VICE-REGAL POST

Southland Times, Issue 25367, 20 August 1935, Page 7

VICE-REGAL POST

NEW APPOINTMENT SIR ALEXANDER HORERUTHVEN GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) Hobart. Auvust 19. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. A. Lyons, announced that the King had appointed Sir Alexander Hore-Ruth-ven as Governor-General of Australia in succession to Sir Isaac Isaacs. The date Sir Alexander Horc-Ruthven will assume office will be announced later. Sir Alexander Gore Arkwright HoreRuthven was born at Windsor in July, 1872. the second son of Lord Ruthven. After passing through Eton he joined a militia regiment, the Hgihland Light Infantry, in 1891. In 1898 it was attached to the Egyptian Army for the Sudan campaign. At the battle of Gedaref Sir Alexander Hore-Ruthven, who had reached the rank of captain, led the Camel Corps detachment. Seeing an Egyptian officer lying wounded within 50 yards of the advancing dervishes, he picked the man up and carried him towards the Egyptian battalion. Twice he laid dowm the wounded man and fired on the dervishes who were following to check their advance. For this gallant act he was awarded the Victoria Cross and an Egyptian order. In consideration of his services he was gazetted to the Cameron Highlanders in 1899. He was a special service officer in Somaliland in 1903-4. After acting as military secretary to the Viceroy of Ireland in 1905-6 he transferred to the Dragoon Guards in 1908. He then had his first experience of Australia as military secretary to the GovernorGeneral of the Commonwealth. During the World War he served in France and Gallipoli, being five times mentioned in despatches and winning the D. 5.0., C.B. and C.M.G. When the Welsh Guards were raised in 1915, he accepted a commission as major in the regiment. He was severely wounded during the compaign. From 1920 to 19~4 he commanded the Welsh Guards ana was then transferred to the command of the Ist Infantry (Guards; Brigade at Aidershot with the rank of colonelcommandant. In January, 1928, he was appointed to succeed Lieut. General Sir Tom Bridges as Governor of South Australia, and was knighted (K.C.M.G.) A Labour Government which came into power during his term of office had as one of the planks in its platform the abolition of the State Governorship. Instead it extended his appointment by a year. He had a narrow escape while flying in South Australia. A wind storm capsized the plane and it crashed, but the Governor and his pilot escaped with a shaking. In September 1934 a few months after his term expired, he was appointed Governor of New South Wales. He is extremely fond of cricket. In 1908 he married a daughter of Mr John Pollok, of County Galway, and has one son.