CHANGE IN COMMAND

Taranaki Daily News, 5 June 1935, Page 7

CHANGE IN COMMAND

IST. BN. TARANAKI REGIMENT. MAJOR VARNHAM’S APPOINTMENT. Lieutenant-Colonel G. F. Bertrand, who relinquished command of the Ist Battalion Taranaki Regiment bn the expiration of his term on June 2, was guest of honour at a regimental officers’ dinner held at the Hotel Imperial, New Plymouth, on Monday. The appointment of Major F. S. Varnham, M.C., as Lieut.-Col. Bertrand’s successor was announced by Major A. E. Conway, N.Z.S.C., who spoke eulogistically of Lieut.-Col. Bertrand’s record as commanding officer of the regiment. Major Varnham expressed the regiment’s regret that Lieut.-Col. Bertrand’s term of command had expired and claimed that his work had been largely responsible for the building of the Taranaki Regiment into the most efficient in its brigade. \

In reply Lieut-Col. Bertrand expressed appreciation of the praise he had received and thanked officers for their support and excellent service. He was, he said, sure that he was giving over command into capable hands and wished the regiment every success in the future. Major L. M. Fairbrother, senior major of the regiment present, welcomed Major F. S. Varnham as the new 0.C., on behalf of * of* the regiment;

Major Varnham, the regiment’s new commanding officer, has had a distinguished military career, first serving with the College Rifles, Wellington, as private from 1906 to 1908. He first received his commission in 1911 when with the Dannevirke senior cadets and in 1914 was attached as second-lieutenant in the Wel-lington-West Coast Regiment. He served a£ platoon commander on Gallipoli and in 1917 was promoted captain and company commander, and later adjutant to the Ist Battalion Wellington Regiment and then staff captain Ist N.Z. Infantry Brigade. Major Varnham won the military Cross for conspicuous gallantry at Passchendale on October 4, 1917, when after his commanding officer had been wounded he took command of the battalion until relief came and later led his company and successfully consolidated a captured objective. : Major Varnham also holds the 1914-1915 star, 'the Victory medal, the General Service Medal and the Long and ‘Efficient Service Medal, and he was recently awarded the Efficiency Decoration and the King’s Silver Jubilee Medal. During service in France he was mentioned in dispatches. After the war he served as captain in the reserve of officers, captain in Ist Battalion Wellington-West Coast Regiment and Ist Battalion Taranaki Regiment. In 1930 he was gazetted major and appointed second in command of the regiment.