FINE MILITARY RECORD

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 60, Issue 4233, 19 January 1940, Page 5

FINE MILITARY RECORD

COLONEL HARGEST’S RISE TO ' ' HJGH RANK. COMMANDS FIFTH INFANTRY BRIGADE. Our paragraph on Wednesday to the effect that the appointment of Colonel J. Hargest. M.P., to the command of the Fifth Infantry Brigade of the Second Expeditionary Force had gratified many local and district returned soldiers who had personal knowledge of him in the 1914-18 war, was questioned by another reader, who rather discounted the suggestion that Colonel Hargest was an admirable choice. It may be interesting to note that Colonel Hargest’s military record was quite distinguished. Leaving New Zealand with the Main Body with the rank of second lieutenant, to which he was appointed on Sth August, 1914.. he rose to lieutenantcolonel in command of the Second Battalion of the Otago Regiment at the early age of 26 years. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross.

Colonel Hargest was born in Gore, and spent his early life farming in the Mandeville district. On the outbreak of the Great W|ar he left th,e Dominion with the Otago Mounted Rifles. He served in Egypyt, and was patrol officer to the regiment. At the Suvla Bay battle in August, 1915, he was wounded in the leg early in the actidn, but he carried through to his objective, and was the only officer of his squadron to survive the attack. He was invalided to Egypt .and back to New Zealand late in 1915.

- Leaving the Dominion again early in 1916. he rejoined the Division in Egyt>t. and was transferred to the Otago Infantry Regiment. He wasprompted captain just before the battle of the Somme in command of the Tenth (North Otago) Company, and led it in two! successful attacks in that battle. He was awarded the Military Cross, and received rapid prontotion to major, and was appointed second in command °f th e Battalion.

In the preparations for the Battle of Mjessin.es, )n June, 1917, Major Hargpgt - Was placed in charge of all the work in the forward area, .whjch he undertook with marked success. In March, 1918, he was temporarily commanding the First Battalion when the Division was ordered south from Ypres to assist in stemming the German advance after it had crushed the British Fifth Army. Major Hargest commanded the Battalion at Bapaume and HarninCaiitpVlood. At the former the Battalion was personally thanked by the. divisional coffimander, General Sir Andiie'w Russell, for its achievements. Majqr Hargest was then transferred .'to '. the Second Qtago Battalion with l’gnk of . lieutepant-colonel, and ’ed' ij: till the end of the war. Returning to New Zealand, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Hargest spent several months. in hospital at Rotorua, and theng purchased property at Rakauhauka, where he now lives. He commanded the Southland Regiment forabout six years, and then the Third Infatttry Brigade for-foiir years til! he entered Parliament in 1931 :as ’ member for Invercargill. He- trails-fbrrdd-.’to the Awaruh seat' in 1935, and Still represents it in Parliament.