COMMANDER AT FIJI

Southland Times, Issue 24680, 27 February 1942, Page 4

COMMANDER AT FIJI

BRIGADIER MEAD APPOINTED TEMPORARY RANK OF MAJOR-GENERAL

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, February 26. The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, tonight the following important Army promotions and appointments:— Brigadier O. H. Mead relinquishes the appointment of officer commanding the Southern Military District and is promoted to the temporary rank of major-general and will relieve Major-General W. H. Cunningham in command of the land forces in Fiji. Major-General Cunningham, who has .had a long period of service in Fiji, returns to New Zealand on leave. Colonel R. A. Row relinquishes command of an infantry brigade in New Zealand and is appointed to command a brigade in Fiji with the temporary rank of brigadier in place of Brigadier L. G. Goss, who is appointed liaison officer for special duties connected with operations in the Anzac Area. Colonel E. T. Rowlings relinquishes command of an infantry brigade in New Zealand and is appointed temporarily to command the Southern District with the temporary rank of brigadier. Colonel R, S. Park is appointed New Zealand Army representative on the joint planning staff in London in addition to his present duties as Army liaison officer in London and is granted

the temporary rank of brigadier. He will be assisted in his liaison duties by Lieutenant-Colonel R. S. Halliwell from the quartermaster-general’s branch, Army Headquarters. Colonel A. B. Williams is granted the temporary rank of brigadier and appointed Army representative on the combined British-American staff at Washington. FIJI REINFORCED Commenting on these appointments, Mr Jones stated that the change in the command at Fiji had been made because Major-General Cunningham had had a long period of service in a tropical climate and it was considered unwise to run the risk of his health deteriorating by keeping him there for a further period. Fiji had been strongly reinforced and the consequent reorganization had now been completed. Major-General Cunningham had had a very heavy task in organizing the forces and defences of Fiji and had done excellent work, entitling him to a wellearned rest. The appointments of Army representatives abroad were made to give New Zealand direct Army representation in London, Washington and Australia, where matters of high strategy would be discussed. It was one of the steps towards the complete co-operation and co-ordination of the Allied conduct of the war as a whole. The Minister also announced that 57 officers and 62 non-commissioned officers of all arms from the N.Z.E.F., Middle East, including some senior officers, were on their way to New Zealand and would be employed at schools of instruction and in units where their recent experience of modern war would be of the greatest value in the defence of the country.