DEATH OF EARL ROBERTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15767, 16 November 1914, Page 7

DEATH OF EARL ROBERTS.

—. —«. _ OX IH'TV TO THE LAST.

CAUGHT A CHILL IN FRANCE.

GHKKTIXi; INDIAN TROOPS. Wrii.iYtvrox, November 15. Tin: Prime Minister has received (1,,- f,.||'.winp cable from tho High (/iiinmi ■- ■'■!:> i . dated from London, Nf.v. ;•;■' ■■• ; ! It is oiinlly anfuuim 'I ih.'it Karl Roberts died to-day. A Inter ii]css:iji.e from the High Coin!' -i"H"r Males that Karl Kit' ''■ r;■ c iv.-d this evening th.< ft,!!' v ; -i.' i' i.'LM■:iiii from Sir John [ i.m. '■ i dr. |i|v regret to tell' you tl.-i: Karl Huberts died fit right ' '■''■■' k 'hi* < veiling (November Hi" Km'•' li 'I" v\- w;if on a visit to Fi .■■• '■' ui- ■ 1 tin- Indian troops. 11. ■ i. i' '• d a dull on Thur.i jf.iv i ii- ' umbo,l to an attack of pnni: ':::.. SIXTY YKAIiS \ SOLDIKR.

CAREER OF EARL ROBERTS. A IJH "HI i OK i;i!F.AT SERVICE i ■ ,i • .-..■ ii ■•:• I ~.i.-r i.f V • hi Marshal T.- I! >'- ••■\-:i ■. i" if.! of ..vei M i,.,.; \ - i! ..f C. ii«>ril Sir Abraham J; i. : - i ,-; l.ek S'i : 1, R.,lk>:is Uiitf born .-,! ' ,■!-!■ i, In. 1 ~.. ..ii swrailvr ,-,0. 1, : > 11.. v, - ,-<| M , ,i:, ,| at Kmn. Saint--1 .•■■ ,■ I \.!.1:..-0ia1.,«. .iii.l (iee.enl Sir \l ■.: ,-. ii Ii •- »,s :■. his (.')(!, year 1.. ... ~• ii. ,I. Hi.' ~ .piainlanoe ..f Ins t - \", i . . -~■ !-•= .!.:■. v..in,: Roberts ar--7... i ,i, 1' dhi |.. i .in' th-> forces of til" !!■ i -.1- !■■ i ...ft |. -ilia l'imi|..in\ as i .■ .; -iv.i-iiiv M-ri.rrl li-utniiint. He was I- . , ,-ii -|..v.:.ml 'a.I in hi* 20th umi, v '-!■>; i i', : . ■ i!-. ,! .i.. well at Sandhurst .-: .! -i id;- .ml. . iln> mpanyV- military (: .ii ::.g <, ''lege Shortly befoie hi's . <■■■ I,s < it'.i- 1 .-, ~ ,1 -tiiigiiished Indian ,'!'.••■ •i:i" .■! tin- , mnniaiiH at IV-ha "■ •' ..' i in l forth w.-.l front icr, and young 1:.,1>.-,: ; n:,-l him lhe;e to serve lis his a ■;■ >!■• .rap. in nidi: inn '.I lining regi--1..-11.1: •.-.!', - ,',■■ an artillery ,'tli . r lp i-. ili-s . in,' fat Li- and tail) had seen mi '.:"- ■■ ■' ■i> h '■'■in that, I liev met prac- :;■ i ,'\ .-- >• rangers. A Soldier's First Chance. A'l. :• i, - father li ~1 lii'cn invalided h'-a.,' 1!,.- \. i;n_- i I'm. . r still continued with h.s :..;:in -..I at I'isii.iwar, and in 1860 . an.' I-; li:.-t red opportunity of proving t'n' sin!! ■>' win. ii,' was mad,', l.ieiltena' I'.i,i-it . who had already Lien marked in ■■•. a a .1 |,i.,.'iu«'iii/ v.,1111/ officer liv tin' i.i:.i:l.'iiii it, > -<n, ral. was olified hi- .'let i'v p'.st .-i .I'pity .is istant quartermaster-e.-tieuil <iii! inj; ' the holder's absence, J|.' "leaved Ins quality, too. in the energy " 'a uhi.h Ii" p. ii,.run d his double duties. ! r in .i.in, .-. Ins artillery regiment had '" -'" ''.to a .spieial practice ramp, about live inili-i ii'nin l'es|ia«ir, in the autumn '■' i*v 'i 't'.iti' tin ramp broke, up Lieut- . nan! 1',,1i.-rl.- Ii id, a-, a stall officer, to J' 1 ;, tie- divisional yeuenil, win. »m on a l-.iir "i inspection at K.iwal I'indi. In oidi-r I:,a! he mijjU not neglecl his troop h" 'in •' i in rainji up to Hi,- last moment. l'-a\ ;!:_■ hit one dav m whirh to cover no mii-s ,:: |i„s>ei..i,'k. Willi Dili one rest i'u- :e!i-»: i,,i ~• |,« i-~l|. tie' distan,-,. m

