Unorthodox Brigadier Wingate

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1943, Page 6

Unorthodox Brigadier Wingate

Speaking of Brigadier Orde Charles Wingate, who for more than three months led a British, Indian and Burmese force of considerable strength 200 miles into Burma, far behind the Japanese lines The London “News Chronicle” says:— Brigadier Orde Charles Wingate is that rare combination —a dreamer and a man of action, cables Stuart Emeny. The first impression of him is that here is a military edition of the absent-minded professor. Yet behind this unorthodox, apparently eccentric facade is a tough 38-year-old soldier whose fixity of purpose bears no relation to his unsoldierly aopoarance.

Trained as a gunner at Woolwich, he starte d to apply unorthodox methods in a small way during the disturbances in Palestine in 1937. He turned the Arab weapons of sniping, ambush and guerilla warfare against the Arabs themselves.

In Abyssinia he played a major part in raising guerilla bands of patriots to run out the Italians.

You may hear him chanting to himself in Arabic, which he speaks fluently, in his tent in the morning. Then for hours he will be silent and meditative.

His profession is war, but his interests are legion. When he feels like talking he will talk by the hour, running his fingers through his hair, making his points with a vigorous turn of phrase. He will talk on practically any subject under the sun. He has very definite ideas on diet and frequently flabbergasts his visitors by pulling out a handful of raw onions and inviting his guests to join him. His conversation ranges through philosophy, literature, art, music, politics and economics to international affairs.

By his camp-fire one night in Burma, I heard him put up a spirited defence of the "Jane” strip cartoon of the “Daily Mirror,” quote from tin* Greek classics, and give a lecture on 18th century painting.

A few minutes later he was planning the post-war world, “this time a league of nations or some federation of nations must be made to -work. Any nation which breaks the law must be dealt with immediately.'' As the camp-fij’e burned low he switched the subject to literature, “modern English writers are sterile. There is nobody writing today of any importance. People read today for cheap sensation, not to learn or be stimulated—a lamentable state of affairs to which modern writers pander.”

He stood up abruptly. “Good night, I’m for bed. We have a busy day tomorrow.” He moved off to his tent, still shaking his head over the state of English literature. Next morning he led his men down to the Chindwin and so intG depths of the enemy territory.

Brigadier Wingate’s wife in London added some further facts about him. He is of medium build, has fair hair, and deepset. blue eyes. He believes strongly in physical fitness. He does not drink. He has said that he has a profound belief in prayer.