HELPED TO THRASH A KING

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 9

HELPED TO THRASH A KING

71/1 EMORIES —some of them painful—will be stirred in all Old Etonians throughout-the world by the news of l the death recently of Mr William j Hall, more familiarly known as |‘ ‘ Fusee, •'' who as school messenger at j Eton College for 45 years helped to I thrash more famous people than any | other known assistant at the “birclii ing block.” • He died at his house in Slough at the age of the age of 74, a year after his retirement from the service. | His nickname of “Fusee” is atti'Tj bated to his sandy-red hair and ruddy complexion when he was appointed to the post in ISB4, after having passed through the Zulu and Boer wars and the Egyptian campaign of 1882. One crowned head (the King of Siam), many princes, dukes, earls,. Cabinet Ministers, judges, soldiers, 1 and other celebrities remember liimj with mixed feelings. The fame that' came to these people left him unmoved.

Eton Master Passes

“The rod never spoiled the child at Eton,” lie used to say. “If they got into mischief they were punished and took it without a whimper.” But he would never divulge what passed, behind the scenes of ihe bich-ing-room. Potential bishops may have used bad language, and future field marshals squirmed, but “Fusee” never told. “An Eton birch* is a thing to be proud of,” he wrote in. the “Sunday I Express,” when he celebrated his ! seventy-first birthday. : Of the Bishop of .St. Albans he said:— “I never remember liis actually getting the birch, but he deserved it often enough. He was a very big lad, and always up to some prank or other.” “Fusee” also related how, during a. visit by the King and Queen with Lord Rosebery, soon after Prince Henry had left, the Queen, handling the birch said, ‘ ( Surely they do not beat the boys with this. I hope Henry never needed it.” She was assured that Prince Henry escaped it.