JUDGE’S FINE WAR RECORD

Southland Times, Issue 24164, 28 June 1940, Page 6

JUDGE’S FINE WAR RECORD

COLONEL NORTHCROFT’S APPOINTMENT

Mr Justice Northcroft, D. 5.0., V.D., who holds the rank of colonel and who has been appointed District Artillery Officer, Southern Military District, has a distinguished war record. Before the Great War he was a territorial officer and in command of G Battery, Hamilton, with the rank of major. Enlisting for active service as a captain, he attained the rank of lieutenant-colonel, being associated with the 3rd Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery. He was later 1 in command of the Ist Battery until hostilities ceased. After the engagements that led up to the signing of the Armistice he was awarded the D.S.O. He had been mentioned in despatches. Sent to England, Lieutenant-Colonel Northcroft was appointed,.with the title of director, to the control of the Department of Education established within the New Zealand Expeditionary Force by Major-General Sir Andrew Russell. The object of the department was to help in the re-establishment of soldiers in their civil occupations, and the work consisted mainly of such vocational training as would facilitate the rehabilitation of the returned soldiers. Returning to New Zealand, Lieuten-ant-Colonel Northcroft was appointed to the command of the Auckland Field Artillery Brigade, and when that engagement ended he was appointed Deputy Judge Advocate-General for the whole of the New Zealand territorial forces. Upon the retirement of Sir John Reed from the senior post, LieutenantColonel Northcroft became AdvocateGeneral, and was promoted to the rank of colonel. For his additional military services he received the award of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ Decoration.