WINSTON AS A SOLDIER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 147, 18 February 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

WINSTON AS A SOLDIER.

MAJOR OF QUEEN'S OWN OXFORDSHIRE HUSSARS. It is typical of the restless energy of Mr. Winston Churchill that he should have thrown up the post of Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which carries with it a salary of JL'4,OOO a year, because the post was one of "well-paid inactivity," to quote his own words, and joined his regiment, the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars, at the Front. Thus he returns to his first love—the Army—and although over forty, and consequently in Class 46—the last class to be called up under Lord Derby's scheme —he has gone at once to fight in France, where, no doubt, he will soon be heard of again. Mr. Churchill, who is a major and second in command of his regiment, has already had experience in five campaigns. He has fought in three engagements, been taken prisoner-of-war, escaped, written military books and pamphlets almost without number, has acted as a war correspondent, written an original novel, "Savrola," in addition to having belonged in succession to both great British parties, and held five different offices under the Liberal and Coalition Governments —a twentyyears' record unequalled by any other man in the modern history of England. MILITARY DISTINCTIONS. As a boy, Mr. Churchill was fond of military study. His chief recreation in his Harrow days was fencing—winning the schools championship—and passing from Harrow to Sandhurst he entered the 4th Hussars. A passive military career, however, had no charms for him, and he seized the opportunity of gaining practical military knowledge by volunteering for service in Cuba with the Spaniards during the Spanish-American War, in tho same year that he joined the Hussars. The Spanish commander, Marshal Campos, decorated him with the Ist Class Order of Military Merit, and he won further distinction a year later when he served with the Malakand Field Force on the North-West Frontier of India, taking part in several actions. Acting as orderly officer to Sir William Loekhart during the Tirah Expedition in he won more military distinction. Not satisfied with this, however, he hastened to take part :ii the Sudan campaign, being attached to the 21st Lancers in the Nile Expeditionary Force, and part

in tho famous charge at the Battle of Omdurman. ! WINSTON AND KITCHENER, j Kitchener, it is said, did not mind Winston fighting, but he objected to his acting as war correspondent also, to which Churchill replied, "My method will be to fight while there is fighting and to write while your men rest." Later, one of the staff declared that Kitchener always had his eye on young Churchill, and made Lady Randolph Churchill's eyes sparkle with delight when he told her his opinion of her son. It was during the South African War, when he transferred to the South African Light Horse as a lieutenant, and acted as a correspondent of the "Morning Post," that Mr. Churchill gained particular military distinction. 1 He went out to, South Africa in October, 1899, and a month after leaving Southampton was a prisoner in the hands of the Boers, having been captured in a fight between the latter and an armoured train. He was taken to Pretoria and confined with captive British officers. How he escaped by boarding a rail-way-truck and after eight days of adventure reached Delagoa Bay in safety forms one of the mo<t romantic episodes in his career. The Boers put a price of £2O on hm head, but never succeeded in getting him into their hands again. I His escape enabled Mr. Churchill to | take part in all the principal actions on i the Tugela which preceded the relief of Ladysmith, and he was one of the first to enter the beleaguered town, riding 1 with Lord Diindon.>ld. In his book, "lan Hamilton's March," Mr Churchill has described tho great advance on Pretoria in which lie took part. He 1 ult mately emerged from the campaign | wrth a medal and six clasps. I