NOTES ON THOSE- WHO HAVE BEEN HONOURED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16051, 18 October 1915, Page 7

NOTES ON THOSE- WHO HAVE BEEN HONOURED.

FIRST NEW ZEALAND V.C. OF THE WAR.

The signaller who has won the Victoria Cross, the first New Zealander to win the coveted distinction during the present war, is believed to be Sapper C. R. G. Bassett, a member of the Divisional Signal Company, Engineers. This company of experts was concentrated at Palmerston North a year ago, when the main body was being organised, and it sailed with the main body from Wellington. "* Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Plugge, C.M.G., who left for the front in command of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, is veiy well known and popular in Auckland, where ho resided for many years. He was born in Hull, England, on February 17, 1878. He was formerly on the teaching staff of King's College, but for the past four or five years before going to the war he occupied the position of principal of the Dilworth Institute. He took a keen interest in military training, and was. before going on active service, second in command of the 3rd, Auckland. Regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Plugge married a daughter of Mr. Graves Aickin. and Mrs. Plugge and their three children are resident in Auckland. It was reported some months ago that Lieutenant-Colonel Plusjge led bis men very gallantly at the famous landing on April 25, and was then slightlv wounded. Even after he was injured he continued to carry out bis duties, bat eventually he had to gr> into hospital, and was then invalided to England. A few weeks ago it was reported that he had recovered, and was about to return to the Dardanelles. The military career of Lieutenant-Colonel G. S. Richardson, C.M.G., has been a remarkably successful one. He gave up commercial work at the age of 16 and joined the Royal Garrison Artillery at Woolwich. Transferred to Gibraltar, as a gunner he studied very hard, and his zeal and industry won the approval of his commanding officer, and he was sent to England for special training. After that he was promoted, and later still was sent to New Zealand as a gunnery instructor. His exceptional ability and his enormous capacity fur work quickly won for him in the Dominion an enviable reputation. At the end of his engagement in New Zealand ho was given the commission of captain and attached to the New Zealand Staff. He taught himself French. Spanish and shorthand, and then he qualified by examination for entrance to the Camherley Staff College, England, which he entered in 1910 with the rank of major. His success at the college brought him nnder the. notice of the War Office authorities, and Major Richardson being then in England as a New Zealand staff officer, was one of those entrusted with the organisation of a force of sailors and marines for the defence of Antwerp. He was mentioned in despatches for his services as chief of staff to General Pariss at Antwerp and promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Later he was' engaged in France under Sir John French. When the Dardanelles expedition was being prepared LieutenantColonel Richardson went to the east as quartermaster general with the Naval Division. Major William McGregor Turnbull, D.5.0.. of the New Zealand Staff Corps, went to the front in command of the South Otago Company of the Otago Battalion. He was ono of the young New Zealand officers who were, sent to England for special training, and on his return he was given the rank 'if captain, and nut in charge of No. 15 group, with headquarters at Oamaru. Major Geoffrey Samuel Smith, D.5.0., left New Zealand with the main fnrce. with the rank of captain and as second in command of the South Otago Company of the Otago Battalion. He was on the retired list when war broke v out. Major Smith was reported severely wounded on May 12, and was sent %; ; to England, but is since stated to have made a good recovery. , Lieutenant-Colonel H. Pope. C.8., went to the front as commander of the 16th Battalion of the Fourth Australian Infantry Brigade. One- of the im- ■ > portant strategic positions at Anzac is named alter bun-said to be a recogmtion _■ .... of his successful leadership. ;. fi , , -v- 'j, '. --'■L'^2^.-1 ..- ■•!-.• Colonel, the Hon. J. W. McCay, C.8., V.D., is the commander of the Second Infantry Brigade, of the Australian Expeditionary Force. >* .-: _ ■ -. -v : , : ,._. Lieutenant-Colonel G. J. Bnmage, C.8., *?>??££££ * TT. mand of the loth Battalion of the Fourth Australian Infantry Bng«ifc . -.. .' f