STORIES OF "BOBS."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 261, 31 December 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

STORIES OF "BOBS."

THE BEST BELOVED MAN IN THE ARMY. Probably no soldier saw so mucn service as Earl Roberts. His career comprised the Mutiny, various frontier expeditions, the Abyssinian Expedition, the Afghan Campagn of 1870-80, ana the South African War. "We love him for the dangers he has passed," said Ernest Russell in his biography, "Loru Roberts of Kandahar." When Roberts went to India three things of special note happened to aim at Peshawur. He was generally regarded as superstitious, the idea arising, probably, from his aversion to cats. H 0 could not bear one to be anywhere, near him. But superstition could hardly survive tho recollection of the Thirteen Dinner to which he sat down on January Ist. 18-53. Of the officers who dined together on that occasion all were aliv« 11 years after, and most of them passed safely through the Mutiny, only five or 6ix being wounded. Tho second incident was th<> flogging of two fine fellows belonging to tho horse artillery, for theft. Roberts considered that the punishment would do more harm than good and longed for the power to stop it." No sooner were tho men released than they repeated the offence, and were again ordered to be flogged. The commanding officer offered to remit the punishment if they would promise to mend their ways. Roberts was much impressed. "If the prisoners ere not happy,! was; the clemency was evidently appreciated by them, for they promised, and kept iA'eir words." Tho third incident was Roberts 8 i«solve to learn Hindustani. He was keen to securo an appointment on the staff, but a knowledge of this language.was essential. There was less than threo months in which to learn it. Roberts engaged a native teacher. 6hut hmiscll up, " studied Indian literature from morning to night and when the tune for examination passed lyHTS AMAZING MEMORY.

Lord Roberts novcr forgot any man who had served under hi.-; command. Ho had an amazing memory, and. moreover, ho never forgot to let a man know "hat he was remembered. This to the British "Tommy." as with the rest of humanity, counted for a great deal. Onco when Roberts was strolling along Trafalgar Square there eame along "a poor follow who hud evidently seen better davs. Up went his hand to his forehead in'salute, and the same instant the fa<:e of Roberts was all on a smile, as be stretched out hie hand with a cordial, "Well, how aro you getting on? He had immediately recognised the shab'iy stranger as one of those who were with him in that grim, terrible march from Kabul to Kandahar, Again when Lord Roberts was embarking at Soir.hamnton for the Boer War, ho was strolling across th e quay with' Lady Roberts just preparatory to going on board. Suddenly he pulled up before a man who wore an Atgi««i» medal on his,breast, and who, before Roberts could speak, waved his helmet vigorously and called for three cheers 'or him. , Roberts at once recalled the man s face, shook hands warmly, asked h's name, and staved to have a few kindly words with him. It was Constable Hudson, of the Harbour Board, a man whoso Afghan medal signified where he nad mad? the acquaintance of the great soldier. On another occasion Bobs, whilst wtui a distinguished party waiting at a s m<ul country railway station, was sudaemy missed from the side of his hast. It. was then discovered that lie has", gono d'jw*. tno platform to speak with a potter whom lig had .spotted at the end vi it The mar's eyes filled with tears as the gallant officer gave him that firm grip of friendship and that pat on the bark all his men knew so well. When Roberts bade him good-bye his lips whispered, j "God bless him!"

One of his mates asked, "Who was the gent?'' . Tho porter's face showed infinite scorn as ho blurted out: "Who is lie? Well, by George, you are a fine Englishman, vou are.'not to know Bob*! Tho finest scleral we ever 1. a in the army!"

