NEW BRIGADIERS

Camp News, Volume 2, Issue 104, 9 January 1942, Page 5

NEW BRIGADIERS

Colonels Conway, Avery And Stewart '

ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED

An official announcement Is expected shortly of the promotion to the temporary rank of brigadier of the Adjutant-General, Colonel A. E. Conway, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., the Quarter-master-General', Colonel 11. E. Avery. C.M.G., D. 5.0., and Colonel K. L. Stewart, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C.. General Staff Officer (first grade), New Zealand Division, who is at present on special duties in New Zealand while on leave from the Middle East. These promo, lions will make seven brigadiers in New Zealand, the others being Brigadier N W Mel). Weir, C.8.E., Brigadier I*. 11. Bell, and Brigadier O. H. Mead, officers commanding the Central, Northern, and Southern Military Districts respec-

lively, and Brigadier Bowerbank Director of Army Medical Services.

Colonel Conway.

Colonel Conway left New Zealand with the Canterbury Regiment of the Main Body. He was mentioned in dispatches in 1916, and was. severely wounded, in France. He was appointed io the. New Zealand Staff Corps in 1919, and held various staff appointmeats. On the outbreak of the present war he was appointed Director of Mobilization,..holding this position till he was appointed Adjutant-General. Apart from his fine record of service with the army, Colon) Coirway has been prominent in sport. He was a -emifinalist in the New. Zealand amateur golf championship , in .1925, and .Las won the Wellington provincial championship, Miramar and New Plymouth championships, Central Taranaki championship,. and champion of champions tournament, Taranaki He was captain of the Miramar Golf Club, - and has been on the commit tee of the New, Zealand Golf Association He was awarded .the 0.8. E. in 1949

Colonel Avery.

Colonel Stewart gmduated from Duntrodn Military College and was commissioned in the N.Z. Staff Corps in 1916 He served with the'N.ZE.F (Wellington Mounted Rifles) and Headquarters, Anzac Mounted Division. Palestine. His appointments in eluded those of adjutant, N.Z. training units and depots in Egypt, and deputyassistant adjutant-general, N.Z.E.F.. Egypt. He. attended the Staff College (‘amberley, in 1928-29 and was seconded for service in Ceylon, 1930-34. He held staff -appointments in New Zea land and was temporary lieutenantcolonel while' General Staff Officer (first grade) Southern Military District shortly before the present war started In this war he served in Greece and Crete, being Brigadier. General Staff, when Major-General Sir Bernard Freyberg was General officer Commanding the Allied Forces tn Crete

Colonel Avery ' joined . the New -Zealand Staff Corps on its formation in 1911 and was adjutant to the 10th Mounted Rifles Regiment,. 1911-14: He '■< ryed with, the N.Z.E.F. throughout r he last war, and after the form’atibn I the New Zealand Division he was ippointed deputy assistant quarter master-general and later assistant adjutant and quartermaster-general to the division. He represented NewZealand at the War Office, 1920-21. and attended the Staff College at Cam i.erley. He was quartermaster funeral at general headquarters, New Zealand, 1922-24. He left the army to enter commercial life and was geneial manager of Ford Sales and Service Ltd., Wellington, 1924-36. He was later secretary and treasurer of the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition Co., Ltd. He was on active service at Army Headquarters in 1940, and was appointed quartermaster-general. While on active service in the 'last var, Colonel-, Avery was awarded the D.S.O. He took a keen interest m the returned soldiers’ movement

and is a past president of the Wellington R.S.A. He was a prominent sportsman as a young man and represented Wellington, the North Island and New Zealand at Rugby.

Colonel Stewart.

At the recent parade in Queen Street, Auckland, when Mr. Semple’s redoubtable tank was exposed to the admiring view of the public, among those who were watching was an American naval observer. He made some disparaging remark about it and was told that the P.W.D. had built it on an American chassis and an American design. There was silence for a moment. “I think America should stay neutral,” was the dry comment.