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[Page 26]
AUSTRALIAN NAVAL AND MILITARY EXPEDITIONARY FORCE:
CONFIDENTIAL REPORT ON MILITARYOFFICERS:
BRIGADE STAFF:
Major F.B. Heritage, Brigade Major, possesses military attainments of the highest order, and has the rare faculty of being at all times able to apply them with the utmost advantage. His special qualifications as an Instructor of Musketry were of inestimable advantage to the Expedition in the training of Officers. He was zealous, hard-working, efficient and, above all, particularly loyal. On my assuming the office of Administrator, he acted as Military Secretary with great success. I cannot speak too highly of his whole service.
Captain R.J.A. Travers rendered invaluable service as Staff Captain and Intelligence Officer. A strong personality, self-reliant, cool in action, and a good leader of men. Military surveying and sketching a speciality. His intelligence reports were most valuable.
Lieut. B. Holmes, A.D.C.: A young Officer of great promise. Self-reliant, zealous and hard-working. His services were perfectly satisfactory.
Major F.A. Maguire, Principal Medical Officer: A most efficient and hard-working Officer in every respect. Never spared himself, day or night. The particularly valuable services rendered by him have already formed the subject of a Special Despatch to the Minister of defence.
INFANTRY BATTALION:
Lieut. Colonel W.W.R. Watson: Commanded the Infantry Battalion with success. Keen, efficient, zealous, and self-reliant. Exhibits strong individuality. After I assumed the office of Administrator he acted as O.C. Troops. All duties entrusted to him were well performed.
Colonel J. Paton: Acted as 2nd. in Command of Infantry Battalion. A capable and experienced Officer, keen, painstaking and hard-working. Eminently fitted for higher command. Was O.C. Garrison at Rabaul, when he showed great tact in the handling of many delicate situations. The whole of his service was completely successful.
Captain C.H.D. Lane: Acted as Adjutant of Infantry, and afterwards as Staff Officer to Lieut-Col. Watson while O.C. Troops. An efficient, hard-working, zealous Officer, the whole of whose services in the Expeditionary Force were most satisfactory.
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