CHIEF OF STAFF

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21968, 21 May 1941, Page 4

CHIEF OF STAFF

Sir John Duigan To Retire Successor On His Way From England (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 20. The impending retirement of MajorGeneral Sir C -hn Duigan was announced by the Hon. W. Nash to-day. “It is with the greatest reluctance,” said Mr Nash, “that the Government acceded to Major-General Duigan's request that he should be permitted to retire. While he has for some time been anxious to go, he consented to remain at his post at the special request of the Government, but now he feels that his health, which has been indifferent for some time, will no longer stand the severe strain which the duties of Chief of the General Staff demand. I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Government of paying a sincere tribute' to Major-General Duigan’s outstanding services. Because of our confidence in him and because of his experience and sound grasp of the defence problems of New Zealand, his term has been extended on several occasions. It is his duty to plan and to organise the mobilisation and training of the New Zealand Forces, and this task he and his staff have performed in a manner which must earn them the appreciation and gratitude of the people of the Dominion. “His Irish to do his duty at whatever cost to himself is, I know, the mark of the good soldier, and I am expressing the opinion of all who have been associated with him in saying that no

soldier could have served his country better than has Major-General Duigan during the four years of his term as Chief of the General Staff. Before his retirement Major-General Duigan proposes to visit the main camps throughout the Dominion.”

The Hon. F. Jones (Minister of Defence) announces that LieutenantGeneral Sir Guy Williams, late General Officer Commanding the Eastern Command in Britain, will succeed Major-General Duigan as Chief of the General Staff. “The New Zealand Government has asked the British Government for the loan of a senior military officer for a few months to advise the New Zealand Government on problems relating to the organisation and training of the New Zealand military forces,” said Mr Nash to-day. “The services of Lieu-tenant-General Sir Guy Williams, late General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the Eastern Command, have been placed at the disposal of the New Zealand Government, and he is on his way to New Zealand accompanied bv a small staff.”

Lieutenant-General Sir Guy Charles Williams, K.CB, CM.G., D. 5.0., was born at Bangalore, on September 10, 1881. the eldest son of Colonel R. P. Williams, R.A. He was educated at the Sherborne School and entered the Army in 1900. In 1910 he attained the rank of captain, and was appointed temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in 1915. Brigadier-General in 1918, Colonel in 1923, Major-General in 1934 and Lieu-tenant-General in 1938. He was in Bermuda during 1901-4, at Colchester 1904-8, and during 1909-14 he was engaged in surveys in the East African Protectorate. In the Great War 1914-18 he was mentioned in dispatches seven times. In 1919 he was at the Staff College at Camberley and after two years in India he went to the Staff College at Quetta for another year. He was deputy military secretary at the War Office during 1923-27 and in the following year he assumed command of the Sth Bareilly Infantry Brigade. From 1928 to 1932 he was army instructor at the Imperial Defence College, and for the next two years he Was chief engineer to the Aidershot Command. During the years 1934-37 he was Commandant at the Staff College at Quetta. He was commander of the sth Division in the following year. In 1938 he was appointed General Officer Command-tog-ln-Chief, Eastern Command. Last year he was in command of the Royal Engineers.