Stephen Weir

Major-General Sir Stephen Cyril Ettrick Weir, (5 October 1904 – 24 September 1969) was a New Zealand military leader and diplomat.

Cyril Ettrick Weir, born in Otago, New Zealand on 5 October 1904, was the son of a farmer and his wife.

Although his given name was Cyril, he was known from his early childhood as Steve.

He was educated at Otago Boys' High School, where he was part of the school's cadet group.

He graduated in 1921 and the following year moved to Wellington where he was employed at the Stamp Duties Department.

He was interested in a career in the military but no opportunities were available for officer cadets in the New Zealand Military Forces at the time.

Instead, soon after his move to Wellington, he joined the Territorial Force and served with the 6th Mounted Rifles.

In 1925, the New Zealand government arranged for a cadetship for a New Zealand student at the Royal Military Academy in England.

Weir was the successful applicant, with his experience as a school cadet and as a territorial a factor in the decision by the military authorities to award him the cadetship.

Born in Otago, Weir became a professional soldier in 1927.

He served in a number of postings around the country until the outbreak of the Second World War.

Seconded to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, he commanded a field regiment during the campaign in Greece and Operation Crusader.

He completed his studies and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the New Zealand Artillery in 1927.

He was seconded to Royal Artillery units while in England and returned to New Zealand the following year.

For the next few years he served in a number of posts around the country working with Territorial units.

In 1931, now a lieutenant, he was among the military personnel dispatched to Napier to assist the local populace after the earthquake there.

Two years later he was posted to Auckland where he became adjutant of the 1st Field Artillery Brigade.

He received a promotion to captain in 1935 and married the next year.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Weir was seconded to the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) which was formed for service overseas.

He helped with the formation of various artillery units before being promoted to major and appointed commander, with the rank of acting lieutenant-colonel of the 6th Field Regiment of the New Zealand Artillery.

He departed New Zealand with his command and a large contingent of the 2NZEF in early 1940.

During the transit to North Africa, Weir was commander of troops aboard the transport ship HMT Ormonde.

He had to deal with a near mutiny by some of the soldiers aboard when the ship stopped at Bombay, due to the poor quality food being loaded there.

He took the men's concerns seriously and did his best to resolve them, antagonising port officials.

The manner in which he dealt with the situation was appreciated by the men under his command.

Once in North Africa, the bulk of the 2NZEF formed the 2nd New Zealand Division, under the command of Major-General Bernard Freyberg.

It was soon sent to Greece to counter the expected German invasion there.

He performed well during the Battle of Greece in April 1941 and was recognised with the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).

Weir became commander of the divisional artillery (CRA) in November 1941, after the previous CRA, Brigadier Reginald Miles, was captured.

He had himself narrowly avoided being captured while supervising the retreat of the 6th Field Regiment during the Battle of Sidi Rezegh, the same action that saw Miles made a prisoner of war.

Promoted to brigadier shortly after assuming command, he built on the work of Miles and implemented measures to concentrate fire of the divisional artillery.

This was used to good effect at Minqar Quaim, during the Battle of Mersa Matruh in June 1942.

Later that year, his work in co-ordinating the artillery efforts during the Second Battle of El Alamein earned him a Bar to his DSO.

The division was soon transferred to the Italian Front as part of the British Eighth Army, with Weir continuing as CRA.

He was Commander, Royal Artillery of the 2nd New Zealand Division for two years, and in the absence of its nominal commanding officer, Major-General Bernard Freyberg, led the division for a period in 1944.

In June 1944, he commanded the artillery of X Corps during the later stages of the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Late that year, he was appointed commander of the British 46th Infantry Division.

After the war he was Quartermaster General of the New Zealand Military Forces before starting a five-yeam term as Chief of the General Staff.

He retired from the military to become ambassador to Thailand in 1961.

He ceased his diplomatic career in 1967 and died in Tauranga two years later.