LIFE STORY OF LORD ROBERTS

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4301, 9 March 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

LIFE STORY OF LORD ROBERTS

FROM THE CRADLE TO THE COM-MANDER-IN-CHIEF.

A little, bronzed-faced man—thin, wirv ru°-<»ed ; with a keenly humourous eve. andlturbulent, white, bristling hair. Immaculate in attire. Well-knit and upright, in spite of advancing years : stem, vet kindly—a human impersonation of a staunch little rough-haired teniei, game to the backbone. That is Bobs, the most popular, and the most deservedly popular man in the British Army. A Terror for 'is size,” and fit to fight anything or anybody, at any odds you please. Few people seem to realise tuo enormous physical difficulties Roberts has had to contend with, especially in tho opening of his life. As a child, he was a constant sufferer from heart trouble, and was generally weakly, no doubt owing to his earliest childbed being passed in India. Yet, in spite of this heavy handioap, be lias become the brilliant strategist and the grand commander wo know and honour to-day. It was on th£ last clay of September, just 68 years ago, tb,at,tboro came into the world, unaccompanied by any particular flourish of trumpets, the baby who was predestined to become one of the greatest commanders of the century, and tho mainstay of the British Army. At the mature age of eighteen months bo made the first of bis many long sea voyages, suitably accompanied by his father. Sir Abraham Roberts, and his mother. Two years later his parents left him in charge of some friends at Clifton, where bo spent eleven years of his life, and underwent the painful experience of Icarnig that CAT spoils cat, and acquired other important fragments of knowledge of a similar character. It is rumoured, though possibly the rumour is scandalous, that there was a certain difficulty in instilling these rudimentary principles into, the mind of tho future field-marshal.

In fact, there are certain malicious people biassed enough to maintain that he evinced a strong inclination to dispute the accuracy of the multiplication table when questioned, or at any rate to quote from- a revised and amended version, which occasionally led to trouble with the' authorities. Let us mere humans secretly hope that this may be true, and that even a hero of England may have been puzzled when asked point-blank for tho correct answer to seven times nine. However, after some thirteen years of existence, whether he solved the foregoing intricate problem or no, he became a pupil at Eton. A FIGHTING BOY. Life at a great public school was rougher in those days than in the present ago of youthful sybarites and Roberts, who was a weak and rather sickly boy, came in for his full share of youthful trials and tribulations. In fact, had it not been for his indomitable pluck, it it doubtful whether he would have stood tho year he passed there so successfully - Thero is a story which bears this cut. One Thursday afternoon a small group of hoys were gathered together in a secluded spot, behind a corner of a building famous to old Etonians. One of them, a small, pale, weakly-looking youngster, was stripped to his shirt sleeves; while his opponent, who was a good stone and a half heavier, was waiting for his attack with an air of disdainful confidence.

The first round was distinctly disastrous to tho more youthful hero, who retired to his corner shaking and aching about tho tip of tho nose. The second round was cataclysmic, and Bob’s second had much ado to bring him up to time. But sore, worried and considerably knocked about, the small _ figure squared up to bis burly antagonist defiantly. His Irish fighting blood was up, and, as everybody knows, the more entirely you kill an Irishman the better he fights; your sunny, genial-tempered Paddy is never so cool or so deadly as when you have chipped off his salient features. Now, one of Bobs’s features, if not chipped off, was at least throbbing painfully, so he began his first experiment in tactics. It occurred to him that his enemy was fat and scant of breath, and he “worked accordin’.” Avoiding all the punishment he could, and taking tho rest with true Hibernian philosophy, ho pounded away with all the strength Providence had allowed him at his enemy’s wind, with the result that the sixth round found him a tottering victor. From that hour his reputation was established, and he lived unmolested. SUCCESS AT SCHOOL.

After a short year at Eton he was removed to Sandhurst, and two years later, to the Military College at Addiscomhe.

His health was still had, he suffered greatly from heart trouble, and always slept with a. stimulant by his bedside. Bub his cheeriness and good humour carried him through all difficulties, and at the end, of his time he passed his examination, ninth out of . a hatch of over fifty competitors, the preliminary quarrel with.accepted mathematcal, principles having been apparently patched up. , ENTERS THE ARMY. He’received his commission early in 1852, and sailed from in the Ripen as second lieutenant in the Bengal Artillery. On tho voyage out ho suffered greatly from ’the heat, especially in the Rod Sea: so much so,‘in fact, that one night at dinner he remarked: “How in the world shall we ever he able to fight in India if it is as hot as this ?” _ . On his arrival ha joined his father’s staff; . but his’ early experiences were sin-r gtOarly devoid of incident. _ i His time' was chiefly tab&h up with ac/ quainting himself with his duties and the. study of native language. Five years pf weary waiting elapsed before he had a chance of showing his latent ability on active service. During this period, as during his schooldays, the demon of ill-health pursued him, and he frequently complained in private of home-sickness, and the irksomeness of, barrack routine. One step he achieved during these years of probation, and that was his appointment as Deputy-Assistant Quartermaster-Gener-al of Peshawur. ! SERVICE IN INDIA.

