Walter Armiger Bowring, 'Portrait of Colonel Richard Hutton Davies Commanding 8th New Zealand Contingent in South Africa' (1861-1918) The English-born Richard Hutton Davies migrated to New Zealand where he farmed and established himself as a surveyor in Taranaki. His superb eye for ground led to his rapid advancement in the New Zealand Volunteers and he commanded the Hawera Mounted Rifle Volunteers before transferring to the New Zealand Militia as a staff officer instructor. In 1899 he was appointed Company Commander in the 1st New Zealand Contingent to the Boer War and earned a reputation as an outstanding leader of mounted horsemen. He served continuously in South Africa for 18 months commanding in turn the 3rd and 4th New Zealand Contingents. He would return again as Commander 8th New Zealand Contingent with the rank of Colonel in 1901. It was the intention to amalgamate the 8th, 9th and 10 Contingents under Davies' command but the end of the war in South Africa prevented this. This portrait was painted at this time. Davies played a critical role in the formation of the New Zealand Territorial Force becoming Inspector General of New Zealand Forces and a member of the Defence Council. In 1909 he was seconded to the British Army and commanded 6 Infantry Brigade at Aldershot. On the outbreak of war in 1914 Davies too his brigade to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and with the approval of the New Zealand Government was appointed to command the newly raised British 20th (Light) Division with the rank of Major-General. He was the first New Zealand officer to command a Division in the First World War and the only New Zealand officer to command a British Division. However his health broke down in 1916 and he commanded training establishments in the United Kingdom for the rest of the war. His reputation as New Zealand's outstanding soldier was overshadowed by the rise of Major-General Sir Andrew Russell who raised and commanded the New Zealand Division on the Western Front from 1916-1918. Davies suffered a nervous collapse in 1918 and committed suicide at a nursing home in England. It was a sad end to a brilliant career by one of New Zealand's outstanding soldiers. Christopher Pugsley

See: Garry James Clayton. 'Davies, Richard Hutton', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 7-Jun-2013 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/3d3/davies-richard-hutton