OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18331, 24 February 1934, Page 15

OBITUARY

MAJOR-GEN. WAGSTAFF HELPED TO COIN “ANZAC” (Received February 34. 3 p.m.) . LONDON, Feb. 23. The death has occurred of MajorGeneral Cyril Wagstaff, who had a part in coining the word “Anzuc,” aged 56 years. Major-General Cyril Mosley Wagstaff, C. 8., C.M.G., C.1.E., D. 5.0., was commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, since 1930. He had had an extensive experience of active service under various conditions, and it was during his attachment to the staff of General Sir lau Hamilton that he shared responsibility for the birth of “Aiizac” as a descriptive term, applied to the Austra-lian-New Zealand Army Corps. Born at Berkharnsted, Hertfordshire, in 1878, the late General Wagstaff entered the Army at tire age of 19 years, and seven years later was promoted to the rank cf captain, his majority following at the outbreak of war in 1914. As a captain of engineers, he served oil the British North-west Frontier in India, in 1908, and received the Queen’s Medal with clasp. He was on active service practically throughout the Great War, at the close of which he had attained to a colonelcy, and numerous decorations of British and Allied award. In 1926 he became a general staff officer of the first grade at the War Office, and then proceeded to India, where lie commanded the Nowshera Brigade, North-West Frontier. After two years’ further service there, he was ordered back to England to take command of the Royal Military Academy, which he retained until his death.