"RECEIVED—ONE KING."

Mataura Ensign, 29 September 1913, Page 6

"RECEIVED —ONE KING."

We ivsrrct to an.hnmice tli-9 doth of («<■ ::i !•;:! Sir Harry Prendergast, V.C.— the man who won Burma.—at his iious-.' ar Richmond, in his 79th year (stated I 'The Daily Mail' of July 20). j Born in Madras, Sir Harry came of a j family connected with "John Conip.i.i.v,'' tiia old East India Company, 'which ruled India before the Mutiny, hie entered the service in 1854, and; lie received (he Victoria Cross during the .1 iitiiaii'. Mutiny for saving the life or ii c.utenant i)e\r, being himself severely | wounded, and av&s constantly mentioned in 'Hspatches. His great achievement came in 1885-6, when no annexed Burma, a country larger than France., to the British Empire and dethroned the infamous King Thcebaw. "It is 'beyond doubt tlwt- m one day King Theebaw caused 70 or 8!) members of the Royal Family to ho massacred," said Sir Harry oi:ce. "But then this was strictly -in accordance with the traditions- of his positi:>!:." j Sir Harry has himself ec,bribed ili<v j surrender of Theehaw at Mandalay in the following words: "J went to the palace with 20 or 30 officers and an interpreter. King Theebaw sat on his throne under the awning of a verandah surrounded by his Ministers and his wives and the Queen-Mouther. There was no trace of fear or anger in his demeanor; lie was perfectly cool and polite. I informed him that it -would be necessary for him to embark for India. He suggested a delay of three months, which was refused, then three weeks, and finally three days. At length I took out my watch and said, 'I can give you 10 minutes.' " King Theebaw then implored Sir Harryt not to rob him of a precious ruby ring or his wife. But as the general smiled in a mysterious way the King exclaimed: "Well, well, take my wife, but, oh, great commander, spare me my ring." From the officer of the steamer ins which the King and his Court were taken into exile Sir Harry received a receipt for "one King, three Queenis, one Prime Minister, three councillors., and so many maids of honor." Sir Harry Prendergast was a- lover of all sports and was a distinguished swordsman. He leaves two sons and three daughters.