THE NEW COMMANDANT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19195, 8 December 1925, Page 10

THE NEW COMMANDANT.

COLONEL YOUNG APPOINTED. A FINE MILITARY RECORD. DISTINGUISHED WAR SERVICE. HARD-WORKING AND EFFICIENT. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COnnESrONDKNT. ] WELLINGTON. Monday. Cabinet to-day appointed Colonel-Com-mandant Robert Young, C.8., C.M.G., D.5.0., New Zealand Staff Corps, and at present officer commanding tho Southern Command, to bo tho General Officer Commanding tho New Zealand Forces, in succession to tho la to Major-General C. W. Melvill. Tho appointment is for a term of four years. In announcing the appointment, the Minister for Defence, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, remarked that tho ability of Colonel Young as a soldier was well-known to all members of tho New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and ho left it to those who served with him to speak of his high qualities and tho respect in which they held him. "It is as officer commanding the Southern Command that Colonel Young has come under my immediate notice," said the Minister, " and ho has proved in that position to bo a hard working and efficient commander, as well as a good administrator. 1 have every confidence that lie will carry out his work with tho same efficiency and tho same zeal that ho has displayed while in command of the Southem district." An Early Volunteer. Tho new commandant was born at Sunderland, England, on January 5, 1877. He is a son of tho Rev. R. Young, of St. Mark's, Carterton. He received the latter part of his education at Nelson College and in 1900 enrolled in tho ranks of the Amuri Mounted Rifles, which regiment was subsequently absorbed into the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Ho then socured a commission in the Royal Rifles at Marton, where ho was in practico as a dentist, and in 1910 was promoted captain. After (ho war broko out Colonel Young left New Zealand with the main body as a major in tho 9th (Hawke's Bay) Company of the Wellington Battalion. He was in the first landing at Gallipoli in April, 1915. About a month after his. arrival on tho Peninsula ho was transferred to the Auckland Infantry Battalion, and when Lieutenant-Colonel Plugge was wounded ho was promoted temporary lieutenant-colonel and given the command of tho Auckland Battalion. He was confirmed in this rank in tho following November, when he was given tho command of the Canterbury Battalion, vice Lieutenant-Colonel J. Hughes, who was invalided in December, 1915. Lieutenant-Colonel Young returned to .Egypt upon the evacuation of the Peninsula, and in the following April 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. In the June of that year he was given the temporary command of the second New Zealand Infantry Brigade, during the absence of Brigadier-General Braithwaite. On August 9, 1917, he was wounded in" action. Becomes Brigade Commanderlle returned to the lino 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 ho was again on the Western front, taking command on his arrival of the first New Zealand Infantry Brigade, vice Brigadier-General C. W. Melvill. He retained this command fey- about 14 months, and was then appointed to the charge of the second New Zealand Infantry Brigade, in succession to General Hart J 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 staffofficer commanding the Canterbury district, and in January, 1921, became officer commanding the Southern Command, the office he holds at the present time. Colonel Young was mentioned in despatches 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 threo times 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 tho Peninsula Colonel Young was awarded t.be D.S.O. in November, 1915, and in -the New Year Honours in 1916 he was made C.M.G. The honour of the; C,B. was awarded in the Birthday Honours in 1916. •He is also a member of the Legion of Honour.