In the Indian Mutiny. The outbreak of the mutiny brought 1.i.-ni.■in.nt Ib-berts opportunities, of which I" availed himself to the full. He reiced Ins i"ir«t wound before Delhi. The I'lito-h were rttinn_- from an engagement in which they had driven the rebels up to the gates if the city. Roberts was lemlinc a helping hand t.i his men in the il.jhciilt i.ihk of limbering up the guns. Win!.* !,. v ;lfi trying to keep the horses court d inn,- the operation ho was suddenly hit in the i, a ,.k near the spine. Only ;i hippy an blent saved him from bi'in; ki11., 1. A l,.«:|i-r pouch which he "•"•lillv ".ore in front had slipped to the bi'k. an broke the f,.ice of the bullet. ' I; " A am] laid him up for a month. Tin.-. vi.-,s otd\ one of the young soldier's tn.inv ii.-.in.u escapes. While serving with Hie fores , let. ci„..| fi„m Delhi at the end of the siege to join the column formed { '"' I'"* relief of Lu.know, Roberts found himself in an , nu'iig'-mcnt at Rnlandshahr, mix..l up with a. , r oud of friends and foe? in ;l "- ".in streets of the city. He vas riding a irstivf horse that had' once bflonu-.l t„ Xi, holson. when he suddenly saw ,i rebel Sepoy deliberated aiming at -""' i - Uii .i musket. He strove in vain '" -'' : 't tin, man before he could fire. b' i! I tie frightened horse reared at the ci Ho • i moment. ,-,,,,| received in its head 'he 1i.i11.-t intended tor its rider. At Agra. •'-e' ll '. during a stir] use attack on the lu'lmu '••"lip. Kobe-Is, whose revolver '■: —' fire. ..id wle.rse horse could not '« A^" 1 " '" "'"'"'■ w.ir, saved just in the j i|r '< ••! lime from .i mutineer bv a >■"""■ "'"■■ ■ >•■■■" up arid inn lib assailant thr.-.c.-h the I, ./I-.-.

Bravery and Courage. il'Til ■•.!■}• .. .1.-1 of sp-x-iaj dining was '•"I"'"'! 111., ~„, i„;,„ ,||llg olhoorS could nl ;'■''.' -•!;. 'ipi-.i! young Roberts. The, nit '.' "-'i: I' '>•■ '"'ii Hi. Vir.t(,nn fi„ss was '■•" •■'- I r-m..M ammi;. n:;;nv ~f its kind. >'• : > '•[ a'ready distinguished himself by a I l '-" ' ! 'l'-...r--d .•>■.:.;,.,. ; ,i Lu.-know. 'II„ '■•' "■"li it"' " li''f f"ree under Sir Colin ' •'' ' I ■•'■'< <■■• hi lii-r'-d liim to place a r ' ~ : "' ' 1.-l .-,! •> on or.c of the turrets of * '•"•'■l ':-: '.'i •!,,. |.i,i iti„n gained. '"'"'' ''•■.: "<<" "f Hi" colours of a native! 1 ■ - ""' "* ■ H"Wt* galloped off with it, I '"' '" ' •• '' " turret, and made it secure. : '' " " i'i"'Nil..| as ,i signal 1.1 the be. '' '-"■■'• •>• I'„ Residency, hut was at once | ■■■ >■'• '' " en.-iiiv. who immediately ! ,i; " '"•' *!"•<!- lire upon it. [~ a f ou . ! '' •""• I "••'•- iii«. and fell into (lie ''■' ' i: ' '•■ Ih.h.rts ran ,1 ,-,.„, pick,.,! ]' '•I • •'! 'I raised it one again on the ' "'"'■ I' «--.. i ..ve, a recond ; "', V ■ '■ In: descended, and 1,,, the ''• ' ; ' i'>' fa. t. Ned it (-, the I unci, where " '" u:ai;. d. i pi'" the enemy's fire. How Roberts Won the Victoria Cross. r . '' '•'■•'■ ■■■'.-] Iron) Cawnporo to '■'''• '''i «h.-:, 1i... linlish were pureti ;; ,-' •" i'led f it,..- just driven out '''< '■" ' ' ■< '" of Khudaganj. that Lieut. ''"■'■ : i: '■■•<•■- g.-in-d his. V.C. 11,. r: " . ' I:".: 'Mtli Younghmd.nnd's ■'!' ' " '" .'lid 11:.. .|,afe had continued ) '" "'"' '•'■ miles, until davlight la»uaii ! ' f : : ''mi iliev overtook a. hat,!, ' ' '■ ''■••' "ho faced about and fired '■•' ' ■ -i ■.droll at rinse quarters Lord ''■■'■ ''■ ■ ■■■;> III" dot .I'l-OUIII 111 What r,i "'■'■'■■' ; •'- |..il.«w.« : -" 1 saw Vf.unj.hu,. '"■' ' ' >' ■ •: I . .'il'l not go in Ins assist A "' ' ' ■' that liiotiii-nt "I]'' fif ills how, His v '' ".'•"• f <■< '■' I iuui a Sepoy, who was ""■l-'i ■■ -.: h in wit'i i, , fixed bayonet, and '•''" ! •■ ' l."lpcd the man, and deposed of ~;k ■ ' • '.!. 1,, [in.-I have been killed. ! ' ' " i.. n i-it! 1 ill s< lied in tint <!;■-■ '•'''■■ ' '■ .->. i •\s making "ff with a stand. ai ' '■ ■' , 1 determined must he captured. ■ v I '■■'■ liter the rebels, and overtook '!•■■!' '■'. i,,1, wirm-liing the stafl out ot '■■' : 'i ' ! i tie of them, whom I cut ''■ ' ' ,: . ■ i ':.•,' put Irs musket close to *'V> ' -i and tired; fortunately fur me it m" ■ ■ .ml I carried off the stand- "'''■ I- ..■ piisMi'.'e, in his "Forty-one. }< ir . 1d... f.ord Roberts simply Jl f" i ■ - r..te savin..' that for these two act. ■ .'as awarded the Victoria Cross. A .'■■".. , ah a i,t the valorous character *>' '■''• ■■! i i- may be gathered from tile "tfi .. port, whnh was to this effect :— I.' te'. N.it Roberts's gallantry has on every is'i-asioit been most marked. On follow m.: up the letreatinc enemy on January 2, 1858. at Khodagnage, he saw In the dif-tanee two Sepoys going away wit!. ,■; :!.n.,|,ird. Lieutenant Roberts put

