MILITARY COMMAND

Camp News (Northern Command), Volume 1, Issue 25, 18 October 1940, Page 3

MILITARY COMMAND

Farewell To Colonel Row . TRIBUTE BY STAFF Z A farewell dinner was recently ten- ! dered by staff officers of the district to the Officer Commanding the Central , Military District, Wellington, Colonel R. A. Row, who has been appointed to the command of the northern field forces, Auckland. The gathering included .representatives of the three arms of the service and of the principay military establishments in the dis- i trict. Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. Foster, General Staff Officer I, spoke of the pleasant relationship existing between Colonel Row and his staff and of the loyalty he had inspired in all %of them. That, he added, was responsible for the good standard of efficiency now obtaining throughout the district. As a senior officer Colonel Row had plainly always acted on the belief that in the service personal ambition, must give way to the needs of the Army con sidered from the national viewpoint. All present had heard with deep personal regret of Colonel Row’s transfer, but while they were sorry to lose him as their commanding officer they felt

he was going to a military job which, because it was concerned solely with the fighting side of the service, lay closer to his heart. He would carry with him the best wishes of all ranks of the Central Military District. In reply, Colonel Row thanked the I speakers for what they had said and added that it was with considerable personal regret that he was* severing his direct connexion with the staff and the district. 1 He was sure no commanding officer could have wished for better or more loyal service from his staff than he had received during the period he had been privileged to be in charge of the district. Though he had never, hesitated to hand out censure when he considered it necessary he had always endeavoured to be fair, and he was sure the officers concerned had appreciated ’ the spirit in which it was given.