major general sir march january officer served second world wars chief general staff born new_zealand joined unit colonial volunteers boer war wounded repatriated new_zealand later returned south_africa 10th new zealand contingent war joined professional soldier world war commanded awarded service served staff training positions served staff positions postwar military eventually rising rank colonel commanding promoted major general appointed chief general staff oversaw reduction size little prevent directing attention army overlooked command second new zealand expeditionary force raised service abroad second world war retired military died years later age early life born new_zealand march father worked miller time son birth later editor local newspaper educated collegiate leaving school went south_africa joined local unit colonial volunteers raised fight boer war weeks arrival south_africa seriously wounded siege recovered later injured horse fell repatriated new_zealand december rejoined volunteer unit south_africa recovered returning new_zealand second time end enlisted 10th contingent new_zealand unit destined service boer war officer fighting largely time contingent arrived saw fighting military career joined cadet commissioned lieutenant attending courses england engineering signalling instructor wellington transferred new_zealand militia new zealand staff corps january spent years india world war late preparing depart service overseas reached middle_east suffered nervous breakdown returned new_zealand june period england late promoted major appointed commander recently formed company arrived france march served western vicinity late june involved motor vehicle accident left hospital month service company later recognised award held series staff officer positions short stint headquarters mentioned despatches service attached health declining transferred england service brigade major held instructor position officers training school england march sent united_states assist promotion war bonds returned new_zealand october interwar period service terminated returned posted staff officer overall command district later reorganised following year promoted colonel awarded king george silver jubilee medal april promoted major general appointed commandant general officer commanding new_zealand born soldier achieve position commandant role shortly commencement term remained senior leadership role new zealand military forces chief general staff appointed companion order bath proved appointment particularly regarded politicians day implemented changes position replacement army board control military board established november included minister defence military member offered little counter favouring fledgling time affected morale army significant changes resulted state decline current recruitment insufficient support theoretical infantry division mounted rifle brigades plans called division brigade group lots fortress troops centred wellington infantry regiments disbanded battalions mounted regiments reduced size squadron senior officers placed retirement morale declined remaining senior officers raised concerns disregarded state army publicly protested reforms press known breach military regulations prohibited military personnel communicating journalists permission instead court martial feared generate public sympathy placed officers retired list punishment revolt result greater public awareness poor state new_zealand military little situation second world war following outbreak second world war desired command second new zealand expeditionary force raised service europe lack command experience performance meant popular choice military major general instead appointed commander term extended worked ensure continued support reinforcement oversaw conscription attended defence conferences singapore india tours middle_east later life retired military having appointed knight commander order british empire previous year died north january survived second wife married sons marriage ended death wife son marriage killed serving royal_air_force second world war
John Evelyn Duigan