Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. M. Clachan, Nzsc

Colonel Clachan joined the New Zealand Staff Corps in December 1920 with the rank of lieutenant, after graduating from the Royal Military College at Duntroon. For the next five years he was area officer at Napier and Masterton, until in 1926 he went to India as an officer attached to a battalion of the Wiltshire Regiment. Returning to New Zealand after two years, Colonel Clachan became area officer at Hamilton, with several appointments as adjutant to Territorial regiments. He served on the staff of Duntroon Military College for over two years, until December 1941, when he was withdrawn for special duties at Army Headquarters, Wellington. In June 1942 he took over command of the 34th Battalion for a period of two months. Subsequent appointments were as Instructor at the New Zealand Tactical School, Wanganui, and as GSO for the Central Military District.