PERSONAL.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12499, 27 March 1909, Page 2

PERSONAL.

Colonel W. H. Webb, N.Z.M. Secretary of the New Zealand Council of Defence, will retire on superannuation at the end of the present month, having reached the age of limit. He was born at Essendon. Herts (England), on May 8, 1843, and was the eldest son of the Rev. R. H. Webb, Rector of Essendon. He received his education at Marlborough College, and at the Hon. East India Company's Military College, Addeseombe. On Bth June, 1861, he obtained his first commission as ensign, and joined the 3rd Bombay European Regiment, H.E.I.C.j at Kurrachee (afterwards H.M.'S. 109 th Foot, and now 2nd Battalion Leicester Regiment). In 1867 he -was promoted to" lieutenant, and was adjutant to his regiment for seven j'ears prior to his retirement in 1878, after returning with his regiment to England. He came to New Zealand in August, 1878, and was appointed District Adjutant on January 1, 1880, and served in that capacity in the districts of Nelson, Marlborough, and Westland until January, 1891, when he was promoted to the command of the Otagb , district with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1901, Colonel Webb was transferred to the command of the Canterbury district, which he held until 1903, being promoted, in January, 1902, to Brevet-Colonel, N.Z.M. In. February, 1903, he was transferred to the command of the Wellington district, and in August of the same year was appointed President of the Central Board of Military Examiners. At the end of Major-General Babington's term, he was gazetted from 22nd September; 1906, Acting-Commandant of the New Zealand Forces, and in December of the same year was appointed Secretary of the Council of Defence and promoted to the rank of Colonel in the N.Z. Militia. It will be the wish of Colonel Webb's many friends in this district that he will live long to enjoy the reward of his labours.