NOTED HISTORIAN

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 10

NOTED HISTORIAN

♦ DEATH OF DR. FITCHEW A USEFUL CAREER WEITING ONLY A H0BB1; [ Australian Tress Association—United Service i (Ilufecivod 26th May, 2 p.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. The death occurred in the early hours of the morning of the Rev. Dr. William Henry Fitchett, the distinguished Methodist historian, who was for many years principal of."'tlie Methodist College at Hawthorn. He was twi<;e married and leaves five sons and one daughter. Some men drift into their hobbies, and the late Dr. Fitchctt is a ease in. point. Ho became a writer by accident. His brother, who' was also a minister of the Methodist Church, wrote an article entitled "Have Miracles Ceased?" in a church periodical under the simple signature of "F." Not knowing who the author was, but much impressed by the contents of the article, Dr. Fitchett replied from his point of view, and from that day, many years ago now, he.became a writer, a hobby which gave him infinite pleasure. Hi's 'first work for the daily Press was for the "Telegraph," a paper which was wrecked when the land boom burst. From the "Telegraph" Dr. Fitchett transferred his pen to the "Argus," and for many years he was one of its leader writers. T!5 the "Argus" may be assigned the credit of having "discovered" Dr. Fitehett as an author, for it was in the pages of the "Argus" that the material comprised in "Deeds That Won the Empire." "Fights for the Flag," and others of his best-known books originally appeared. In 18GCJ Admiral Sir Cyprian Bridge, then commander of the Australian Naval Station, was struck by the prevailing ignorance among young -Australians' ofthe history of the British Empire. Opening his mind to Mr. F. W. Haddon, tlio editor of the "Argus," Admiral Bridge suggested that ( much plight be done to educate Australians in the significance of Empire by the publication of instructive articles on the anniversary of the great battles of British history. Such narratives, if skilfully recounted, would, he suggested, depict to the imaginations of Australians the great men and great deeds to which the Empire owed its being. Dr. Fitchett had been a keen student of history and of military tactics. Mr. Haddon invited Dr. Fitehctt to undertake the,task outlined by the admiral, and the first article. "The Night Attack on Badajos," was published on 4th April, 1896. It proved so immensely popular that the series, at the request of many readers, was continued weekly, without awaiting anniversary, dates. It proceeded. for three years, and must bo reckoned as among the most appealing and informative efforts that have graced.Australian journalism. Later , these were published in book form, and countless numbers have been sold, and are even now asked for. Through "Deeds That Won, the Empire," then, Dr. Fitchett ""arrived" as an author. Other books followed in annual succession right up to the year before the war. Reviewing his.'. Own output, and remembering that all the time he had the, care of a great lege, and was an active, participant in the affairs of his church, of which ho "was Victorian and Tasmanian president in 1902, and Australasian presidentgeneral in 1904, Dr. .Fitchett,. confessed that, he-astonished himself.'.Between 1897 and 1913 he produced fifteen books, a few of which run into two and more volumes. Most of-his work has touched, the, history of :the Empire, but, in addition" to theological books, it includes three novels. His total sales in Groat Britain,. the Empire, and the United States, exceed '1,000,000 copies. Of "Deeds ThatJVou the Empire" he had two copies which he cherished especially. One "was.the companion of Sir John Monash .in."wartime. . Another copy is that which JDr. E. A. AVilsou carried with him .tb,.'the Antarctic on-the voyage of -the .Discovery. . ' .. . .'■...".". " . .'." But for the war; Dr. Fitchett would probably have .continued, publishing books. But when war came he began to write in "Life" a monthly study of the changing aspects of tho struggle, and this absorbed all his attention* The Commonwealth authorities have paid this history the compliment of a place in the Australian War Museum. On one of his visits to London his publishers paid him the high' honour of offering him the editorship of the' •"Cornhill Magazine," Thackeray's old post, combined with the. duties of chief reader. But ho was loyal to his work in Australia, and declined. . ■ ' Dr. Fitchett lost no opportunity to . travel over the scenes of those heroic exploits with which he familiarised tho English-speaking world through his books. Waterloo- lie explored from three angles—from Wellington's post, from Napoleon's post, and along the road to Quatre Bras. He had some fragments of brick, from the battlefield still begrimed with the smoke of British fire, but his most valued souvenir of the hero of that titanic strug-' gle was an original letter, written by Wellington to Field-Marshal Lord Beresford, commander in the Peninsula, counselling him in characteristically forceful terms to resign his charge, in view of the Portuguese Government 's lukewarm spirit. This manuscript was presented to him by his publishers, Smith, Elder, and Co., as a token of regard. His books opened to him the doors of many famous men. On one occasion, when attending a Peace Conference at The Hague, he spemt the afternoon .with Lord Fisher, and the evening with Mr. W. T. Stead (with whom in.1892.he had founded the "Australian Beview of Reviews"), and Captain (afterwards Admiral) Mahan, the famous American sailor, whose books, "The Influence of Sea Power Upon History" and "Tlie Life of Nelson" are classics. . Iv Calcutta, on another tour, Dr. Fitchett had an audience with Lord Kitchener, then commandcr-in-ehief in India,-who having been attracted by his books, sent for him, and kept him in conversation 'for an hour —a rare mark of favour, as Dr. Fitchett aftdrwards learned. The late Dr. Fitchett ' also has a great place as an educationist, doing a great deal of tho work in connection, with the AVcsley Colleges for boys and girls, which have a just reputation all over Australia' and New Zealand. For 45 years he was at the head of tho girls' college, and thousands of Australian girls have come under his influence. For recreation he pinned his faith to golf, though for the past fewyears his sticks have remained almost untouched as a result of. advancing years. .