OFFICERS OF THE FORCE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15684, 11 August 1914, Page 9

OFFICERS OF THE FORCE

THE ADVANCE GUARD. COLONEL LOGAN IN COMMAND [BY TELEGRAPH. CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. The following are the officers of the advance guard of the expeditionary force:—ln command, Colonel R. Logan, now officer commanding Auckland district; staff officer, Major W. R. Bin will, general staff officer of Canterbury district; field cashier, Lieutenant Hackworth, sth Wellington Regiment; Army Service Corps commanded, Captain Wright, Auckland; field ambulance,"Major W. Holmes, Wellington ; infantry commander, Colonel C. H. Turner, Wellington ; second infantry commander, Major Fulton; infantry company commanders, Majors R. S. J. Beere, Wellington, Major Cowles, Wellington, Captain Wilkinson, assistant adjutant sth Wellington Regiment; to be in charge machine gun section, Captain McQuarrio, of» D Mounted Battery, Wellington; Major Kay, Auckland, to command the Auckland Infantry Company; Captain S. J. Keenan, Wellington, to command the Railway Engineers. The ambulance corps will be accompanied by six trained nurses. SELECTION CRITICISED, OFFICIAL CONTRADICTION. [by TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. ] Wellington, Monday. The following official statement was made to-day by General Sir Alexander Godley, officer commanding the Now Zoaland Defence Forces, in regard to a statement that has been mado to tho effect that an undue proportion of Imperial officers are being sent with the expeditionary force, and tliat New Zealand office re who havo undoubted claims are being excluded from appointments. " There are 13 Imperial officers going with the expeditionary force, including myself, if 1 am allowed to go, and my personal aide-de-camp, who is a New Zealander, and who is unpaid. Of the remaining 11, I two are New Zealandors. Against this, I tho services of all Now Zealand officers now at Homo havo been asked for by the War Office, and havo been placed at tho disposal of the Home Government by the New Zealand Government. They are : — ' General Davies, Colonel Smyth, Major J Richardson, Major Gardiner, Captain I Chosney, Captain Smythe, Captain Mel--1 ville, and Lieutenants Davies, Turner, and Burns, a total of 10." j On the headquarters staff of tho expedij tiously force, in addition to General Godley and his personal aide-de-camp, there j is only one Imperial officer, and there arc 14 New Zealand officers. The Mounted Rifles will bo commanded by a New Zealand officer, whoso entire staff is composed of New Zealand officers. All the officers of the Mounted Riilos — alto-gether-—are New Zealand officers, and j (hero is no Imperial officer going with the brigade, except, possibly, ono of His Excellency's staff, who is anxious to go a3 a subordinate officer, if a place can be found for him.

With tho infantry, six Imperial officers will go, two of whom arc NowZoalanders. One of these is the commander of the infantry. With tho Artillery there is one Imperial officer and 17 New Zealand officern, and with tho Engineers one Imperial officer and 21 New Zealand officers. With tie ArmyService Corps there will be two Imperial officers and threo New Zealand officers. This corps has just been formed, and wo have no New Zealand officors yet trained in the duties. With tho Medical Corps aro 31 officers, all New Zealanders, and with tho Veterinary Corps seven officers, all Now Zealanders. "Tho commander of tho first detachment of the expeditionary force," added General Godley, "is a New Zealand officer. There aro four Imperial officers remaining in tho Dominion." GENERAL GODLEY. A. DISTINGUISHED CAREER. Major-General Sir Alexander John Godley, K.C.M.G-, C.8., Commandant of the New Zealand Defence Forces, was born at County Cavan, on February 4, 1867, and was educated at Haileybury College, at the United Service College, Westward Ho, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Joining tho Royal Dublin Fusiliers in 1086, he was ,in 1896 appointed adjutant of the battalion of mounted infantry organised for special service in Rhodesia. Later he was appointed staff officer, with tho Mashonaland Field Force, and commanded a column during the operations under Major-General Sir Frederick Carrington, being mentioned in despatches. He was rewarded with the brevet of major, dated May 8, 1897, and the medal-

On his return to England lie commanded a battalion during tho Salisbury Plains manoeuvres of 1898, and some twelve months later graduated at the btaff College. In July, 1899, when troublo was brewing, with the Boers, he was sent out to South Africa on special service to assist in the raising of colonial mounted troops. On the outbreak of hostilities he was serving as adjutant of tho Protectorate Regiment, and was shut up in Mafeking during the whole of the siege, being one of Colonel Baden-Powell's most trusted officers, and frequently pcrjorming distinguished service.

After the relief of Mafeking in May, 1900, Major God Joy continued to tako an active part in the war with credit to himself and to the forces of which ho had command He was mentioned in despatches, and was rewarded with a brevet lieuten-ant-colonelcy and medals w.th clasps. On bis return to England ho filled various positions' and was promoted to the rank of colonel. Ho was appointed Commandant of the Now Zealand Forces in October, 1910, and has hold that position ever fiinco, being graded major-general on tho Imperial General Staff.

He was knighted in June last, being included in the Birthday honours.

VOLUNTEERS PRAISED.

GENERAL GODLEY'S OPINION. "JUST THE SORT WE WANT." [by TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Monday. In a statement regarding the men who have enrolled for the expeditionary ' forco. General Sir A., J. Godley says: "They are an extremely serviceable and usefullooking lot—just the sort that we want— and I am sure that they will give a good account of themselves."