HERO OF CRIMEA.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 February 1927, Page 4

HERO OF CRIMEA.

CMNTMNARIA N G MNER AL

George Wentworth Alexander Higginson, the centenarian General, whose death was recorded at London on Feb. Ist. was horn on June 21-st. 182 G. His lather was General George 1 ligginson, and It's mother a daughter of the first Marl of Kilmorey. He lived in tbe reigns of five monarchs, all ol whom he knew. One of his earliest recollections

vns of being patted on the head by Igorge IV. He saw the glare of the ire that destroyed the Houses of Pariameut in 1934., and during a visit to

Caen met the famous Hem. Rrummell. , Alter leaving Eton he entered the Grenadier Guards in 1940. serving m that regiment for .’l2 years. He lought in the Crimea, and was the last survivor of the hand ol Grenadiers who saved tilt colours at Inkerman. He was the model for the mounted officer in I .ad v Butler’s great picture. ” The Roll-Call.” in 19(71 lie was responsible for part of the military training of Edward VIII.. who was iliou in the ranks of the Ist Grenadier Guards. Promoted to .Major-General, he commanded the Rrigade of Guards and the Home District from 197!) to 1994. lie had become a Lieiitennnt-Gentral in 1992. and was in 1999 appointed LieutenantGovernor of the Tower of London—a post he held for two years. Knighted • K.C.8.) in 1889. he was promoted lull general in 1890, and created G.G.B. m Oil his 9Gth Birthday lie went t„ Ruckiiigham Palace by special invitation to receive the G.C’.Y 0. Although nearly 90 when the war broke out, he took an active part in public life iii Buckinghamshire, where he lived near Marlow, in the beautiful old mansi,,,,. of Gyldeuscroft, whose grounds run down to the Thames. At the age of l<:;i he was presiding regularly over the meetings of local bodies with which he was connected, and when he attended the annual dinner of the Brigade of Guards, in June. 1920, he declined to use the lilt. At the last General Election he addressed the crowd from a bal(ony. The General was indeed a. remarkable centenarian. His figure was straight, he preferred standing to sutook a walk almost everyday, lie diii not require spectacles, and his mind was clear and active. A brilliant conversationalist, he was apt in the choice of nhrnscs. and had a eaustu wit. On June 21st. 192(1. his hundredth birthday was commemorated hv the presentation to .Marlow of a park ol .G a errs bought by public subscript mil and named after him. On - )U ’ he took the salute when the Duke of Connaught inspected the Ist Gieii.n i-t Guards. The general received three presentations and •'••'do tbue oxk -M----speeches. On October. 1 Gib he was a notable figure at the unveiling m the memorial to the Guards.