At long last, on May 11,1857, while he and his brother officers were sitting at mess the spell of inaction was broken. An orderly rushed into the room with a telegraphic despatch announcing the outbreak of the Mutiny at Meerut. There was a moment’s panic, then discipline and irpn self-control resumed their sway. A hasty decision was como to to keep the news a profound secret. A meeting-was held nest day to decide on a plan of -campaign. Neville Chamberlain was given command, and ho chose young Roberts as staff officer, to the latter’s extreme delight. ■ His first duty in his new’capacity was to send a’telegram-to the Commander-in-Ohief. A few hours later, while still flushed with excitement at his first chance of active service, he was visited by Nicholson himself, who accused him of communicating, the contents of. the first despatch to some person outside the officers’ mess,: at which it had been received. Young Roberts indignantly denied the charge- A visit to the telegraphic office and the confession of one of the employees fully exonerated him, and from that time forward he and Nicholson remained firm friends till the latter’s

tragic death outside the walls of DelId.

As soon as it became known that tho mutineers intended to maJi© a stand at that place, Lieutenant Roberts nas ordered to the scene of action, artillery officers being in great demand. His journey there was characteristic. Ho received his orders late at night, dawn the next day found him well advanced on tho ,first stage, with tho magnificent equipment of a saddle and bridle and a small roll of bedding. On reaching llmballa ,ho was jeered at for attempting to push on, and sarcastically recommended to make himself comfortable for a prolonged stay. Quite unmoved by the obvious difficulties in his way, he managed to get a seat on a special ammunition cart which was leaving that same night, carrying his kit on his lap. itventuallv, after many misadventures, he reached tho British lines the following evening after sundown, so dog-tired that ho fell asleep on tho bare ground. WINS HIS V.C. There is neither time nor space to givo a full account of nis splendid conduct throughout tho siege, hut one instance is specially worthy of notice. On tho 14th July, with the men, at tn© guns falling all around him and many of the horses ivounded, he found it necessai’3 T to give the order to retire. The animals were so scared that it was found almost impossible to limber up tho guns- Whilst giving oersonal aid, and doing his best to pacify tho frightened brutes, a bullet hit the young lien tenant in the bad--, nearly unseating him. Tno shock, however, was partly diverted by a leather pouch, and ho was enabled to bring away his guns in safety. . .. . It is a striking coincidence that his son. Lieut. Roberts, V.C.,- should have lost his life under circumstances so similar, whilst making a gallant effort to rescue tho guns at Colenso in tho present war. One great loss occurred to Lieutenant Roberts during tho latter days of the siege of Delhi the death of John Nicholson. To quote his own words on tho subject, “To lose Nicholson seemed to mo at that moment to lose everything/’ What greater or more loyal tribute could one great man pay to the memory of another? It is hard when war talk is familiar, to realise the horrors and hairbreadth escapes which were everyday occurrences throughout the duration of tho Mutiny. Over and over again tho intrepid little Irishman came scatheless through the valley of death. Once, when sent out in ■ advance of the main body to select a camping ground, ho and a brother officer suddenly found themselves out off. It was a case of a rid© for life. They rodo at the gallop through a village strongly held by the enemy only to come suddenly upon a deep nullah beyond. Roberts’s horso stumbled, and both rolled over into tho water. In the fall his hand was badly hurt by a sliding cut with the sharp edge of his sw'ord, and the blood flowing bn to tho reins made them slippery; hut, sitting low, to avoid the heavy firo as far as possible, he forced his horse up the opposite bank; and escaped without further accident. A little later an action of conspicuous gallantry won him the much-coveted V.C. It was at Kudaganj. A native trooper was unhorsed, and a Sepoy was just about to give him tho coup do grace when Roberts, parrying a bayonet thrust, ran the man through and rescued tho fallen private. A second or so later, seeing two mutineers attempting to get away with the standard, ho gave chase and cut down the Hag-bearer. The latter’s comrade placed bis musket close up against Roberts’s body, but luckily it missed fire, and the standard was earned off by the young lieutenant in triumph.

