MILITARY CHANGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23970, 21 May 1941, Page 8

MILITARY CHANGE

ADVISER FROM BRITAIN SIR GUY WILLIAMS STAFF CHIEF RETIRING [BY TKLKCKAI'H Pit ESS ASSOCIATION j WE LLI NO TON, Tuesday The" impending retirement of MajorGeneral Sir .John Duigan, D.5.0., Chief of the General Staff, was announced by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. W. Nash, to-day. "It is with the greatest reluctance," said Mr. Nash, "that the Government acceded to Major-General Duigan's request that he should he permitted to retire. While he has - for some time been anxious to go, he consented to remain at his post at the special request of the Government. Hut now he ieeis that his health, which has been indifferent for some time, will' no longer stand the severe strain which the duties of Chief of the General Staff demand. "I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government, of paying a sincere tribute to MajorGeneral Duigan's outstanding services. Prior to his retirement MajorGeneral Duigan proposes to visit the main camps throughout the Dominion. "The New Zealand Government aslced the British Government for the loan of a senior military officer for a few months to advise the New Zealand Government on problems relating to the organisation and training of the New Zealand military forces," said Mr. Nash. "The services of LieutenantGeneral Sir Guy Williams, late General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, have been placed at the disposal of the New Zealand Government, and he is on his way to New Zealand, accompanied by a small staff." Major-General Sir John Duigan has been Chief of the General Staff since April, 1937, when he became the first New Zealand-born head of the country's military forces. His term was due to expire on April 1, after it had been extended for a year in 1940. The retiring general's experience dates back to the South African War, where, at the age of 18, he served as the youngest subaltern in the British Forces. On his return to New Zealand he entered the New Zealand Permanent Forces as a cadet. He specialised in military engineering and was sent to England for two years to take special courses in engineering, signalling and electrical lighting.

At the outbreak of the Great War Sir .John was attending a course at the Staff College, Quetta, and he joined the first unit of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force at Colombo. Then he returned to New Zealand to raise the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps, which was the first unit from this country to reach France. Later he went to the General Staff of the Expeditionary Force in France, and later he was on the staff of Lieutenant-General Haldane. commanding the Sixth Army Corps. After a period as instructor of topography. Senior Officers' School, Aldershot, Sir John was seconded by the War Office for special duty in Die Fnitcd States, where he served as an instructor and also as a propagandist for Liberty Bonds. He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1919. On his return to New Zealand MajorGeneral Duig&n became chief staff officer. Northern Command, and later became officer commanding the district. From Auckland he was appointed to the command he is now relinquishing. He was knighted last year.