CAMBERLEY COLLEGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22351, 24 February 1936, Page 9

CAMBERLEY COLLEGE

NEW COMMANDANT MAJOR-GENERAL GORT (Received February 23, 5.5 p.m.) British Wireless RUGBY, Feb. 22 The War Office announces that Major-General Viscount Gort, V.C., has been appointed Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley. Major-General Viscount Gort was born in July, ISB6. His father, the sth Viscount, died when the son was 16 and still at school. Educated at Harrow and Sandhurst, he took a commission in the Grenadier Guards in 1905 and became known for his devotion to duty and his study of all aspects of military science. In 1913 he was made A.D.C. to the General-Officer-Command-ing, London District, and when the Great War began held the rank of captain. Serving in Franco, he was awarded the M.C. in 1915, the D.S.O. in 1917 and the V.C. in 1918. In the course of the war he was mentioned in despatches nine times. The V.C. was given for Lord Gort's conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and devotion to duty when commanding the Ist Grenadiers- in the attack of the Guards Division across the Canal du Nord, near Flesquieres on September 27, 1918. Wounded early in the battle, he was again wounded in thO later stages, this time severely, but insisted upon completing his dispositions until he collapsed from loss of blood. The attack resulted in the capture of 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and a large number of machineguns. Lord Gort was promoted colonel in 1926 and a year later was appointed chief general staff officer to General Duncan, when the latter com-

manded the defence force at Shanghai. Lord Gort's coolness and tact proved of very great value in handling the difficult issues which arose at Shanghai from the Chinese hostility to foreigners during that disturbed period. In 1930 Lord Gort was appointed to the command of the Grenadier Guards and also of the 3rd London Infantry Brigade. It was announced in November, 1931, that the late Mrs. Louisa Thiele, widow of a Royal Army Medical Corps officer, had left him her estate of £9500 in recognition of his fine character and the use he had mado of his talents, wealth and position in tho unselfish service of his country.