GENERAL SMITHDORRIEN

Hokitika Guardian, 15 August 1930, Page 7

GENERAL SMITHDORRIEN

General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien ivlio was Fatally injured in a motor car accident on Monday, was Dorn m May,. 1858. doming the array -in 1871, he fought in the Zulu War, the campaigns in Egypt and the Sudan (1882-6), and the Tira.ii campaign (1897-8), in which ho showed great skill in handling troops. Returning to the Sudan he took part in the final advance to Khartoum, and was promoted Brevet-Colonel. In 1890, in the Boer War, he went to the Cape in command of his regiment, and was soon afterwards given a brigade and was promoted to he Major-General. He remained in South Africa until the end of the war in 1901, taking part in numerous operations, and was then appointed Adjutant-General in India, where he rose to he a Divisional Commander, and in 1906 he became LieutenantGeneral. After holding the Aidershot Command lie was transferred to the Southern District in 1912 and made a General, receiving a knighthood (K.C.8.) in 1913. On the death of General Grierson in the early days of the Great War (August, 1914) General Smith-Dorrieii took his place I as Commander of tile Second Army Corps, which he led during the retreat from Molts. The brunt of the German attack fell on his troops and, wjhen hard-pressed near Lc Cateau, lie halted and gave battle, contrary to Lord French’s orders. By hie resolute action he effectually checked the pursuit, although his losses were heavy. He subsequently commanded In's chips at the Battle of Marne, on the Aisne, and during the severe fighting in Flanders in October and November. On the splitting up of the British forces into two armies lie was appointed to the command of the second. This position lie held till April, 1915,. when lie was sent back to itnglnnd and put in charge of one of the home defence armies. In the following year he was chosen to lead the British forces in. German East Africa, 'but'fell ill on ti e voyage and wan unable to take up the command, hut had to return home. In 1917 he was unpointed Lieutenant of the Tower and in 1918 Governor and Com-mander-in-chief at Gibralter. He retired from the army in 1923. In his

“Memories of • 48 Years’ Service,” published in 192 y, he defends .his action at Lo Cateau, for which lie was censured by Lord French in his book, “1914” and deals with his recall from France. It is , now agreed that his stand saved the British forces from being overwhelmed; but Lord French toi?d him he was “risking a second Sedan.” His own view wap that if he continued his retreat with Ids exhausted men lie was courting disaster. “Well do I remember” he writes, “the dead silence in the little room at Bertry when I was rapidly conisidering these points and the sigh of relief when I remarked;. ‘Very well, gentlemen, we will fight.’”