Resident Commissioner

New Post for G. and E.

Resident Commissioner H. E. Maude Takes Over G. and E. Colony

THE present Resident Commissioner of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony, Mr. V. Fox-Strangways, will shortly be transferred to Palestine as Under-Secretary to the Government.

Mr. Fox-Strangways received his G & E appointment in 1941 but, before he could reach his new post, war came to the Pacific and the Colony was

occupied by the enemy. He then joined the RAAF and trained in Australia. How ever, when the Americans made their historic landing on Tarawa atoll late in November, 1943, he accompanied them in the role for which he had come to the Pacific; and, three days after the initial landing of the Marines, at the invitation of the Americans, he raised the Union Jack beside the Stars and Stripes on Betio Islet an incident that has been referred to several times in this journal.

When Mr. Fox-Strangways goes to his unenviable new post in Palestine, his place in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony will be taken by Mr. H. E. Maude.

Mr. Maude is at present acting RC.

Mr. Maude who is only 40 years old joined the Colonial Service in 1929, as a cadet with the Western Pacific High Commission, and has since held a wide variety of important posts in WPHC territories and Fiji. In 1936, he repre sented the G & E Colony at the Honolulu Education Conference. He was trans ferred to Zanzibar in 1936, but returned to the G & E Colony in 1937. He super vised the Phoenix Island Settlement, and he organised the new administration in Pitcairn. He has an expert knowledge of Gilbertese. Mr. Maude is regarded as one of the most able officials in WPHC.

V. Fox-Strangways, shortly after he landed on Betio, in November, 1943. He is examining the fox-hole where he spent the first night.