|
|
The couple returned to New Zealand in May 1919. Hargest became a farmer during the interwar years, purchasing a farm at Rakauhauka near Invercargill but maintained his involvement with the Territorial Force however and became the CO of the 3rd New Zealand Brigade between 1925 and 1930. He was a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, initially for the constituency of Invercargill, then switching to the rural Southland seat Awaura, a position he held from 1931 until his death on 12 August 1944. Despite the findings of an Army Medical Board, Hargest managed to pull strings with the then acting Prime Minister, Peter Fraser, and became CO of the 5th NZ Brigade in May 1940 (Second World War). The brigade distinguished itself during the Greek Campaign for its defence of the Olympus Pass but Hargest remained strangely inactive during the initial stages of the German airborne invasion of Crete and must bear some responsibility for the loss of Maleme airfield and ultimately the island. Much of that only came to light later and he was awarded a bar to the DSO and the Greek Military Cross for his actions in both Greece and Crete. Hargest was critical of General Bernard Freyberg's handling of the campaign and made his feelings clear during their private meeting the Prime Minister Peter Fraser back in Egypt.
Hargest was captured in Libya when his HQ was overrun and sent to a PoW Camp in Italy (Campo 12), that was based in a castle near Florence, where he met a number of other senior officers, including Adrian Carton de Wiart, VC. Hargest eventually escaped along with fellow New Zealander Reginald Miles and four other officers and made his way back to Britain via France and in doing so became the highest-ranking officer to escape. He was awarded a second bar to the DSO and eventually made a CBE for this achievement. Before D-Day, he was appointed as an official observer, attached to the British 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division and wrote perspective reports on the campaign. As the breakout from Normandy looked imminent, he was recalled by the New Zealand Government and went to visit friends before departing. While doing so, he was killed by mortar fire, being survived by his wife and three children, one son having been killed in action earlier in the year.
The British Army 1939 – 45 (2) Middle East & Mediterranean, Brayley, Martin J., Osprey Publishing, Oxford, 2002, Men-At-Arms Series No. 368. Part two of a three part look at the British Army during the Second World War, this book provides a good summary of the fighting around the Mediterranean, including North Africa and Italy, looks at the special uniforms needed in these theatres and includes an overview of the British Artillery. [see more]