TUB LITLK WOMAN FROM IRELAND. In the South African war the captain of an Irish regiment was dangerously wounded; and when the news came lmnie his wife wanted to go out ana nuivo him. but was without funds for ihe vovage. At last, after much enort. she wa". employed on ore of the hospital shins, and so reached Cape Town, but ev.'n her,, her ca.'-c waslntle hotter: she culd not pay for a passage round to DurbMi. whence (-he could r< ach tlie hospital where her Inr-baml lay. . v --b'. apjiealed to the c.uihoi'ities to see! let, and they jnoti-ted that they cu-.P.-l noj; (111 :,0. "Titer,, is ou'y one man v.li i could managi) it." said an elliccr who was umiu explicit than tl'.e o.hers. "Who:" s.aid she "T.ord ltoS."rti." be repliul. Now. it happened thai one day m Ir land wln-n l.ord l?obcri s had walked a !■ is-.; di tan-e, ami was h.n and thus - • Ire h;el s* .imbleil upon tho home of ;'; : i ~;[-,.. ~, ...,) t liis little woman bad .r ~ ;; j,: :il ;> )• fl.'i'.i'lg (Up ~ft C.T. " I'" i-.'e-;.b.-,-. ' lir, .said, taxing ii''< leave, " I l-.Un)] n-ver f'eig. t tbe kindness of the little woiif.m i.f Sniccv.hei-e-iii-Ireland. So wlii'n Ihev told her in Cape '""" a-, h would I"- imtc.-Mb!,' to .-ce T/.ril !»■.! ■ rf, .be proelirel .1 'ibi'i's < "<1 "!••' ~:,;, ,„, it "The Lit:'- Won;;.ii lr.m !-. ■•.(-•.•'!< re ii-Tn 'and." and mana!.;. d lo .-..| o OT ,.j ~p i,, tl:.- ('.:i,imamler-in-(•:■-f. 1., ;, i-.. 1v few f e ( ne';. to Die ,V d lit ;■ '-.iiU':-'.. Nt rf ever-.. "\-c-d !e .'■ . v i v , ■• ■ eiddn"! be n.!'••'. afrabl if >"" .. M-ef liie.T to :b ■ ]■) 'd'H word of 't-'t-O Micro an;v."rod a me;-o eg 'i'. w.io :-.';ed Ikt fo s<o, no. •.ml Lord Rolerl-i tamo tn me,-1 b ; r. "I know nil :>.bnul '.en. Pon'i eMibii" ; T remember nerfoftly. TVb'it can T do!-" S.'':,, *.,' d I'irn «lld «""= rli<STi. : c«ed '.viHi ~:,-M,,r pwi-.".- "'d .rmn t»M. a 'etter ~!.'') ir.'d '. r •'■•' «h •• was to have a

free passage, and had been commended by the Commander-in-Chief to the special care ol everyone who could possibly help her. And at last 6he got to the hospital. Her husband had only that day undergone a severe operation, ana was asleep when she arrived, 'fhtn at last he woke and looked up lazily, and recognised her. He just gripped her hand, which had been lying handy for hours, and then, "How the devil did you get here?'' he said, as he fell asleep again.

SAVED BY THE WHISKY. A striking instance of the consideration for his men which so endeared Lord Roberts to soldiers serving under him has been told by an old Birmingham Tommy who took part in the march from Kabul to Kandahar. Towards tho end of an .exceptionally long day's march. Bobs, surrounded by his staff. had watched the various regiments go by—a habit of his, to enable him to judge of their capacity for work on the morrow—and waited whilst a few of the stragglers came up. One of these was an old member of the Cameron Highlanders well known to Roberts, who. accosting the faggedT-out sojdiei, asked him, god humouredly. ''What's Iho matter with you, my man?'' "What's the matter wi' me. eh?" replied the Highlander, quite respectfully. "What do you think's th e matter wi' me" ? . Tho commander produced his flasK, poured out a quantity of whisky and water—a commodity he almost invariably carried, though he seldom had recourse to it—handed it to the exhausted man, who swallowed ft with avidity. "Now." said Roberts, "do you think you can manage to get to camp?" "Aye," replied Jock, who instantaneously felt the revivifying effect of the national beverage, "and the next camp, too." "BOBS" AND THE FEER. In India complaints reached Roberts of the quality of the beer served out from a particular regimental canted, and ho resolved to look personally into the matter. Putting on a private's untform, which ho had borrowed, he entered tho canteen, taking a seat on a form:— „„ , r , "What about the beer?" he asked. "Beer!" remarked a disgusted comrade. "Call this beer? Why, it's more'n 'arf water." Next day the 6ame neat, wiry figure crossed the square, this time in the full uniform of his position, and another order for a mug of al 0 war, given to the sergeant who was making money o ut ol Tommy. "Yes sir. certainly sir, said the sergeant. "And he drew a pint of very good beer from his own special tap. "Excellent," said the Chief, fixmg his keen eye on the sergeant, " there is no fault to be found with this. But this is not the same beer you sold me yesterday when, as a soldier. I sat on that seat, and paid vou my money." Tho Chief pushed his enquiry home, and tho canteen-keeper was promptly court-martiallod.

