brigadier september august officer serving second world wars member new_zealand parliament representing firstly born gore farmer volunteered following outbreak world war august commissioned officer served seriously wounded following recovery wounds returned active duty western commanded infantry battalion later stages war received awards leadership war returned new_zealand resume farming entered member initially independent strongest supporters formed held executive role party hierarchy represented electorate considered party leadership longer available volunteered active service commencement second world war september attempted join second new zealand expeditionary force raised service application initially declined health reasons intervention acting prime minister new_zealand accepted appointed commander 2nd led brigade april initial period performing garrison duty england displayed poor judgement positioning forces vital airfield controlling movements battle commenced loss airfield allowed germans gain island allied forces eventually evacuated crete despite performance battle received bar awarded world war fighting shifting north_africa led brigade november captured german forces held prisoner war camp italy eventually escaped able return england late earned second bar efforts served observer normandy landings june killed artillery months later early life born september gore small town new_zealand parents james wales father later took farming fourth children attended schools gore completing education worked alongside father joined reached rank sergeant world war following outbreak world war august volunteered serve commissioned second lieutenant served severely wounded august offensive months returned active service july assigned 1st commanded company battle september actions restoring order battalion assumed command companies suffered heavy casualties following failed attack september saw rewarded end year promoted major appointed second command battalion involved preliminary planning june carried vital reconnaissance german lines penetrating enemy communication trenches lead battle german spring offensive launched march acting battalion commander september promoted lieutenant colonel given command participated offensive action war involving november battalion attacked germans positioned fortified house forest having captured house temporary headquarters later received direct hit artillery fire fortunate escape leadership battalion months war recognised appointment mention despatches immediate postwar period remained command battalion performed occupation duties cologne departure england february interwar period returned new_zealand wife couple married ceremony taking place england marie serving nurse new_zealand military hospital returned farming buying land near retained interest military resumed career commanded firstly regiment infantry brigade interest local affairs soon developed involved local authorities including election contested electorate standing came close beating sir prime minister majority votes represented margin death sir joseph triggered august election contested ward second son beaten majority votes beaten father son ward retired end term allowed enter general election attempt electorate parliament advocate interests interested defence educational matters held electorate successfully switching electorate election initially independent reform supporter coalition coalition combined formally joined new party possibly reform committed formation early period lengthy discussion leadership previous leaders constituent parties acceptable time mps meet home property developer arriving saturday overnight ferry wellington belonged group official meeting party october wellington joined executive committee following meeting leadership question resulted contest hamilton leader mps sided hamilton issued press statement bordered blackmail wrote stance pleading unity new party fragile event hamilton won election vote national leader period charge hamilton regarded lack leader national performance improved election election winning additional labour government discussions replacing hamilton retained seat national election contenders party leadership lost electorate outbreak second world war immediately volunteered active service leadership eventually went november view temporary situation returned parliament remained member parliament time active service election sole candidate electorate whilst switzerland returned unopposed second world war service war sought serve abroad command infantry brigades second new zealand expeditionary force newly appointed commander major general concerned age command experience potential senior officers subsequent medical assessment deemed fit service home prone bouts shell shock service world war disappointed decision approached acting prime minister new_zealand request brigade command disregarded official advice arranged appointed commander time chief general staff major general wrote decision rank brigadier left new_zealand brigade comprised 21st 22nd 23rd battalions largest formation originally intended join egypt diverted route england following threat german invasion brigade carried training guard duties area dover shipped egypt early greece crete matter weeks brigade 2nd greece manning defences line preparation anticipated invasion country germans following invasion brigade mounted spirited defence positions april withdraw provide cover neighbouring new_zealand brigades conducting retreat brigade eventually evacuated night april crete brigade took subsequent 2nd command brigadier taking command consisted allied troops crete gave brigade task defending airfield easterly approaches commanded lieutenant colonel guarded airfield neighbouring hill point battalions brigade positioned east situated headquarters distance airfield days arriving crete allied positions began subject bombing attacks german planes precursor airborne invasion mounted german 1st bombing triggered occurrence shell shock rendering confused containing began landing west airfield andrew cut companies overrun german forces unable gauge situation communications brigade headquarters andrew stressed seriousness situation requested reinforcements battalions holding incorrectly advised available troops left andrew small platoon size reserve failed counter attack eventually andrew sought permission withdraw point replied aware importance defence crete effort dissuade andrew situation despite arrival reinforcing company infantry sent evening andrew decided position daylight withdrew units join battalions brigade germans took airfield point early morning capture airfield allowed german reinforcements landed directly crete establish strong positions counterattack airfield point organised following day headquarters exhausted quick conference work detailed plans counter attack disgust participants chances success unsuccessfully sought attack called attack fail mistakenly believed going found brigade returned starting positions began affect asked allow 5th withdraw duly began eventual retreat evacuation crete flying egypt seaplane brigade following sea egypt critical conduct fighting crete meeting general commander allied forces middle_east expressed similar views meeting new_zealand prime minister egypt time visit new_zealand forces voiced concern considered lack consultation senior commanders able resolve differences later correspondence expressed satisfaction way dealt subordinates performance crete escaped official scrutiny awarded bar awarded services military campaigns greece crete north_africa loss crete 2nd underwent period refit training assigned engaged took november attempted break brigade cover movements brigades division attempting advance meantime lieutenant general allies approaching position transport defending attack difficult men brigade captured november headquarters situated edge airfield near overrun german tanks resisted moving headquarters nearby incorrectly insisted orders allow latitude capture taken despite irritated refusal salute complimentary fighting performance new prisoner war transported italy initially held villa near transferred fellow brigadier captured december known near florence prison camp officers general brigadier rank prisoners held comfortable conditions soldiers lesser rank late march group officers including miles managed escape tunnel dug disused chapel castle walls miles reach safety neutral switzerland split independently try way england later related miles suggest follow later miles close spanish frontier overcome depression killed october help french resistance travelled france spain reached barcelona flew england december men miles known escaped italian prisoner war camp way country prior armistice italy escape switzerland awarded second bar later appointed commander order british empire wrote account escape published book death legacy early 2nd fighting brigade commanded brigadier sought new role appointed new_zealand observer day landings normandy attached infantry unit landed normandy june wounded later month day new role found allies mainland europe thought turning issue dealing expected arrival newly released new liberated prisoner war camps set help appointed commander group august killed shell fire making farewell visit buried les war cemetery france survived wife children fourth child killed march aged years fighting italy buried war cemetery son killed accident malaya years later active service educational facility named
James Hargest