LIEUT.-GENERAL LORD CHELMSFORD, K.C.B.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 145, 14 May 1879, Page 3

LIEUT.-GENERAL LORD CHELMSFORD, K.C.B.

Fredrick Augustus, second Baron Chelmsford, was born nearly fifty-two years ago, his mother being a niece of the gallant Major Pierson, whose death at the moment when ho had defeated a body of French troops who had invaded Jersey has been commemorated by West. Educated at Eton, when seventeen he entered the Grenadier Guards. Tall and stalwart, of a fine frank bearing, -'genial, courteous, amiable, and good-humoured, Fred. Thesiger soon became a favourite with his brother officers, who were proud of his athcltic successes, for he was one of the best hands with the gloves of any amateur of his day . On May 31st, 1855, Fred. Thesiger landed in the Crimea as lieutenant and captain, and remained there till the end of the war, returning home a brevet major, and with a breast covered with decorations. In 1857 he became lieutenant —colonel and captain, and within u few months, eager for more active service and practical soldiership than he was likely to see in the Guards, he exchanged into the 95th, then employed in suppressing the Indian Mutiny. There was some difficulty raised about the exchange, for it was beginning to be recognised as unjust that an officer who was only a regimental captain in the Guards should be permitted, by transferring Ids services to the Line, to pass over the heads of all the Majors of that branch of the service. However, Thesiger had interest, and attained his object. He reached India only in time for the lag end of the Mutiny, but he so soon acquired a reputation as a good regimental officer that in 18GO he was appointed Deputy Adjutant-General of Bombay. When the Abyssinian expedition ■ sailed Thesiger, who had became a full colonel in 1863, accompanied it as deputy adju-tant-general, and was mentioned in

dispatches for his £! great ability and untiring- energy,” As a matter of course, his pres- -nee at the bend of the staff on this fatiguing but almost bloodless march scoured hini a C. lb-ship, lb turnto india he was almost immediately appointed Adjutant-General to the army. In that capacity he was remarkable for his assiduity, courtesy, devotion to professional study, and domestic virtues. About- 1854 be had abjured intoxicating beverages, and in 1867 he had taken unto himself a wife, the daughter of the late General Heath. What with devotion to the latter, a very natural desire to shield her from the deteriorating influence of Anglo-Indian society, and his teetotalism, ho was at this time more distinguished for his virtues than social attractions. Returning to England in 1874, he was appointed A.D.O. to the Queen and to the command of the Shorncliffe Brigade. Transferred as brigadier-general to Aldershot in 1876, he became a major-general in 1877, and in the following year was sent out to the Cape with the local rank of lieutenantgeneral. Ho there displayed great activity and energy in bringing the campaign against the Gaikas and Galekas to a successful end, and was madeaK.C.B. for his sendees. The commencement of the invasion of Zuluiand has been unfortunate, and his conduct is no doubt open to criticism, but it says much for him that he is highly esteemed both as a man and a soldier by all in his command.