GREAT IMPERIALIST

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 105, 28 January 1931, Page 9

GREAT IMPERIALIST

Sir P. Fitzpatrick Dead JAMESON RAID RECALLED Cape Town, January 26. Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, author of “Jock of the Bushveld,” is dead. He was a leading member of the Johannesburg Reform Committee at the time of the Jameson Raid. His memorable election fight at Pretoria, where he defeated the late General Botha in 1910, is recalled, also his great services to South Africa in securing Del Ville Wood as a site for the national South African war memorial.

Sir Percy Fitzpatrick was a member of the “Reform Committee” which made a forcible attempt to straighten out the affairs of the Transvaal 35 years ago. Its warlike preparations culminated in the famous “Jameson Raid,” Dr. Leander Jameson being the leader of a force co-operating with the committee which planned to seize the Pretoria fort. This scheme was abandoned, but Jajneson marched into the Transvaal, where his force was surrounded and obliged to surrender. Leaders Arrested. The leading members of the Reform Committee, among them Fitzpatrick, were arrested and tried. Four. Phillips, Colonel Rhodes. Farrar, and Hammond, were sentenced to death, the rest to two years’ imprisonment. The death sentences. however, were later commuted. Each man was fined £2OOO and the sentences on all save six (the four leaders and two others who declined to appeal) were remitted. Then negotiations were entered upon for the release of the four leaders (the suggestion came from the Government) provided that they offered £25.000 each. This followed protest meetings in every town in South Africa, even including towns in the Free State. Four years later the political issue led to war. Successful Career. Sir James Percy Fitzpatrick was 33 years of age in the year 1895. He was a son the Hon. James Coleman Fitznntrick, of Ireland, and was educated nt St. Gregory’s College, near Bath. He had been in the Transvaal ince 18S4. had gone with Randolph Churchill on his Mashonnland expedition in 1891. and hnori with the firm of Eckstein and Co. (Phillins's firm) since 1592. Three years after the Raid he became a partner. In 1902 Im was president of the Witwntersrnnd Chamber of Minos, and in 1910-20 was M.P. for Pretoria East. Suggested “The Silence.” He was described as a “South African statesman, author, and imperialist.” A large share in the consummation of the Union of South Africa is nscrihed to him. Also, he was the author of the idea of the two minutes’ silence on Armistice Day—a suggestion which was readily adopted and carried out with heartfelt sympathy throughout the Empire.