BRIGADIER GENTRY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25278, 15 July 1943, Page 2

BRIGADIER GENTRY

RETURN FROM MIDDLE. EAST t ( _ STAFF APPOINTMENT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, July 14. Brigadier W. G. Gentry, D. 5.0., 0.8. E., who commanded an infantry brigade of the New Zealand Division during the Battle of Egypt last year, has returned to New Zealand to take up an appointment on the General Staff, Army Headquarters, Wellington.

After a cadetship at the Royal Military College, Duntroon, New South Wales, Brigadier Gentry was attached in 1920 to the Indian Army for a course of instruction, He returned to the Dominion in 1922, and was promoted to captain in 1926. In 1932 he passed the entrance examination for the Camberley Staff College. In 1934 he left New Zealand for special training in engineering courses at Chatham. He returned in 1936, and resumed his staff appointment. In 1937 he again left for a two-years’ course at Camberley, and was promoted to fnajor. while still in England In 1939. On the outbreak of war Brigadier Gentry was placed at the disposal of the War Office, and was employed in the organisation of the air defenqg of Great Britain. Afterwards the New Zealand Government requested that he should be relieved from these duties and attached to the New Zealand Division. In 1940 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenantcolonel and appointed assistant adjutant and quartermaster-general. He took part in the Greece and Crete campaigns. He was awarded the 0!B.E. in 1941, and promoted colonel in that year. Promotion to brigadier came while he was commanding an infantry brigade in the Battle of Egypt and was made in September, 1942. For his services in that campaign he was awarded the D.S.O.