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Lieutenant-Colonel R. J. Eyre, Nzsc

Colonel Eyre was seconded to the New Zealand Permanent Staff in the early days of the last war, but proceeded overseas with the Expeditionary Force in 1917, where he saw active service with both infantry and artillery and gained a commission. After the war he rejoined the Royal New Zealand Artillery, relinquishing his Expeditionary Force commission, and served at various stations in New Zealand until 1928. He was then commissioned in the New Zealand Staff Corps and appointed area officer at Nelson, with attached appointments as adjutant to several territorial regiments. After commanding the Southern District School of Instruction, Colonel Eyre was posted to Fiji in 1941 as brigade major of 8th Brigade, during which time he acted as the military representative of the Governor's Civil Defence Council. On return of the division to New Zealand he assumed command of the 34th Battalion in August 1942, retaining that appointment during the battalion's service in Tongatabu, New Caledonia, and the Solomons. He relinquished command in December 1943, and returned to New Zealand where he became Commandant of Burnham Military Camp.