OBITUARY

Otago Witness, Issue 3098, 30 July 1913, Page 37

OBITUARY

SIR H. PREX DERG A ST. LOXDOX, July 26. ’Die death of General Sir Harry Prendergast is announced. General Sir Hurry Prendergust, Y.C., enjoyed h long and distinguished career, and was noted lor his bravery. Born in India in 183-4. he entered me army when he was 20 years of age. He served in the Persian War ui 1857; with tile Allow a Field Force in the same year, when lie was wounded severely and mentioned in the despatches; and with the Central Indian Field Forex- in 18d8, in conmet.on with which he won the V ic-tor-.a Gross and was again wounded. In 1867-68 he was engaged in the Abyssinian War, and for -the third time his name found a place in the despatches. He commanded the Sappers witli the Indian Expedition to the Mediterranean in 1878. and also led the expedition which resulted in the annexation of- Upper Burmah. For 10 years lie commanded tne Madras Suppers and Miners and for some time acted as Quarter-master-general of the Aladras Army and the Government Military Department. He commanded in turn the Western district, the ceded districts, the British Burmah Division, the Hyderabad Subsidiary Force, the Hunnah Expeditionary Force, and the forces, in Burmah in 1886. Amongst other positions ho held were those of Officiating Resident in. Mysore, and Chief Commissioner of Coorg. and Governor-general's Agent in Baluchistan. Ou settling down at Richmond. Surrey, where he spent the last few y-am of ins life, time hung somewhat heavily on ids hands, and he was by no means pleased when he found that his cervices wire not required in the last Boer War. It was extremely difficult to extract from Sir Harry a true statement of his own exploits. Possession of the Victoria Cross impressed him not at all. The acts - for there were several which won for him the V.C. tie was always at the great* st pains to belittle. but it was seldom that he would refer to them. At Alundisore he saved the life of Lieutenant Drew. Standing a few paces away a native was covering the lieutenant with his piece when Prendergast rushed forward and endeavoured to cut him down. The rebel fired and Prendergast received tiie discharge A moment later his adversary was killed by Major < >rr. During the siege of Jhas-si the deceased officer dashed towards the enemy’s battery, his horse was soon wounded, and before many moments had elapsed he found himself exposed to the shot not only of his foes fur of the British butterv on the !«-fr flank. His iteeo.:: his miraculous escape is worth repeating : The difficulty was to get out of tiie scrape, hut presently a fair-haired dragoon canto galloping towards me. In another moment i -aw him throw up hts hands. He was shot- through the heart. Xow. as I knew that the rider!e.g horse would rejoin his regiment. I followed hint, and thus I was able to reach the Riiti-Ji line. The horse was the onlv glide I had. for what with oar own fire and the smoke' e-f the enemy I had no earthly idea w in re my comrades were." Sir Tlarrv peti’evl the *,v« of Burmah with astonishing promptness, making the King a prisoner within 10 days. The interview between the monarch and the British

commander was highly interesting and a little pathetic. King Thcefcaw, after expressing his hope that lie would not be robbed of his ring or his wife of her necklace, requested to bo allowed to remain in the country for six months. On his captor replying in the negative the King begged for three months' grace. Then Prendergast took his watch from his pocket and said : “ I give you prec sely 10 minutes.” In 10 minutes Theebuw was on the march.

REV. DR ROSS. ADELAIDE. July 28. The death of the Rev. Dr Ross, a Presbyterian clergyman, is announced. A WAR VETERAN. ADELAIDE, July 28. Mr George Thomas, aged 77 years, a veteran of the Fifty-seventh Foot, who fought In the Crimean war, the Indian Mutiny, and the Maori wars, died to-day. He formed one of the forlorn hope, numbering 400. who took part in the attack on the Redan. One hundred and thirty out of the 400 were killed, 170 were wounded, and the others were captured, only 59 struggling back. MR WALTER IIISLOP. Mr Walter Ilislop, late manager of the Perpetual Trustees. Estate, and Agency Company, an early Otago settler, and a highly respected and courteous gentleman, passed away at his residence. Castle street, on Saturday. Six years ago the late Mr Ilislop retired from active business, and s nee then ho Lad been laid aside through dl-hcaitli. The deceased gentleman was a son of Dr John Ilislop. LL.D.. and brother of the Hon. T. W. Ilislop, of Wellington. Born at Kirknewton. Midlothian, in 18*1 i Mr Ilislop received his early education at the parish school, of which las father v.as the teacher. In 1856 the family name to Otago by the ship Strathmore. Young Walter attended the East Taiori School for a while, and on completing his course of study he r-nt« red the service of his uncle a farmer at Saddle Hill. In 1862 he embarked on commercial life in the employ or Messrs Gillies and Street when that firm began. and 14 years later ho was admitted as a partner. Upon Mr Gillies’s retirement he became manager of the Perpetual Trustees, Estate, and Agency Company, and hold that office until si> years ago. He was for some years prominent in Volunteer circles. tor many years he held the office of session clerk in Knox Church congregation. He is survived by a widow, four sons (Air J. S. Hislop. Mr Walter H. H : slop. and Messrs P. (A and J. B, Hislop. of Balclutha), and two daughters.

COLONEL CHARLES MORRIS

Colonel Charles Chase Morris passed away at Ins residence, Bowen street, Musselburgh, on Sunday evening, at the age of 75 years. The deceased gentleman was the son of (he late Mr John Carnac Morris, of the Indian Civil Service, and was boui at (Jotacamund, India, in 1838. When eight years of age lie was sent to England to be educated, and in 1856 he joined the Indian Army under appointment to the Madras Light Cavalary. As a soldier Colonel Morns had a most adventurous career, serving through the Indian Mutiny. In June, 1861, lie married Marian Let'tia, daughter of General Russell, of the Madras Staff Corps (2nd Light Cavalry], who survives him, as do his six sons (live of whom arc in New Zealand) and three daughters. In 1885 the late Colonel Morris retired on pension, and came to Now Zealand, going in for fruit farming in the Wakatipu district. Later he lived at Waikouaiti, Anderson’s Bay, and then at the north end of the city. The deceased was a member of the Anglican Church Synod and Diocesan Synod for many years, and one of the officers of All Saints’ Church until a few months ago, when he took up ids residence at Musselburgh. Ho was also president of the Imperial Veterans’ Alliance, the first of the Veterans’ Alhances formed in Now Zealand. and took great interest in the veterans. He wielded a facile pen. and was - for some years a frequent contributor to the press.