NEW G.O.C.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XV, Issue 214, 9 December 1925, Page 6

NEW G.O.C.

COLONEL YOUNG’S CAREER. Colonel-Comandant Robert Young, C. 8., C.M.G., D. 5.0., who has been appointed General Officer Commanding New Zealand Forces, was born at Sunderland, England, on January 5, 1877. and is the son of the Rev R. Young, vicar of Carterton. He received the latter part of his education at Nelson College, and in 1900 he enrolled in the ranks of the Amuri Mount© I Rifles, which reigment was subsequently absorbed into the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. He then secured a commission in the Royal Rifles at Marton, where he was in practice as a dentist, and in 1910 he was pro meted captain. Captain Young was keenly interested in volunteer military service until the war broke out, enlisting on August 18, 1914. Ho left New Zealand in the Main Body of the N.Z.E.F., as a major in the 9th (Hawke’s Bay) Company of the Wellington Battalion, and was in the first landing at Gallipoli. In May, 1915, about a month after his arrival on the Peninsula, he was transferred to the Auckland Infantry Battalion, and when Lieutenant-Colonel Phigge was wounded he was promoted temporary lieutenantcolonel, and given the command of the Auckland Battalion. He was confirm ej in this rank in the following Novem her, when lie was given the command of the Canterbury BaTtalion, vice Lieuten-ant-Colonel J. G. Hughes, who was in-

valided. Ln December, 1915, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Young returned to Egypt upon the evacuation of the Peninsula, and in the following April he went to France with the Expeditionary Force. In August, .1916, he assumed temporary

command of the Second New Zealand Infantry Brigade, holding that office until January, 1917. Further promotion followed in the June of that year, maud of the Second New Zealand* Infantry Brigade during the absence of Brigadier-General Braithwaite. On August 9, 1917, he was wounded in action, and he returned to the line as Commander of the Third New Zealand Rifle Brigade, vice Brigadier-General F. E. Johnston, who was killed in action; with this promotion he assumed the rank of colonel. In October, 1917, he was sent to England, but two months later he was again on the Western front, taking command on his arrival of the First New Zealand Infantrv Brigade, vice Brigadier-Gen-eral C. W. Melvill. He retained this

command for about fourteen months, aud was then appointed to the charge of the Second New Zealand Infantry Brigade in succession to General Hart, remaining in that position until April, 1919, when he assumed command of A Group, N.Z.E.F., at Sling Camp. Returning to New Zealand in August, 1919, Colonel Young was appointed staff-officer commanding the Canterbury district, and in January, 1921, he became officer commanding the Southern Command, the office which he holds at the present time. Colonel Young was mentioned in dispatches five times during his service in the Great War, first by General Sir lan Hamilton, in September, 1915, again in the following December, subsequent to the evacuation, and then three limes by Sir Douglas Haig. His war decorations include the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. In recognition of his services on the Peninsula, Colonel Young was awarded the D.S.O. in November, 19.15, and in the New Year honours in .1916 he was made C.M.G. The honour of the C.TS. was awarded in the Birthday Honours in 1916. He is also a member of the Legion of Honour.