James Hargest

Who was James Hargest?

Brigadier James Hargest CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MC, ED, MP was an officer in the New Zealand Military Forces, serving in the First and Second World Wars. He was a Member of New Zealand's Parliament from 1931 to 1944, representing firstly the Invercargill electorate and then the Awarua electorate.

Born in Gore in 1891, Hargest was a farmer when he volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force following the outbreak of the First World War. Commissioned as an officer, he served at Gallipoli in 1915 and was seriously wounded. Following his recovery from his wounds, he returned to active duty on the Western Front in France. He commanded an infantry battalion during the late stages of the war and received several awards for his leadership. After the war, he returned to New Zealand to resume farming. In 1931 Hargest successfully entered the Parliament of New Zealand as the member for Invercargill. Initially an independent, he was one of the strongest supporters of the National Party that formed in 1936, and held an executive role in the party hierarchy.