INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF FORCES

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 22, 27 September 1940, Page 5

INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF FORCES

Appointment Of Sir Andrew Russell DISTINGUISHED MILITARY CAREER The appointment of Major-General i Sir Andrew Russell, K.C.8., K.C.M.G., as Inspector-General of the New Zealand. Military Forces, was announced recently by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. He said that for some time the Government had been giving careful consideration ■ to the programme of expanding and strengthening the military forces.. Seven officers of the army were engaged on the work of organizing, equipping, administering and training a very much increased Territorial Army, as well as i maintaining the regular flow of drafts j of reinforcements for the Second New Zealand Expeditionary'Force overseas. •’The tasks involved are heavy,” said the Minister, “and in order to assist in these and to relieve the pressure of work which devolves on officers at Army Headquarters, and also at the same time to utilize fully his experience and; capabilities, the Government has decided to appoint Major-General I Sir Andrew Russell as Inspector General of the New Zealand Military Forces. Other important changes arc under consideration and will be announced in due course.” Service During Great War. Sir Andrew Russell has had a distinguished military career. . He was born in 1868 and educated at Harrow and Sandhurst. After five years’ service as a lieutenant in the British Army he came to New Zealand. His service in the New Zealand Military Forces dates from February 5, 1900, i when he was appointed captain in the Hawke's Bay Mounted Rifles Regiment; in 1908 he was promoted major, and in 1910 he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and appointed to command of that unit. On the formation of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Brigade in March, 1911, ' he was appointed as its commander and promoted to the rank, of. colonel, and a year later proceeded to England for six months. During that time he was attached to a British Army unit for training and attended manoeuvres held in August and September, 1912. When the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was formed Major-General (then colonel) Russell was selected to | command, with the rank of temporary brigadier-general, the New Zealand Mounted. Rifle Brigade, which proceeded to Egypt with the Main Body. He remained in command throughout the operations in Egypt and Gallipoli and for his services was created K.C.M.G., and also promoted to the rank of major-general. Command of Division. The New Zealand Division was con- | stituted in March, 1916. Major-General Russell was selected to command it and rapidly established a reputation as a resourceful and highly-efficient diviI sional commander. He remained in I command of the New Zealand Division throughout the operations in France and Belgium and during the period spent in Germany as part of the Army of Occupation. In 1917 Sir Andrew was awarded the C. 8., and in 1918 his services again rej ceived recognition by his being 'created ! K.C.B. He was also awarded ' the French' Legion of Honour (Croix I d’Officier) and Croix de Guerre, rhe Bel-' gian Order of Leopold, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle (first class), and the Montenegrin. Order of Danilo, mentioned in French Army Orders, and nine times mentioned in British dispatches. On his return to New Zealand in June, 1919, he was placed in the Reserve of Officers, Class I (a), and resumed his former occupation of sheepfarming. but his interest in his old comrades of the Great War did not diminish, as he undertook the presidency of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association in 1921, which

office he held till 1924 and again from 1927 till 1935. Though placed on the retired list in 1932, Sir Andrew has always maintained the keenest interest in military affairs, particularly in the Wellington Regiment, being appointed honorary colonel of (hat unit in 1934.