FAILING HEALTH. After tho tremendous strain involved by his duties throughout the Mutiny/ his health again gave way, and he was compelled to go on the sick list, much against his will. Personally, he considered that a short holiday in the hills would meet the case, hut the doctors were peremptory, and ordered him back to England on long leave. He handed over his duties to Wolseley, and left for Homo with the promise of early promotion. Whilst on furlough in County Waterford, ho met Miss Nora Bews, with whom he fell in love, and was married to her on the 17th of May in the following year—lßs9. Apropos of his early married life there is a good story told. A short time after the married jcouple’s return to India war broke out in China, and Roberts hoped that he might have a further chance of active service. Whilst the news was still fresh,. and everyone was in a state of expectation, he and his wife chanced to be dining out. Sir Colin Campbell or Baron ClycH, as he was then, took Mrs Roberts in to dim ner, and claimed her gratitude on the grounds that he had hot sent her husband to the Far East. Much to his astonishment, Mrs Roberts replied, ‘Tm afraid I’m not in the least grateful to you for making my husband feel that I' am standing in the way of his career,” Sir Coliu, always blunt of speech, blurted out, “Well, I’m hanged if I understand you women. I’ll never try and oblige one again.” However, 'they ended by becoming the best of friends. ■ Apart from other worries, Lord Roberts has had his full share of domestic griefs. His eldest child, a little girl, died at the age of two years. The next, also a girl, caught cold on the voyage out to India after the Abyssinian campaign, and was buried at sea soon after passing Aden, Tired out and dispirited, the bereaved parents made their way to Simla, and here a son and daughter were born to them. But once again misfortune was predominant, and the little boy died shortly after his birth. THE AFGHAN WAR.

Meanwhile plenty of hard work, hard fighting and hard living had fallen to his share, until in the close of the year 1878 we find him a major-general, a C. 8., and appointed- to the command of one of the three columns prepared to deal with the troubles in Afghanistan.

On the 20th of November Roberts marched out at the head of the Kuram Valley force, of 6300 men and thirteen guns. Kuram was reached without difficulty, but further advance was checked by the absolutely conflicting rumours as to the enemy’s whereabouts. So impossible was it to trust to native information that Roberts determined to find out for himself. A march of some fifteen miles brought to light the fact that the enemy, 18,000 strong, with eleven gpns, had occupied a position on the Peiwar Kotal. A frontal attack was out of the question. The only approach to the mountain was by means of a rugged path, narrow, and flanked hy enormous precipices held by the enemy. Bobs therefore decided on a flanking movement, similar to those which have pro ved so invaluable in the recent campaign. He searched hither and thither in the hope of finding some means of carrying out this idea, being most careful all the while to keep his plans strictly secret, as sdmo of the native regiments were not to be relied on. A STIRRING TIME. At , last, having discovered a way round the position, he made his dispositions for the attack. Punctually at the appointed hour the little force set off, so quietly, and under such perfect organisation, that they did not even disturb

their comrades who were left in camp. With scarcely a hitch the turning movement was accomplished over the most difficult ground imaginable. The upshot of this expedition was the establishment of poor Oavagnari as British - envoy at Kabul. Roberts himself and several of his staff accompanied tho ill-fated mission as far as the border, and tho parting between the two men formed a touching incident. Each seemed to have a premonition of what was to come. They shook hands and parted, but before they had separated by many yards, both, no doubt actuated by the same impulse, wheeled round and again silently clasped hands. It was the last time they ever met, for two months later Oavagnari and his entire escort was foully murdered by tho Afghans. Meanwhile Roberts had returned to Simla, where ho was made a K.C.8., and received the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for his highly successful work. In this campaign, as in others, his extraordinary personal ascendancy over his men was strongly brought out. This was particularly noticeable in the case of his gigantic orderlies, who were devoted to him body and soul, and one of whom on one accasion while the fire was hottest, protected his gallant little master by standing by him with arms outstretched to protect him from the whistling bullets. This great gift c,f Roberts was shown even more strongly when he was sent up with tho punitive expedition to avenge Oavagnari, of which he was given supremo command. Tho force at his disposal was meagre in th© extreme —7500 men and 22 guns. Yet tho troops gave, him a stirring welcome and felt sure of victory, so implicit w’as their faith in their leader. ~

In spite of the intrigues of the Ameer, who lodged himself as an unwelcome guest on Roberts’s hospitality, in spite of deficient transport and every conceivable difficulty. Kabul was occupied and summary justice dealt out to tho murderers. Hector Macdonald, then a colour-sergeant, was with tho Highlanders, as also was Major White, now Sir George White, who kept the Jag flying over Ladysmith.

