ARMY PROMOTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24078, 24 September 1941, Page 4

ARMY PROMOTIONS

Sir. —Does not your correspondent "Opportunity" appear to place too much stress upon the urge to attain to commissioned rank in New Zealand, overlooking the qualities that warrant the promotion of men serving overseas? The Napoleonic maxim still stands that "every soldier carries a field marshal's baton in his knapsack." Although our N.Z.E.F. does not ascend to the high rank of marshal it might he of comfort to "Opportunity" to know that two brigadiers now with the Second N.Z.E.F. overseas were "rankers" in the Ist N.Z.E.F. With examples like these why should there bo further delay on the part of "Opportunity"? 1 know of more than one youngster who declined appointment in New Zealand, preferring to win it in the field —and he did so, "off his own bat." Ist N.Z.E.F. (1914). Sir. —I was interested in tlie letter bv "Opportunity" in last Friday's Herat.d. I would like to give my experience on the same question in the last war. 1 left New Zealand as an N.C.O. with the Main Body, and served throughout with the division until after the armistice —years in all. After Egypt we went to Ciallipoli, where 1 gained a commission in the field. Then a bit of service on the Canal, and off to France where we got stuck into it. and I collected a decora- , tion and another pip.

I can vividly recall fhe galling experience to me (and other similar officers who had won their spurs) of having posted to our regiment officers who had just arrived from New Zealand, and who were senior to us (this after •_'j years of war). We had to initiate them and show them round, and I think it must, have been humiliating to them a.s their arrival and absorption was resented by the old hands over there. I can well remember my sergeant, who was a Main Body man, and of excellent officer material, becoming exasperated at the later arrival of these reinforcement officers from New Zealand. Naturally after having been "blooded" and in every scrap for three years, and of the right type, he expected some opportunity for promotion to commissioned rank. I sincerely hope the Army Department will adhere to its policy of giving commissions to those who went early overseas and not perpetuate a similar experience to mine in the last war. 1 think "Opportunity" should have given this some consideration just about two vears ago. Imukt Kchkton.