OFFICER TO RETIRE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 110, 11 May 1936, Page 6

OFFICER TO RETIRE

COLONEL F. SYMON DIRECTOR OF ARTILLERY. A.D.C. TO THE KING. Only our military officer in New Zea land has the honour to be an Aide-de Camp to His Majesty the King and the officer who has held that position since .1931—Colonel F. Symon, C. 8., C.M.G. D.S.t) . A.D.C.— went on retiring Icavt reven tly and will shortly sever his eu-niicction with the New Zealanc Alilitary Forces. Colonel Hymon tuck an interest in military matters from his school days being a, member of ihe St. John's College Cadets, Auckland, before he joined the Army as a cadet in the Royal New Zealand Artillery in August, 1898. He was commissioned as a lieutenant m January. 1909, an<l rose to the rank of captain in February, 1907. He secured his majority in the field, being pro-

nioted to the rank of Alajur in January, .1915. He served with the New Zealand Expeditic-nary Forces frum the beginning of the war until 1919, being engaged in France. Belgium, Egypt, Gallipoli, and with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. He held several appointments, the most important being the command c-f the First Brigade of the New Zealand Artillery, and the command uf the New Zealand Field Artillery Reserve Depot. He was awarded the C.M.G. and 15.5.0., being mentioned in dispatches in the London Gazette on January 1916. and June 1, 1917. He was also awarded the .1914-15 Star, the British War Aledal. and the Victorv Medal. After the war lie was made n lieu-tcnanl-eoloncl ami became Stall Officer I for field artillery in the Canterbury district, a position held by him from August 1. 1919, to January 31, 1921. He became Chief Staff Officer of the I Southern Command in February, 192] | and General Staff Officer in January. 1.921. In December, .1925. he was appointed Director of Artillery at General Headquarters. He rcceievd the rank of Colonel oa May 6, 1929, and became O.C. Central Command on June 1 of that ,\ear. He held both appointments until Colonel 1. T. Standish took over the Central Command on May (», 1935, and has been Director of Artillery since then. He was appointed A :de-dc-<. amp tu the King in 1931 and was made a Commander of the Bath in the list of honours issued after the visit t<. New Zealand of the Duke of (Gloucester.