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Concept
James Waddell (army officer)
Résumé
James Waddell (11 October 1873 - 18 February 1954) was one of New Zealand's most highly decorated soldiers of the First World War. Waddell was received in the French Legion of Honour and promoted twice. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre seven times during the war.
Born in Dunedin Waddell attended Otago Boys' High School and then Canterbury College in the evening to prepare for, and win, the first New Zealand government military scholarship. In 1895 he became the first New Zealander to pass the open examination for an officer's commission in the British Army.
Waddell entered the British Army in 1895 and was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion (Duke of Wellington's) West Riding Regiment. He saw service in Natal and India. During this period, he faced prejudice from his fellow officers in part because of his colonial origins. Other factors reportedly contributing to his ostracism included his small build (5-foot tall) and a university background not shared by his fellow officers. A Board of Inquiry ordered the retirement of a senior officer involved in the incident.
The regiment was transferred to India, and it was here that Waddell met and married a French woman. She helped him earn the unusual honour for a foreigner, of a direct appointment as an officer in the French Foreign Legion. While the majority of the rank and file of the Legion were non-French, only a small number were able to become officers, and then normally after first reaching the rank of sergeant and becoming naturalised Frenchmen. Waddell resigned his British Army commission, obtained French citizenship and was appointed as a sous-lieutenant (second lieutenant) in the French Army on 25 April 1900. Between 1900 and 1914, Waddell undertook two tours of duty in Indo-China and served in the Sahara, Algeria and Morocco. At the beginning of 1914, he was promoted to the rank of captain with the 1st Foreign Legion Regiment and appointed as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Legion of Honour for his service in Indo-China.
Source officielle
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