GENERAL DAVIES DEAD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16850, 15 May 1918, Page 6

GENERAL DAVIES DEAD.

SUDDEN END IN LONDON. A DISTINGUISHED CAREER. [BY TELEGRAPH.— PRESS ASSOCIATION.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Tuesday. A private cablegram has been received, (stating that General R. H. Davies died suddenly in London on Saturday. Prior to his entry into professional military life, Richard Hutton Davies was a surveyor in the Taranaki district. While practising he was prominently connected with the old New Zealand Volunteer Force, in which he held the rank of captain of the Hawera Mounted Rifles. When the first New Zealand contingent of troops was despatched to South Africa in 1889, Captain Davies was in command of the North Island company. Later he commanded the third, fourth, and eiehlh contingents, and achieved the distinction of being the only colonial officer who was given command of a mobile column in the course of the South African War. For his services in Africa Colonel Davies was thrice mentioned in despatches, was awarded the Queen's Medal with five clasps, and the Ring's Medal with two clasps, and he was also made a CB. Upon his return to New Zealand, he remained attached to the Defence Department, and was for a time officer commanding the Auckland military district. In the interval between . the period of Colonel Babmgton and Colonel Godley as commandant of the forces he was one of the four officers who formed the Defence Council of New Zealand, with the rank of inspector-general. Later he went to England, and was appointed to an important command in the British Army. When the present war broke out he received command of the S:xth Infantry Brigade of the becond Division of the British Expeditionary Force-'.' contemptible little army —with the rank of brigadier-general He took part in the retreat from Alons' and about a month after the commence: ment of operations was invalided to England In February, 1915, he was promoted major-general, and given command of the Twentieth Division. After a further period of active service, he was again invalided to England, and given a Home command which has filled the latter part of his military life. At the time of £ th 6 ? mperial arm - v > Gen *ra ?eXd a tafiCo 8 member ° the New Zealand Staff Corps.