Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), Wednesday 30 April 1941, page 4


BRIG. ANDREW'S DEATH Former Tasmanian News was received in Launceston yesterday of the death of Brigadier Basil John Andrew, a brother of Mr. Harold Andrew, of Launceston, and well known here. It is understood that Brigadier Andrew collapsed and died in the Middle East shortly after evacuation from Greece, where he had been in the thick of the campaign for a fort-night with General Sir Thomas Blamey. A son of the late Mr. and Mrs. John A. Andrew. of Launceston, Brigadier Andrew was educated at Scotch Col-lege, Launceston, and then went to Duntroon Military College. From there he enlisted for the last war as Adjutant and Quartermaster of the second Anzac Entrenching Battalion. Soon after, he was appointed Adjutant of the 12th Battalion. Promotion was rapid, as he was then appointed Staff Captain of the 3rd Infantry Brigade. Returning to Australia, Brigadier Andrew was in 1921 appointed Brigade Major of the 13th Infantry Brigade and continued with regimental duties. For

Late Brigadier Andrew.

a brief period he was stationed in Launccston. He was A.D.C. to the Governor of South Australia in 1927, and in 1933 was appointed to Army Headquarters in Melbourne, where he remained until seconded to the A.I.F. on April 4. 1940. Recently he was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. Brigadier Andrew married Miss Ethel Petterd, of Launceston, daughter of Mrs. W. F. Petterd and the late Mlr. Petterd. He leaves a widow, who lives in Melbourne, and a son, John, who is still at school. Mr. Harold Andrew is a brother and Mrs. Harold Cleaver, of Launceston, a sister. Major H. Spotswood, who now com-mands the 12th-50th Battalion at Elphin camp, was closely associated with the late Brigadier Andrew in the 12th Battalion and 3rd Brigade during the last war. "He was a splendid officer," Major Spotswood said yesterday, "a man of easy approach, charming personality and every inch a soldier." COL. C. H. ELLIOTT'S TRIBUTE "It is with very deep regret that I learn of the death of Brigadier Andrew," said CoL C. H. Elliott.,Com- manding Officer of the 12th Battalion, in which Brigadier Andrew served dur-ing the Great War. Col. Elliott said, that Brigadier Andrew had been a second year Dun-troon graduate and therefore a picked man, splendidly trained. He had joined the 12th Battalion in March, 1916, just after the Gallipoli campaign, when the battalion was transferring to France. Brigadier Andrew had served with the battalion in France as adjutant, he said, and then had undertaken staff work for the First Australian Brigade and the First Australian Division, coming back later to the 12th Battalion as company commander for a period before again undertaking staff work. On his re-turn after the war, Col. Elliott said, he had spent practically all his time at army headquarters, in Melbourne, and on the outbreak of hostilities had been appointed to a senior position on General Blamey's staff. Col. Elliott said that recently he had received a personal letter from Major L. M. Newton, who also had been attached to the 12th Battalion, from the

Middle East, in which he had referred to Brigadier Andrew as an ideal staff officer who was doing wonderful work. "I remember him." said Col. Elliott, "as a very good adjutant and a par-ticularly fine company commander."