MAJOR S. A. GRANT.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16463, 16 August 1915, Page 3

MAJOR S. A. GRANT.

Major Samuel Alexander Grant was A.Q.M.G. for the Otago military district before lie was selected for the position of staff officer with the 4th Reinforcements. Oil arrival at the Iront he was appointed sccond in command ol the Auckland Battalion. Major Grant, who was married, and m liis thirty-seventh year, had a fine record of service, he having started his military career in 1893 as a private in the No. 1 New Zealand Native Ritics at Auckland. After having passed through the non-com-missioned ranks he received a commission in the 7th New Zealand Contingent for South Africa, where he saw plenty of active service—operations in the Transvaal, May to July, 1901. August to December, 1901, and May, 1S02; operations on the Zululand frontier of Natal in September and October, 1901; operations in Orange River Colony. July to August, ISOI, December, 1901, to April, 1902. He held the Queen's medal with four clasps. He returned from South Africa as adjutant to his regiment, and immediately received a commission in Seddon's liorse (M.R.), under Captain Bloomfield, who afterwards became colonel, and was drowned in the tragic wreck of the Empress of Ireland. After serving for four years with Captain Bloomfield's unit. Major Grant was appointed adjutant to the Auckland Infantry Battalion (Countess of R-an-furiy's Own), and was promoted to the rank of captain. In 1909 he, together with three other officers, was selected for two years' training in the regular army at Home, where he was attached to the 20th Regiment, Lancashire Fusiliers. He worked hard, and put in a lot of time at the School of Musketry, taking a keen interest in musketry and machine gun work. On his return to New Zealand in 1911 he was appointed, on the inception of the Territorial system of training, brigade-major to the Otago Mounted Rifles Brigade, and was stationed for some time at Oamaru, where he also carried out the duties of group officer. On the outbreak of the present war Major Grant was placed on thj District Headquarters Staff as A.Q.M.G. In addition to his ordinary military duties, Major Grant always took the keenest interest in shooting, and for scfme years regularly attended the championship rifle meeting in the capacity of camp adjutant. The above is but the briefest of outlines of a veryactive career, but it i.s sufficient to indicate that Major Grant worthily won his promotion from time to time. He was a very popular officer, and Ilia death will be genuinely regretted by the Territorials with whom he -was brought in contact and by his large circle of friends.