LADY ROBERTS. Lary Roberts, to whom the great soldier wa s married in May, 18-59, never forgot the duties and responsibilities ot a soldier's wife. In India in the early days of the marriage her husband was hoping to be selecvted for duty with the China expedition, but was passed over out of consideration of the fact that he was a newly-married man. "I am afraid," said Ladv Roberta when Lord Clvdo appealed to her sense of gratitude en this account, "that T cannot be very grateful to you for making my husband feel I am ruining his career by standing in the way of his being sent on service." Afterwards, when her husband had advanced to high command, Lady Roberts devoted herself to the great work of organising tlv service of trained Army nurses, which has since proved of inestimable value in India and in South Africa.

AND HER EIGHT LARGE TRUNKS

At the height of the transport difficulties in the South African war. and m the teeth of tlie officials. sh<* earned eight large trunks from Capo Town to Bloomfontein. Everyone wondered, everyone murmured. No one but Lady Roberts could have got the things through. The transport of stores had been stopped for the time, the sick lacked every comfort, and tho-se who were not sick were half-starved and half-clad. Therefore, when a fatigue party was told off to fetch those eight trunks from Bloemfontein station, things were said, probably about the "plague of women. But next day seven of the trunks were unpacked and their comiorts distiibuted amongst the Tomnros. lhc clot 01 lady had snapped her fingers at red tape, and smuggled comiorts to the men in thi-» way To lie small trunk contained her kit. KITCHENER AND ROBERTS. Writing of Earl Roberts's arrival at Capo Town in Jaminy. l!HM). with Eni'd Kitchener, one of his biographers. Ernest, Russell, thus compare> him with the present Minister m War. "Two men moi't. unlike in everything except patriot sni it wouljl Ih> hard to imagine, Lord Roberts, iinall of stature compart, aged in '.lif, Sovereign's serv.ee. with kindly and magnetic eye. a mouth that shows I decision o! character is not wanting. (■— isenti.il'y ". li vable in-!u — Mich 'Bob* ; Lord Kit:-!i":ier, tail, ratherstraggly. s,' il voo.il;.';. >\it!i an eye that p'erce.-. and n:ak.\ i'i".-; ne.' i riirink " ith a coii•].)11~.11 ■*■ ; !l .vv*. through a■ i d through them- such wa> the Chief of tile 1,11 whom no ene ever dreamed ~r l iinU'i'rii!'.; ;ui allcciio'iate As soldiers Lor.l Roberts atid Kitchener are aNo unlike in tlie r niothiid*. Lord Unhurt-. is ouick t<> v nke. seizing :>t.ajeg'cal aod tactical puii.t.s w'tli amazing - ;si 11UV-- : l.ord iK t ; ii« i< r i a grot orj (rau ; s'-r. and will speed year-, patiently I 'and infallibly working out a problem v.ieh as the recnrniuesL oi t!u Soudan.. I —Sydney "Sun."