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The Kia ora coo-ee : the magazine for the ANZACS in the Middle East, 1918

Personalities

page 7

Personalities.

General Sir W. R. Bird wood is not slow to admit that the success of his boys has been his success. "What little triumphs I have had I owe to these lads," he said recently, "and no commander was more fortunate in the soldiers behind him than I have been. I cannot say how far the Anzacs will go, but I know they will go as far as I ask them if it is within the bounds of human possibility." On the other hand, no commanding officer was ever better liked by his men than General Bird wood is by the Anzacs, who say: "His name should have been Birdlime —he's such a sticker."

Lieut. Bruce Warden has died from the effects of wounds received in France. He enlisted in 1914, and left Australia as a trooper in the original 1st. Light Horse, and served with that regiment for two years in Egypt, Gallipoli and Sinai. Later on he was invalided to England where he transferred to an infantry battalion, and was granted a commission.

Miss McConaghy was engaged in missionary work in Palestine when Turkey declared war against the Allies, and instead of returning to her home in Ireland she remained in Egypt, realizing that there would be more need for workers there than in the United Kingdom. She was Hon. Lady Superintendent of the British Soldiers' Cafe during the first six months of its existence. When the wounded began to arrive from Gallipoli, she went into hospital and nursed until the evacuation, when there was no further need for extra workers. Miss McConaghy then interested herself in the Australian Comforts Fund. She was recently mentioned in despatches.

Major General Sir Henry Chauvel, K.C.M.G.,C.B., commanding the Anzac mounted troops in Palestine, was recently promoted to the honorary rank of Lieutenant-General, the highest rank yet conferred upon any Australian officer. He was in the War Office in London when Britain entered the fray, and was sent to Egypt to take charge of the Light Horse. He went to Gallipoli with this unit, and after General Walker was wounded, was given command of the whole of the first Division. After the evacuation, his new division was formed of the 1st., 2nd. and 3rd., A.L.H., the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and some British Units, and renamed the Anzac Mounted Division. General Chauvel was born in the Northern Rivers Country, at Tabulam, in 1865, educated at Sydney Grammar School, and his first military commission was with the Upper Clarence Light Horse, in 1886.

(Photo Anglo–Swiss Studio) Lieut.-General Sir H. G. Chauvel, K.C.M.G., C.B.

(Photo Anglo–Swiss Studio)
Lieut.-General Sir H. G. Chauvel, K.C.M.G., C.B.

Captain W. R. Foley, Wellington Mounted Rifles, has been invalided to New Zealand as a result of wounds received in action in Palestine. He was recently awarded the Military Cross.

Lieut. H. Gullett has been despatched on behalf of the War Records section of the A.I.F., to Palestine; there to act as press correspondent.

Corporal Gordon Escort Gabriel, who left Melbourne with the Light Horse in October, 1914, and who is now attached to the Field Engineers in France, has gained his commission at the Royal College of Engineers in England.

Lieut. L. N. Ward, who left South Australia with the 3rd Light Horse, and later on joined the Aviation Corps in England, has been reported missing in France.

Lieut. Col. L.C. Maygar, who was killed at Beersheba, was among the D. S. O's in the last Birthday Honors list, and had previously won the V.C. when in South Africa with the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles. He rose from Captain to Lieut.-Colonel at Gallipoli, and was more than once mentioned in despatches.

L/Cpl. C. Barrett, formerly of Melbourne "Herald", has joined the staff of the "Kia-Ora Coo-ee".

2nd Lieuts. T.B. Atkinson and A. Bovill (late N.Z.E.) and 2nd Lieut. J. Martin (late N.Z.F.A.), now of the R.F.A., recently arrived from England.

Captain R. P. Harper, M.C., D.C.M., has returned to New Zealand as a result of wounds received in action near Jaffa. Captain Harper and his brother Gordon left New Zealand with the Main Body, and they were both awarded the D.C.M.

Lieut. G. Lambert, the well-known Australian artist, is at present in Palestine making sketches of the operations of the A.I.F. From these sketches, large compositions are to be pointed for the Commonwealth and State Governments.

Captain Marr, C.W.C. of the Australian Wireless Squadron (Mesopotamia), has been awarded the Military Medal.

The Rev. C.H. Isaacson has been appointed Assistant Principal C of E. Chaplain to the N.Z.E.F. in Egypt.

Chaplain-Captain W.J. Dunbar, killed in Palestine, enlisted in the Light Horse in 1915. He sailed as sergeant and temporary chaplain, but arriving in Egypt, went back to the ranks again, and served there until he was again made chaplain, which was twelve months ago, Twice, however, he managed to go with his comrades into action.

Lieut. W.G. Lyons, Wellington Mounted Rifles, has been appointed A.D.C. to Lieut-General Sir H. G. Chauvel.