DEATH OF BRITISH GENERAL

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11281, 8 January 1915, Page 6

DEATH OF BRITISH GENERAL

A DISTINGUISHED OFFICER. SIR THOMAS KEILY-KENNY. On December 2H was announced the death of General Sir Thomas KellyKenny, G.C.8., G.G.V.0., at the age of seventy-four, who several years ago retired an account, of his age. Ho was

regarded as nnc oi \ho ablest .Britiali generals. Born on February 27. IS4O. .-it Kilrush. County ('hire. General KcllyKetmy entered tho army in 1858 as an ensign ill the 2nd Font. His first exi rn-regimenta] tservieo was at- the < a|io dt Oood Hope, when lie comniancleil tho escort of the General Officer ('omrnandiiig (General Sir James Jackson), and later he was appointed A.DC. on the new staff. On the outbreak oi the war with China in 18t : i0. ho accompanied his regiment front tho ''ape to the Far Fast. He was present at the action of Sinho, and wont, to Shanghai to help to suppress the. rising ♦ hero, lining present, at the assault and capture o| Tangku and Taku forts, and _w inning mention in despatches. Obtaining his company in 1800, he. served in the Abyssinian campaign of 18tjf-!i8, in command of a division <f the transport train, being mentioned in despatches for "zeal, energy, and ability.'' During .1871 he assumed the additional surname of Kenny. In December, 187.", be graduated at the Staff Co I lege, and including four years in command of the 2nd Battalion and tho command of the depot, and 2nd Regimental District at Guildford, he was D. A.Q.M.G. on the staffs of Lord Napier and Sir A. Gordon in India; A.A.fir., Northern District, at York, 1887-02, during which time he commanded the great North of England training camp on Stresnall Common; A.A.G. at the War Office in 1893; A.A.G. and Chief Staff Officer to FieldMarshal ir.R.H. the r>ukp of Connaught. and commanded the 3rd Infantry Brigade at Aldershot in 1896-7. In "1897 he was promoted major-gene-ral in tho army, and was appointed Jn-speotor-Oeneral of Auxiliary Forces r.nd Recruiting at the War Office, which post he held until 1899, when ho succeeded Sir Reaver) Buller in the command of the troops at Aldershot. In 1890 he was appointed to command the oth Division of the South African Field Force, and sailed in company with the, late Lord Roberts. He was destined to piny au important part in Lord Roberts's plan of campaign, for after a. lot of forced marching and " hustling," be was abb- by February Jo to take up General French's position, leaving the latter free to accomplish the movement, which led to the memorable relief of Kimberley on the same evening. General Kelly-Kenny's oth Division succeeded in pursuing the Boer army retreating towards Bloemfontein. and in capturing a large convoy oi' serentv-oight waggons. Continuing the pursuit. General Cronje's army of 0000 was brought to bay at Koodoosrand, and, after desperate resistance, was compelled to unconditionally surrender at Paardeberg en February 27 (Majuba. Day). General Kelly-Kenny's next great achievement was jit Driefontein on March 10, where his gallant oth /Division achieved the victory which first made the Boers realise the superiority of their antagonists. crushed their poi'er of resistance. and opened the gates of the Free State capital to the British. Subsequently Lieutenaut-General KellvKenny was given the command of the Orange River Colony, and directed the various operations between the Orange River and tho Vaal. including the actions at Lndybrand (September 5 to !>, 1900). In 1901. he returned home. On October 1. 1901, he took up the responsible post of Adjutant-General to the Forces, which In- held until 1904. when the Fsher Commission issued its report. resulting in the establishment of the present-Army Council. General Kelly-Kenny, Mho attained that rank on August 25, 1900, retired from the army on February 12, 1907. He was made K.C.B. in 1902. G.C.B, in 1904, and G.C.Y.O. in 1906, while he was a J.P. slid s D.L. for the County of Clare.

TRAVELLING KITCHEN. TO-DAY'S CONTRIBUTIONS. The following are to-day's , contributions to the fund for a travelling kitchen for the troops:—

£• s. d. Mrs C. Loui^on . i I 0 H. I>. Ac-land . i 1 0 Sarah Crvor . .1 3 0 H. I!. Soroihsen . i I 0 H. Archer and Sons . l 1 0