Tho Ameer resigned, and intricate negotiations were entered upon with, a view bo appointing his successor. Sir Donal I Stewart then arrived to false over tho command. But before the British forces could bo'' withdrawn, there came tho news of the disaster at Mai wand, and the siege of Kandahar. Roberts proclaimed his opinion that tho immediate despatch of a force to relieve the garrison of the latter place was of paramount importance, and a few days later he received orders to raise and command a body of troops for this purpose. Luckily there were some 14,000 men in Kabul,'at- the moment for him to choose from. He selected from those a force of 10.000 of tested endurance; and, as speed was of vital necessity, baggage was sut down to an irreducible minimum, 'then began the most sensational march of military history. Three hundred and twenty miles of rough ground had to b© covered, in record tune, and through _a hostile country. No opportunity was given to the tribesmen to concentrate, but tho wise little commander, resolutely cutting himself off from all bases or lines of communication, launched his force , into the mountainous wilds and accomplished the distance in twenty days, with only one rest. “An achievement,” says Archibald Forbes, “which could never have been accomplished but by thorough organisation and steady, ..vigorous energy- ■ ;

The excitement was intense throughout those days of anxiety. Kt-v a jangle message, not a'fume nr oven, of the whereabouts .of the relief force could be obtained, and many people predicted that Roberts was rushing headlong to ruin. But in spite these predictions; he entered Kandahar on the last day of the mouth amidst scenes of the wildest enthusiasm. - • ~

Allowing no thoughts or himself or his own health to interfere with the performance of- his arduous duties, on the very afternoon -of his arrival, ho despatched a: force to reconnoitre and bring him news of AyuhKhan. He then decided oU his plans of attack for the following morning, and snatched a few hours of broken rest. In the saddle again at dawn, ho pushed forward his troops with such skill that the enemy were completely routed, and fled in confusion. For these brilliant services he was awarded a G.O-B. and the Chief command of the Madras army. ■ Ho parted from his troops'on the homeward jourpey, and as he bade goodbye to each regiment the band struck up the grand old tune, “Auld Lang Syne.”,, , , :!

HOME'AGAIN. On his return to England the nation could not do enough to show its gratitude and admiration.. But even here private, sorrow tinged his natural pleasure in these honours heaped upon him, for during his absence he had lost a sister and a father. ' War now broke ou,t in the Transvaal, and he was hustled off to take over the command of the troops; but meanwhile the Liberal Government had made “peace,” and after a ,twenty-four hours’ stay in Capetown he came straight home again. Then followed' twelve years of hard work at organisation in India, work which may not perhaps stand out so brilliantly as the rest of his active career, hut which at the same time no one knows tho, value of or appreciates more than Mr Atkins.

The effects of long residence and continual hard work in a tropical climate; however, were beginning to make themselves felt, and in 189®'lie asked for permission to resign his command. ‘ Thei bidding- farewell - to a country where : he had passed forty-one years of his life was a .hard task, and many times his emotion was so deep and heartfelt that he dai-ed hardly trust, himself to speak. But all things come to ah end scon or late, and he left India, decorated with tho Grand Cross of the Indian Empire, Lord Roberts, of !Kandahar and Waterford. .

After so many, troublous, restless years, it might reasonably be expected that he should- settle down to peace and a .well-deserved rest.* , The course of the Boer war, however, brushed aside any such possibilities with a rough band, and once more the veteran was called upon to put on- the. harness. A tragic incident marked; his entrance on, this new campaign. On the very day that he was gazetted to the chief command, and was eagerly looking forward to active service once- more,' he happened to be in one of the .service clubs, where a crowd ci members were collected around tlio tape machine reading off the war news. Click-click-cliok—whirr-click went the! machine. “Bless my soul!” said a voice, “Bobs’s boy is : killed” ; and then for the first time' t}ie little knot of idlers became aware that Lord Roberts was among them. Without a word ho came forward and took up the tape, the men silently making way for him on all sides. The rugged, kindly face turned colour, tho gnarled; -veined hands quivered slightly as they held the fatal strip of paper, and then, without a sign, be turned slowly on bis heel ' and left the group, none daring -to express their sympathy. The sorrow on the old general’s face ,’was too deep for spoken words. ■ ■ , - -

