davies major general richard davies august officer late nineteenth early twentieth centuries new command independent force overseas senior new_zealand officers world war born london emigrated new_zealand leaving school worked surveyor joined volunteer militia unit went south_africa officer new_zealand contingent sent boer war later commanded fourth eighth contingents new_zealand officer command independent unit active service overseas following return new_zealand inspector general attached british_army brigade gain staff experience led offered command 6th brigade regular infantry brigade british troops colonial officer hold position summer brigade commanded battle battle england exhaustion given command newly formed 20th light division took france relieved command early period command reserve centre sent hospital suffering mental physical ill health committed suicide early life family davies born london son journalist educated leaving school emigrated new_zealand spent years working relative settling setting farm practising surveyor married february sons daughter son served world war like father transferred british_army captain died pregnancy fourth child december remarried sister october davies surveyor april joined commissioned lieutenant quickly promoted captain weeks later commander unit active local government february elected member representing south_africa october davies transferred responsible training volunteer mounted units boer war declared week later davies quickly command company volunteer sent cape contingent sailed october arrived late november active service week davies promoted major month given temporary command new zealand contingent transferred commanded fourth new zealand contingent august established high professional reputation commanding unit promoted lieutenant colonel companion order bath winning respect men described liked loved soldier wrote home calling davies stood feet inches tall grand little whilst noted pleasure davies objected imperial ideas discipline forced men mentioned despatches returned home command ordered south_africa command eighth february rank colonel contingent operated single unit unlike predecessors davies officer new_zealand command independent force active service overseas military reform returning new_zealand late davies resumed command military district held command appointed inspector general member body responsible controlling dominion military forces position inspector general newly created year originally expected imperial british officer government announced planned rotate new_zealand officers role year terms allow gain experience davies threw role travelling country local units gain overall idea efficiency favourable circumstances found volunteers attended annual camps proportion low pressed greater use active day time tactical training evening indoors drill felt key time volunteer force greater emphasis training standards officers end second year office organised local selection boards appointing officers central promotion board senior field officers mandatory regular fitness efficiency tests member strongly supported movement universal military training conventional conscription form basic military training time basis adult men arguing mean flower nation soldiers british service years inspector general order gain staff experience davies attached observer number units united_kingdom time attended represented new_zealand forces funeral king edward vii end year attachment impressed british_army offered appointment commander october temporary rank brigadier general overseas officer command regular brigade years taking permanent military commission davies tenure command 6th brigade october hand command rumoured new_zealand appointed general officer commanding succeeding outbreak world war august command sent france brigade saw heavy combat battle davies mentioned despatches quickly worn habit marching head brigade heavy physical mental strain lasting effects attack pneumonia earlier year report described changed nerves relieved command battle september ordered home replaced colonel 1st division september appointed divisional commander rank temporary major general october took command newly raised 20th light division point september october new_zealand officer command division war february formally transferred british_army promoted major general 20th division moved france july commanded minor operation september handed command march ill health appointed command reserve centre arrival elements september meant opportunity command relieved command general march prolonged period physical mental ill health committed suicide officers
Richard Hutton Davies