Brigadier Weir To Be Chief Of N.Z. Military Forces

Northern Advocate, 1 November 1945, Page 6

Brigadier Weir To Be Chief Of N.Z. Military Forces

(P.A.) ■ WELLINGTON, This Day The impending retirement of LieutGeneral E. Puttick, C. 8., D. 5.0., General Officer Commanding and Chief of the General staff of the New Zealand Military Forces, was announced today by the Minister for Defence (Hon. F. Jones). General Puttick reached the retiring age on June 26. and completed his term of office on August 19, but the Government did not wish to make, a change while the war continued. However, now that the war had ended. it had been decided that General Puttick would relinquish his appointments on December 31, and on completing his retiring leave, would be posted to the retired list. He will be succeeded by Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir, C.B.E. at present Quartermaster-General at Army headquarters, who will be promoted MajorGeneral and appointed Chief of General Staff and First Military Member of the Army Board as from January 1. 1946.

Mr. Jones expressed his own personal appreciation as well as that of the Cabinet and Government, of General Puttick’s long, distinguished and loyal service. He had proved himself a very distinguished leader in the field in two wars, a most able staff officer, with a special aptitude for organisation and administration, and as General Officer Commanding and Chief of the General Staff! during the eventful years of this war. he had rendered outstanding service to the Government and Dominion.

Brigadier Weir was born in Canterbury in 1893, and educated at Christchurch West High School. In 1911 he entered the Royal Military College at Duntroon as one of the first New Zealand cadets to train there. He graduated on August 12, 1914, and served at Gallipoli, being invalided back to New Zealand in 1916. He held various appointments and at the outbreak of the last war held the rank of colonel, being officer commanding the Northern Military District. He commanded the 4th New Zealand Division in 1942, proceeding overseas in December of the same year. He was attached to the 2nd Division during the “left hook” from Wadi Tamast to Tripoli, and remained with it until the battle of Medenine. When the New Zealand corps undertook the ‘‘left hook” to El Hammah. he was attached to the 30th Corps. He returned to New Zealand in 1944 for appointment as Quar-termaster-General.