spurs to his horse, and overtook' them just as they were about to enter a village, xhey immediately turned round and pre-, fientea their muskets at him, and one of the men pulled the trigger, but fortunately the cap snapped, and the standard-bearer was cut down by the gallant young officer, and the standard also taken possession of by him. He also, on the same day, cut down another Sepoy who was standing at i bay, with musket and bayonet, keeping off a sowar. Lieutenant Roberts rode to the assistance oi the horseman, and, rushing nt the Sepoy, .vith one blow of his sword cut him across the face, killing him on tho spot."

I During tho next 20 years Frederick Roberts steadily fulfilled tho promise of those early days, making his way in his profession and gaining the confidence of his .hifts, but as yet his name was scarcely known to the world at large. The Afghan troubles of 1878 BO suddenly brought him to the front. In the war of 1878 against the Ameer Slier Ali he was given his first independent command, that of the Kuram Valley field force, and proved himself in the ensuing campaign a brilliant general, who could command the implicit confidence of all under his command, men and officers • alike. His decisive victory over the Afghana nt the Peiwar Kolal was the outsUinding feature of the war, his services •-aining him the thanks of both Houses of Parliament and a Knight Commandership nt the Hath. A few months later ho again did signal service in command of the troops sent to Kabul after the murder of Sir Louis Cavagnari. Arrangements were a, tually being made tor the withdrawal of his force to India when the situation .•'.rose which enabled him to perform that : splendid exploit- -the forced march from Kabul to Kandahar— which made him tho hero of the nation. General Roberts's 1 divisions had been incorporated in tho An T-v of Sir Donald Stewart at Kabul when news came of the disastrous defeat of General Burrows's brigade at Mniwand. This terrible reverse created a crisis in Afghan affairs. Kandahar, with its British garrison, was hemmed in by a meat army of Afghans flushed with vie- ' lory. To maintain British prestige, not only in Afghanistan, but also in India itself, it was imperative that Kandahar should at once be relieved. : The March to Kandahar. flener.il Roberts conceived the idea of a ri'.i-h to Kandahar with a picked force s.-li-etci fr.'vi the divisions at Kabul. Sir lio'i'-ild Si.v.a.t -ipp;oved the plan, and upon its reieiving the sanction of the authorities at Simla General Roberts I,'lined his little: army of dose on 10.000 men with 18 guns. In addi.ion, lie took with him just over 8000 .amp followers and 2300 horse* and mules. His equipment was cut down to the minimum, so that he might press forward without hindrance. lie t'v-ii refused to take with l. : 'ii wheel inns, restricting himself to mountain batteries with guns carried mi mines. The instance from Kabul to Kandahar is .520 unit',*, and General Roberts undertook to cover line, with hi- army and its equipment, within a nth. As a matter of fart, he was outside Kandahar on the twenty-third lay. despite 'he fearful hard- : ships of the march, ov.t wind and stone, i I .n-'ath the glare ot an August sun. and : amid clinking dint. " Tips and throat," : says one of tin* officers who tool; pert in .the march, "were parched teyond the : power of beakers of water to cool." Tho general not only shared all the 'hardships J himself, but encouraged both officers and , men with his cheery courage, never tum- : ii.g in for his short' rest at mdit until he ; had :-t*n the last of his detachments arrive ,in c.i.np. The story of the march is a I twice-told tale, but" it is one of which British soldieis never grow weary. In South Africa. During the succeeding years Lord Roberts did great service, to the State ' while in chief command in India and in Ireland. After 47 years of strenuous soldiering he responded to the country's call to go to South Africa. .'viler the reverse at C'olenso, when things were at their blackest in the South African campaign, it was felt that he, for all his 67 years, was the man of all 1 others to send out to the front to restore J lb, prestige of British arms and break I