FAMOUS RIFLEMAN RETIRES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19718, 18 August 1927, Page 10

FAMOUS RIFLEMAN RETIRES

MAJOR J. A/WALLINGFORD. DISTINGUISHED ARMY CAREER. After 42 years' service in the-Imperial and New Zealand military forces, Major J. A. Waliingford, M.C., retired yesterday. He has spent 16 years with the New Zealand forces, and • has retired with a distinguished record. 'Major Waliingford was a famous rifleman. In his young days he went through a course at the Musketry School at Hythe, and his performances there are remembered He was instructor at Hythe for some time, and was known as a master in the art of rifle instruction. Sis times within nine years Major Waliingford won the rifle-shooting championship of the British Army. The same success attended his appearances at the meetings at Bisley * Major Waliingford was transferred to the New Zealand forces in 1911, and at the outbreak of war he went to Galfipoh as infantry brigade machine guu officer. In addition to the work ol organising and supervision, he found time to do more than a little rifle-shoot-ing on his own account, and of the type that is far more dangerous than range work. Many was the time, that Majot Waliingford took his place in the front line of trenches to indulge in a rifle duel with a dangerous Turkish sniper. Musketry instruction has been Major Wallingford's specialty since his arrival here, and he has also held several other appointments on the staff of the Northern Command He was attached to the General Staff of the Northern Command up to the time of his retirement. , He leaves behind him a tradition. He has installed into many instructors his own enthusiasm for rifle-shooting.