OBITUARY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 97, 21 October 1931, Page 9

OBITUARY

SIR REGINALD HART

BRITAIN'S OLDEST V.C

I British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, 19th October.

The oldest holder of the Victoria Cross, General Sir Reginald Hart, died to-day at Bournemouth, at tho age of S3. He gained tho medal in tho Afghan campaign in 1579. He bocamo Commander-in-Chief in South Africa in 1912, and during the Groat War was Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey.

General Sir Reginald Clare Hart, V.C., G.C.8., X.C.V.0., was eightythree years old, and gained the highest military honour ill 1879 "for his gallant conduct in risking Ms own life in endeavouring to save the life of a private soldiex-." Sir Reginald Hart was born iii Scarif, County Clare, and was a son of the late Lieutenant-Goneral H. G. Hart, of Dorset. Sir Reginald entered the Royal Engineers in 1869 when twenty-ono years old and was a brovet-colonel in 1886, major-general in 1902, lieutenant-general in 11)08, and general in 1914. At various times he was a garrison instructor, Director of Military Education in India, Commandant of the School of Military Engineering, in command of tlio Capo Colony District, Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, and Lieutenant-Governor of Guernsey, and ho served in the Afghan War, whoro he was mentioned in. dispatches and won his V.C., the Ashantco War, the Egyptian War, and on the north-west frontier of India. He commanded a brig-ido in the Tirah Campaign, where ho again distinguished himself, and for which ho received the K.C.B. Ho also held various district commands iv India, and gained the Koyal Humane Society's silver medal. In the last. Honours List.his name ap-ppiirr-d among- I.lie bestowals of the G.C.B.