“MAD MAJOR.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18381, 6 February 1928, Page 8

“MAD MAJOR.”

DARE-DEVIL OF WAR.

When the New Zealand soldiers were at Armentieres, in 1916, they heard many stories of a dare-devil British officer, known as the “Mad Major.” Operating usually on his own, he was said to have used gun, aeroplane, tank, balloon, and ar-moured-car in turn, and wrought a thousand times more damage in the war than any man who received a decoration.

When the last mail left London, on December 19, a correspondence was proceeding in the “Daily Mail” dealing with the exploits of this officer. One article says:—

A writer in the “ Daily' Mail” two day-s ago asked whether there was such a person as the “Mad Major,” and stated that no one had seen him. It appears he was “seen” in at least fifty’ different parts of the world, and often in two or three places a.t one time. “I can assure the writer of the article that there- was a Mad Major.” writes Mr 11. O. Smith, of 16, Aldington Road, Brooklands, Manchester. “I saw him. He was stout and fair. He refused to wear a tin hat or hat of any kind, and had no use for a gasmask. It was said of him that he made a practice of visiting canteens and distributing five-franc notes. lie had more wound stripes than any man 1 saw, and it was said he was entitled to as many more, but would not wear them.” Dare-devil. “Leeds Rifles,” of Acre Square, Middleton, Leeds, states: — Ther«* are more than a few remaining who saw him skimming alum: within Pen yards of the German front lino in the T.aventie sector In 1915. Wo said he belonged to the artillery, hut the artillery said he was infantry. Whatever he did belong to, his daredevil, will-o’-the-wisp appenranees always aroused the greatest enthusiam among the troops. Mr Frederick Jackson, of Bouley, Peel Road, Portsmouth, writes:— The Mad Major T kn«ew was commanding a battery behind a wood a mile to the rear of Diokebuseh. JTe had scrounged a. biplane and housed it in a tent-like arrangement not far from his guns. With this he used to do his own spotting:. “Ex-Orderly' Room Sergeant.” of Shaftesbury Road, Southsea, writes:— The hundreds of officers who in 1915-16 passed through the R.A.F. depot at Fort Grange. Gosport, will appreciate the remark that no ont saw him. We saw him right enough. • • • Me was a regular handful for the Air Ministry and a most marvellous airman. Mr Joseph Marett, of 216, Devonshire Avenue, Portsmouth, writes : I have been in sapheads when the periscope was shot through the middle. The Mad Major, Just appearing at such moments, immediately jumped on the parapet and fired his revolver, cursing loudly all the time. Not a shot was fired in return. Mr Michael Gilway', of Bray, who thinks now that the major was a legend, states:— I remember seeing “him” flying upside down at Sailly Saillisel, and later in an air duel. I thought it was the Mad Major because everyone saJd so, except the higher officers, who just smiled wisely. Mr Bernard Holding, of Upper Norwood, suggests the stories grew round Major (now Colonel) Campbell, the bayonet-fighting instructor.