the back hi the Boer resistance. There is no need to repeat the story of his wellI remembered advance in force upon the ■ capitals of the two Boer republics, a move 'which relieved the pressure upon beleaguered Ladysmitli and Mafeking, and, '• ' if it did not end the war, broke up the I whole of the Republican administration in 1 j belli the Transvaal and the Orange State. ' from armies with settled governments ' and regular bases to vest upon, the Boer forces were reduced by him to mere ; guerilla bands, which might, and did, give immense trouble before they were finally subdued, but which, from the occupation i of Pretoria, had no hope of a successful ' issue to the struggle they were waging. Honoured by King and Country. . For his services in South Africa he was , created Earl Roberts of Kandahar, PreI toria, and Waterford, the title being de- | rived from his military association with [ Kandaliai and Pretoria, and from his family connection with Waterford. In j 1904 5 he served as a member of the Com- , mittee of Imperial Defence; in the fob , lowing year, 1906, becoming a member of '. the Committee on the Organisation of the . Auxiliary Forces. In 1910 Earl Roberts ( was appointed one, of the special coram'.s sioeers to announce the accession of His ,' Majesty King George V., and at the I Coronation in 1911 was the Bearer of the Pointed Sword of Spiritual Justice. [ Besides having been presented with the . freedom of more than a dozen of the leading cities of the United Kingdom, he held honorary degrees from most of the British Universities, and was the recipient of numerous Orders.. He was the author of The Rise of Wellington and " Forty one Years in India."

Crusade lor National Service. The i losing years of the veteran Field Marshal's life were spent in arousing Eng- ' laud to the need for universal training. I He was the inspiration and the guide of ! this movement. In spite of hi* great age, i his activity in the cause was ceaseless. ■ Wherever the need for universal service was challenged, whether in Parliament or on the platform. Lord Roberts came with a ready and effective answer. He took a great interest in the universal training movements in Australia and New Zealand, and to the last kept himself in close touch with the progress of the colonial citizen armies. Eightieth Birthday. bud Roberts celebrated his eightieth birthday at his country house at hugie--1 mere, on Ascot Heath, on September iO, | 1912. Sovereign civic bodies, soldiers, and humble workers united to honour him. Hundreds upon hundreds of letters and telegrams were received by the veteran hero from all corners of the Kinpire and | from foreign lands. The list included I messages from the King and Queen, other i members of tho Royal Family, peers, and generals, from the fifty odd branches of he National Service league, from statesmen and parliamentarians, and men and ; ■women prominent in the public eye. Lord Roberts himself would have spent 1 the dav in his ordinary busy way, and he v.a- slid engaged with Ins correspondence . when a military band of the Royal Artillerv, his own regiment, trooped up the live hied avenue. Next came 30 sergeants, representing all the batteries of the Royal Artillery stationed at Aldershot. llixtinguislied visitors came in an , endless stream. C The National Service League decided on that o. elision to open a fund, to be called the Lord Roberts Fund, the proceeds of which, with the exception of a certain sum for it personal gift to Lord Roberts, . would be placed in the veteran's hands to i bo utilised ; n furthering the adoption of . universal military training. The response ( was immediate, and piles of cheques began t to accumulate. Lord Roberts decided to hand over the entire sum voted to him to , th-. general fund, to aid in carrying out . the purposes of the league. , When the present war broke out Lord Roberts was appointed Colonel -in-Chief of the Oversea Forces. r Reference to the death of Earl Roberts ! was made by the Rev. W. K. Gillam, i Vicar of St. .Matthew's, at the service i best night The anthw 1 which had been. i; arranged was altered to " Crossing The / Bar." At the close of the service the t " Dead March" in " Saul" was played.