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Stepping Stones to the Solomons: the unofficial history of the 29th Battalion with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific.

Commanding Officers

Commanding Officers

'February' Thompson, as he came to be called by the men, was the first commanding officer of the battalion. He earned his name by almost invariably giving a sentence of 28 days to men brought before him in his orderly room. Although he was strict he was always fair, and was liked and respected by the men. Junior officers of his day speak highly of his efficiency in infantry training. Colonel Thompson fostered a battalion spirit which has remained all through, though it has never been higher than in his time. After serving with the unit in Fiji from October, 1940, until March, 1942, Colonel Thompson developed appendicitis, was operated on and returned to New Zealand. He now holds a position at Army Headquarters as DAG (1), with the rank of Colonel. In civilian life he is a barrister and solicitor and the secretary of the New Zealand Law Society. He possesses high academic qualifications, holding the degrees of MA, LLM, and M Com, and being a Fellow of the Royal Economic Society and an Associate of the New Zealand Society of Accountants.