the Germans thought their set-back due to large numbers of machine-guns, whereas the infantry battalions of the British Army—owing to the apathetic folly of some who should have known better — possessed two machine-guns only. When, therefore, we praise the work of the Navy, the Army, and the Air Force for having won the Great War, history should record the fact that, but for the .303 rifle wielded by brave, well-trained, and disciplined soldiers trained to the ‘mad minute’ (fifteen well-aimed rounds in one minute), the Germane must have triumphed in their initial march on Paris in 1914.”

The writer first met Staft-Sergeant-Ma-jor Wallingford !a.t the musketry course at Hythe twenty-three years ago. “Already his fame had spread throughout the a-rmy, and I remember the intense interest with which we young officers looked forward to the demonstration of rifle-fire given by Wallingford to each party of officers attending a- Hythe course. . . . Tall, wiry, cool, and determined, AVallingford was the beau-ideal of a soldier, while he possessed those clear, steelblue eyes so curiously typical of good rifle shots.”.

Subsequently in Africa and in Indio, the reader is told, AVallingford's name was held in immense respect by the private soldier. “Any man in my regiment who particularly distinguished himself in rifle-shooting v;p. i always nicknamed ‘Wallingford, the sincerest fo-rm of flattery that can be offered by the British soldier.” Full details are given of \A r alling-. ford’s wonderful prowess as a shot and of his prize-captures at Bislev. Six times within nine years he Avon the British Army championship. It was as infantry brigade machinegun officer at Gallipoli that he was Mile to see that the arguments used by the staff at the School of Musketry, folloAving the South African AAAar, Avere based on sound conclusions. These argAiments AA-ere that officers without war service should not he alloAA-ed to draAv up rules governing the fighting instruction of the soldier, and that those in charge of musketry training should remember that the pe’wrmal factor must abvays be taken into consideration. AA rallingfot'd never forgot that on one . ocoa‘ivn. when the new rifle Avas under discussion, the artillery members of ibo committee appointed made him shoot a charge of fifty-one grains of co>-difce. in tbe laying position, at bis greatest rapidity. oA r erlooking that a liHeman was not made of steel like o>r. out's they AA-ere accustomed •to doe’ with. “AVallingford’s wonderful shooting • wa.s not due to extraordinary physical strength or abnormal qualities. Ever a sparely-built man. be owed bis success almost entirely to concentration. self-control. and an amazingly strong power of determination. Surrounded, as be Avas at Hythe. by tbe best rifle-shots of the British Army—Avliieh is equivalent to saying the world —Wallingford suc-f-epded. yea-r after year, in maintaining his position, as the greatest inns-t-07-v expe’-t of all. To succeed in doing this for one year is creditable: to maintain this reputation for sevonie',-> ven - s is Avonderful. Ac T can testify, by a knowledge o,f Walk nn-fe-.d’s Quartan habits, this avos not-a-hieA-ed Avithout denying himself most of the ‘pleasures of life.’ Avhich sap the self-control and nerve of lesser men ’Hie great part, he plavcl

in teaching the armv to shoot should be remembered by the nation be has so worthily represented. Let us ’■ remember this AA'hen Ave recall the stemming of the German rush to Paris in 1914.”