COLONEL FOLEY PROMOTED

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 2

COLONEL FOLEY PROMOTED

COMMAND OF 2ND BIFLK BRIGADE. Lieutenant-Colonel W. R. Foley, M.C., Queen Alexandra's (Wellington-West Coast) Mounted Rifles, has relinquished the command of the regiment on May 31 and, promoted to the rank of colonel, has been appointed to the command of the 2nd New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade. Brigadier Foley, who has been appointed to the highest rank obtainable by an officer of the New Zealand Territorial Forces, was born in Palmerston North in 1890, and was educated in Palmerston North ami Stratford districts. He joined the Stratford Mounted Rifle Volunteers in 1908 and quickly reached non-commissioned rank. During the Takapau camp in 1914 he won the gold medal for the best N.C.O. in the Q.A.M.R. Regiment and was recommended. for commissioned rank, passing the examination in Hawera in July, 1914. On the outbreak of war lie volunteered for service, but could not get 1 , away as too many officers were offering, but eventually he left with the Seventh Reinforcements early in 1915. On reaching Egypt he was appointed to the Wellington Mounted Rifles, being, attached to 2nd Squadron. Tn 1916 lie was promoted to be second in command of the 9th Hawke’s Bay Squadron, remaining with them until 1917. During his service with this squadron he was twice wounded, once at Rafa and again at Ayim Kara. In November, 19!7, he was promoted to command tho 2nd Squadron W.M.R., and during the heavy lighting- around Jaffa he was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the fighting on the Anja River, north o Jaffa, he was again severely wounded and returned to New Zealand. remaining in New Zealand about six weeks he left again in command of the 40th Reinforcements and just reached the front in Palestine to sec the end of the war. During the rising of the natives in Egypt in 1919 he commanded a composite regiment of New Zealand, Australian and Imperial troops, returning to New Zealand at the end of 1919, and was absorbed into the New Zealand Territorial Forces with the rank of ma jor and appointed to the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles. In 1925 he was appointed to command that regiment with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He has now been succeeded by LieutenantColonel J. B .Davis, TJD-, who commanded the regiment' from June 1, 1929. He has taken a keen interest in all kinds of sport, being a well-known boxer, pigeon shot and middle-distance runner, and is now well known as .a boxing referee and starter for athletic events. He is one of the football referees for the 'VVhangamomona Sub-union.