Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1922. ASSASSINATION OF SIR HENRY HUGHES WILSON

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 June 1922, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 1922. ASSASSINATION OF SIR HENRY HUGHES WILSON

THE assassination of Sir Henry Hughes Wilson by two young men, believed to be Sinn Feiners, is a dastardly crime. It removes one who played a great part in the defeat of the Germans thus giving the Empire the security it mow enjoys. As Chief of the Imperial General Staff in the later stages of the war he rendered the greatest service to the Allies. Ho was one who forecasted the attack of the Germans south of Arras in the early part of 1918 and also that the attack would succeed to the extent of penetrating the British line to half the distance of the front attacked. Ho won his spurs in the Burmese war of 1884-7, in which ho paid for his valour by a serious wound. And from that stago I his progress was that of the average army officer, until, as brigadier-major, ho went to South Africa to fight the Boers, when ho first had the opportunity to show the stuff ho was made of. ! Four times ho was mentioned in despatches for brilliant work; he won the D. 5.0., and crowned his acliicvdnents by “doing more than any other man to cause the Boers to raise the siege of Ladysmith.” Then followed distinguished service as commandant of the Staff College, Camberley, and as director of military operations at army headquarters. But it was the war that at last provided a field largo enough for the display of his great gifts as a soldier. “He was,” to quote Lord French, “the backbone of the staff. No matter how black the outlook, ho never lost his cheerful demeanour or liis clear head in the council chamber. His fertile brain probed deeply into the probability of the enemy’s intention, and his quick and instant wit produced order out of chaos and confidence out of despair. Rarely lias a country been better served. It was no> surprise to those who knew Sir Henry and bis splendid abilities when, ho was chosen as British military representative on the Supreme War Council at Versailles, or that he stepped into Sir William Robertson’s shoes as virtual head of the British armies. And what was the secret of this modest soldier’s amazing success? Apart from his 'great natural and acquired gifts, as a soldier, it was that for very many years he bad foreseen the worldwar and had dedicated his life to pre-

paring himself for it. Year alter year, for a-quarter of a century, lie spent, every day he could possibly spare in cycling over the long stretch of country now known as the western front. He knew every inch of the Belgian, French, and Swiss frontier as no other Englishman knew it. The Balkan countries and their peoples were equally an open hook to him. Ho studied the Bulgarian and Turkish war on tho spot. He was, 100, so dever a linguist that ho was abb to mix with tin; various peoples and to understand them as one of themselves. His life’s motto had been, “See every thing for yourself, and don t undertake a job until you know all you can loam about, it.” And this maxim served him well, for lie- saw and conquered. His first great position was the reward of long years of patient work, backed by rare ablitics. In appearance Sir Henry was tall, spare, and soldierly. In repose bis face was amiable, with a ready smile and a twinkle in his eyes. But in action his mouth set in very resolute lines and his eyes were cold and keen as a razor-blade. Determination was written all over his face. In private life he was ono of the most genial of men, with all an Irishman's sense of humour and love of fun. Like many other great soldier’s Sir Henry Wilson was an Irishman. Ho first opened his eyes on the world at Cuvrygrane, EdywoHhstown one May dav in 1863 and naturally took to soldiering. Ho would hear of no other career. Since he retired from the army ho, entered Parliament.