John Evelyn Duigan

Who is John Evelyn Duigan?

Major General Sir John Evelyn Duigan KBE CB DSO was an officer who served with the New Zealand Military Forces during the First and Second World Wars. He was Chief of General Staff of the New Zealand Military Forces from 1937 to 1941.

Born in Wanganui, New Zealand in 1883, Duigan joined a unit of colonial volunteers during the Boer War. He was wounded and later repatriated to New Zealand. He returned to South Africa with the 10th New Zealand Contingent to serve in the Boer War. After the war, he joined the New Zealand Military Forces as a professional soldier. During the First World War, he commanded the New Zealand Tunnelling Company and was awarded a DSO for his service. From 1917 to 1918 he served in various staff and training positions. He also served in staff positions in the postwar military, eventually rising to the rank of colonel and commanding Northern Command by 1930. In 1937, he was promoted to major general and appointed the Chief of General Staff. He oversaw a reduction in the size of the New Zealand Territorial Force and did little to prevent the New Zealand government from directing its attention on the Royal New Zealand Air Force to the detriment of the army. Overlooked for command of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force, which was raised for service abroad during the Second World War, he retired from the military in 1941. He died nine years later at the age of 66.