Such things must he, cf course, in every war, but the thought that it was a gallant action and a gallant death is but cold consolation to an aching heart. Let us honour our general as a gtrate-

gist with Moltke, as an organiser with whomsoever you find fit to place iu the same class, but, above all. let us honour the man, who with a heart aening for the loss of his only son. harassed by tho illness of a dearly-loved daughter, could yet put himself in the forefront of tho battle, and serve his country so ably and to such good nurpose. To the world in general, he is FieldMarshal Lord Roberts of Kandahar and Waterford, with half the alphabet behind his name, but to us, to tho thirty odd millions of people who live behind the white cliffs cf England, and to tho j millions of India and the islands of the sea lie is just ■'Bobs’’— I a war-worn , upright little man for whom I his country cannot do enough. “Bobs” —our “Bobs.’’ ' I God bless him! LORD ROBERTS’S RECORD. The following is a dated summary of Lord Roberts’s military career. 1832.—80rn at Cawnpore, September 30. 1846.—Loft Eton and entered Sandhurst. 1851.—Appointed 2nd lieutenant Bengal Artillery, December 12. 1857. —Lieutenant, Juno 3. D.A.Q.M.G. throughout . Indian Mu- - tiny. Served throughout siege and capture of Delhi, wounded July 14, horse shot September 14. ’57 and ’SB, —Actions of Buland Shahr (horse shot), Aligarh, Agra, Kananj (horse wounded), and Bantharra. Throughout operations connected with relief of Lucknow.Battle of Cawnpore, resulting in defeat of Gwalior contingent. Action of Khudaganj and re-occupa-tiou of Fategarh. .Storming of Miangan j. Operations connected with siege of Lucknow. Storming of Laloo. Capture of Umbeyla aiid destruction of Malka. 1858. —Victoria Cross.) 1859. —Married Henrietta, daughter of

Colonel Bows, 73rd foot. 1860. —Captain and Brevet-major.

1863-B.—A.Q.M.G., Bengal: 1867-8. —Abyssinian Expediti on.

1868. —Brevet-Lieutcnaut-Coloncl, August 15. 1869-72.—1st A.Q.M.G. 1871-2.-—Lushai Expedition. 1872. 0.8.

1872-S.—D.Q.M.G. 1875.—Brevet-Colonel, January 30,

1875-B.—Q.M.G. in India. 1878. —Major-General, December 31

K.C.B. Capture of Kholel villages and attack on Murtlaag range.

1878- —Commanded Currani _ Field Force; capture of Peiwarkotal. .. Reoonnaisance to summit of the Shutargardan Pass. Attack by Mongols in Sapari Pass. Occupation of Khost and roconnaisanco up Kurram River. 1879- —Commanded Kabul Field Force. 1879. —Thanked by Parliament, August -1. Battle of Charasia. Capture of, city of Kabul and throughout operations in and around Sherpur between December ,8 and 24, 1879.

1880. —Commanded Kabul - Kandahar Field F’orco, -and Southern Afghanistan Field F’orce. Battle of Kha.ndah.ar, September 1. 1881. Thanked by both- houses of Parliament, May 5. ( 1881-6.—Commander-in-Chief, Madras. 1883.—Lieut.-General, Ju1y.,26. 1885-93.—Commander-in-Chief, India. 1886. —Commanded Army in Burmah. Thanked on several occasions by Government of India, and mentioned twenty-three times in despatches before the campaign in Afghanistan. 1890.—General, November 28. : 1892.—Created a Peer.

1895.—Field Marshal, May 25. Published “Rise of Wellington.”

1895-9.—Commander of the Forces in

Ireland. J 897 Published “Forty-one Years in India.” 1899-00.—Commanded in South Africa. 1900. —Commander -in - Chief, British Army. 1901. —Earldom and Order'of tho Garter- - Freedom of the cities of London, Edinbu/rgh, Glasgow, Bristol, N cwcastle-on-Ty no, D undee. Waterford, Cardiff, and Chesterfield, and royal boroughs of Inverness, Wick and Dunbar to be presented this year. Mutiny-.me dal with clasps for Delhi, Belief of Lucknow, and Siege of Lucknow ; Indian Frontier medal, with clasps for. Umibeyla, Lushai and Burmah; Abyssinian medal; Afghan war medal with clasps for Peiwarkotal. Charasia, Sherpur and Kandahar; Kahul-Kanda-har bronze star.—“lllustrated Mail.’