THE LAST SURVIVOR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8265, 19 October 1906, Page 3

THE LAST SURVIVOR.

A VETERAN'S STIRRING EX. PEKIENCEB.

The death has just taken place ot Colour-sergeant Edward Teer, of the. Somerset Light Infantry, the last survivor ot the "Illustrious Garrison of Jellalabad," at the residence of his daughter,, Mrs Bleasdale,' Warwick Place, FriJnois Road, Edgbaston, Birmihgham. He hud reached the advance age of eighty-nine,and for some years his 1 hearing und eyesight has been greatly impaired. The memorable siege cf the first Afghan war, in wnich deceased took pan, commenced on November 14th, 1841, Hnd terminated triumpnnnfc]y for the British defenders on April 7th the following year (just 64 years ago). There was a race between British und Afghans for possessun of Jlelalabad, and the British won. Then the Afghans closed in on the place, and for six long, woary months our soldiers Buffered terrible privation. General Elphinstone'a force ot 16,000 , men, from which they expected relief, wasmassucrcd in the Khyber Pass. ■. Ultimately the garrison, gave up all hope of assistance, and Bodesperate had matters become that they decided to make a supreme dash for liberty. Probablynothmg more daring has ever taken place iu British watlare. Having practically exhausted their supply oi food and ammunition the little force agreed, mine woidsof the commauding officer, that "it wasbettor to die like soldiers than starve like' dogs." No hope seemed more forlorn, a3 the Alghan archrtraitor, Akbar'Kbwn, had large well-armed forces on the pluin , outside the town. How the Afghans w.ere tek n unawares during tho night and completely routed is now a matter of history. The old soldier published . a booklet of the siege written from a , diary which be kept, .(twill be recalled that only one man— Dr.Br> don- escaped when General Elphinstone's force was massacred. Everyone Knows, too, that hiaarrival, emaciated and exnausted, under tho friendly walls of Jellalab/ad, has been immortalised in Lady Butler's striking canvas, the "Remnant of an Army," Sergeaat Teer was tho sentry who challenect Dr. Brydcn, and in his aocount bo insisted that the picture, otherwise inimitable, was in one respect •only.misleading. The doctor dismounted, and Jed his troop horso mto tho city; he did not rido into Jellalabad. This is how Teer— and be it said that he belonged to the iutollig«ot school of veterans—referred to the historic meeting:— On the 13th of January I was on sentry duty on the wulla of Jellalaiad, over the Gabul Gate, auxioußJy looking forward to the direotim in which auy movement of troops might be visible, when suddenly 1 deaorie.i u dark speck moving In that direction. 1 never took my eyes troui it; as it movfad 1 found Jnat it could not bo an Afghan, for bia dress waa dui Is—ttio AfghHii ! auiform beiug u dirty white. 1 watched him como to about 200 yards of the walk, when he dismounted to kueei behind u low garden wall. lie sounueu the city, evidently doubtful ua to who was in possession'. Xbeu 1 gave the alarm. The wall waa covered with, offlcere, who made Bigus to him to advance. He,got up from hia kneeling positioij, took hia torso's bridle, and came leisuiely aloug toward us. We opened the gate, and he 'slowly crossed tho drawbridge over the trench, -I ! he •;■ otticeis rau out to him, and not a moment top soon, for he was ready to tall with fatigue. They caught him in their arms, and carried him into Jellalabad. Buglers weta told off in re- . lays to sound from the walls the "Advance' und l 'Assembly' in order to attract any possible stragglers but none, blbb! ever came. The commanding officer observed that they were ,

THE RESURKEOTION/ BUGLES for Eipbinsfcone's army. Shortly aftorwardF, Akbar Khao with bis whole army, entered the plains of Jellalabad, having completed their work of massaoie and plunder. Tbey pitched their camp near the town,' and the prospefit of the garrison was very gloomy. There was long, continuous firing, on both sideß, and the reduced state of the ammunition supply demanded, the old warrior stated, an ingenious mind (tnat; of Captain Maye) to overcome the difficulty. He made the figure of a man out of a block of wood, and dressed it in an officer's uniform and cocked hat. .It was after the fashion of a 'dancing jacK.' and bad a sword fastened to the right hand. The trick worked.admirably. Every time the Afghans oaugbt sight of the supposed officer they fired a volley. The bulleta flattened out again «t the building, and the grßrrison gathered up the lead to return with interest. For a full week the Afghans were tbns deceived. That wooden general is to be seen in the Oaioutta Museum to-day, pierced l with seven balls. Teer -was among those who discovered on a iaft the body of GeueralElphinstone and also the skeletons of the massacred thousands. They so thickly covered the ground that they had to be gathered up before tents could be pitohed. 'What a scene of death 1' wrote the sergeant. 'I can only refer you to the 37th chapter of Ezekiel for a description.' Teer, who was an Irishman, born on St. Patriok's Day, subsequently took part in the North-west Frontier campaign; and on leaving the uolours, with which he served twenty-one years, he was an instructor to the auxiliary forces, He possessed four medals, and was in receipt of a small pension.