OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 3 September 1924, Page 6

OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

AN EPISODE, OF THE WAR

SOME PERSONAL TRIBUTES

“THE SMARTEST AND KEENEST

SOLDIER.”

“The smartest ancl keenest soldier I have seen in an experience of thirty years,” was the description given to the new Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, by'Mr W. L. Eastbury, of Auckland, who was for many years in the Grenadier Guards (states the Post’s Auckland correspondent). When Mr Eastbury joined the Guards in 1891, Sir Charles Fergusson, who was then ‘‘plain Charlie,” was adjutant of the regiment- stationed at Dublin, and was responsible for the efficiency and smartness of the battalion. About- that time a commission sat in London and heard evidence concerning the efficiency . of the British Army. Lord Wolseley, Commander-in-Chief of the Guards, told the Commission that he had a battalion in Dublin which he considered the most efficient and smartest battalion he had ever seen in the whole of his career as a soldier. Sis: Charles Fergusson was responsible for that battalion. In the Egyptian campaign, said Mr Eastbury, Sir Charles was sent to capture a. Dervish general, and in the re>-sult-ing battle a bullet hit the ground, ricoehetted, and struck Sir Charles in the forehead, incapacitating him foir a considerable time.

Sir Charles was particularly interested in running and swimming. For many years he was the winner of the 100 yards officers’ race. In 1897 he presented a silver cup to the best swimmer in the (regiment, and this was won by Mr Eastbury. He was always popular with the men. He was also described by Mr Eastbury as a man who never advertised himself, and because of that fact was probably the least heard of general holding a high command on the Western front during the war.

An episode illustrating the ehairacter of Sir Charles Fergusson is described by Lord Ernest Hamilton in his history of the first seven divisions. It occurred at; Le Cateau on August 26, 1914. The survivors from (lie desperate stand at Mens withdrew to the neighbourhood of Le Cateau, and from the inadequate shelter of hastily improvised trenches faced for half a dozen hours an artillery bombardment from guns outnumbering the British batteries by five to one. By the afternoon many of our -batteris had been silenced, and thei German gunners had it moire or less their own way. Our infantry then became mere targets. It was an ordeal of the most trying description conceivable, says the author, and it is doubted whether any other troops in the world would have stood it as long os did the Second Army Corps at, Le Cateau. TRei enemy’s bombardment was kept up till mid-day; then it slackened off so as to allow c,f a further advance of their artillery. By this time some of the Fifth Division had begun to dribble away. That awful gunfire, to which our batteries were no longer able to reply, coupled with insufficient trenches, was too much for human endurance. Sir Charles Feirgusson, Divisional General, with an absolute disregard of personal danger, galloped about among the bursting shells exhorting the division to stand fast. An eye-witness said that his survival through the day was nothing short of a miracle. Another link between New Zealand and the Governor-General designate arises from the fact that portion of the Dominion’s forces fought under his command in 1918. Following the launching of the German offensive in March the New Zealand Division was moved from the Second Army in the north. It was first intended that it should pass under the command of the Seventeenth Corps, then commanded by General Fergusson, but this order was changed, and the division proceeded to the. Bray area on the Somme, eventually joining the Fourth."- Corps under General Harper. Subsequently, on September 21, the Second (Army) Brigade of New Zealand Field Artillery was attached to General Fergusson’’s corps, and remained with it until October 22.

Although he was Governor of Ne\y Zealand for not- much over a year, Sir James Fergusson (father of the new Governor-General) seems to have done some speculating in land, for- there atr-e references in contemporary newspapers to a land company-at Feilding in which he was interested, and mention Ls made that while in Auckland, just prior to his final, departure from the country, he intended to visit the Waikato, where he had a farm. Fifty years ago Waikato land would be worth only a few shillings an acre, and if the family held on to the property' it would now have a valuable asset. Old files show that when Sir James left for England lie journeyed from Wellington to Manukau in his yacht Blanch. Lady Fergusson and family went Home from Wellington in the sailing shin Halcione, but His Excellency came to Auckland partly apparently to have a look at his property in the Waikato. The Blanch took five days to get to Onehnnga. After spending a few days in Auckland, His Excellency left by the Mikado for England, by way of San Francisco. There welrc some brief speeches of farewell, and prominent among whose names are among prominent people whose names are given as being present were Sir Geo. lajaii, the Hon. D. Pollen, Sir Maurice O’Eorke. Mr Swanson, Majoy Gordon, Major Tisdall, Mr Dignan, and Sir J. L. Campbell. Sincere regret was felt at losing Sir James Fergusson, and he in turn seems to have been really sorry to have to leave New Zealand." Like Lord Jellicoe, he seems to have been fond of going about without “frills,” foir in his speech he spoke of having been in the habit of meeting and conversing with many persons. Being fond of going about in an unofficial way, he added that he thought that in that way “you got to know something of the character of the people.’’ As a result of his unconventional wanderings lie seems to have formed a high opinion of New Zealand. He told an Auckr land audience that he was hopeful of New Zealand; “as much from the inde-

pendeuce and manliness of its people a.s from the great material wealth with which Providence has blessed it,” and he promised to take the keenest interest in the colony and do all he could for it. “No man born in New Zealand,” said he, “wishes the colony success more than I do, and if I ca.n serve you in any way I shall be glad to do so.” Apparently the reason for his very brief stay in New Zealand was his hankering after politics. He had held important posts in the Conservative Government under Disraeli, and he told a New Zealand audience that “having once felt the" attractions of a political career, I long to retm-n to it.”