Faces and Facts - 27^th January 1900

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL WILLIAM HENRY DICK-CUNYNGHAM V.C., of the 2^nd Gordons, like the Earl of Ava recovered from wound received earlier in the campaign, only to be wounded again, this time mortally. This sad occurrence took place at the gallant repulse of the Boer attacked on Ladysmith, January 6^th, when the brave Colonel was commanding his corps, which, with the Manchesters, drove back the Boers at the point of the bayonet from Cæser's Camp. Colonel Dick-Cunyngham was born in 1851, and his first campaign was in the Afghan War of 1878-80, when he accompanied "Bobs" (My Note: Lord Roberts) on the famous march on Kandahar. He won his V.C. for conspicuous gallantry and coolness in rallying his men at the attack on the Sherpuir Pass in 1879. He served in the Boer war of 1881. The service and the country regrets a popular and courageous officer.

Among others who suffered in the same engagement were Major Alfred H. M. Edwards, late of the 5^th Dragoon Guards, now in the Imperial Light Horse, and Brevet-Major George H. Thesiger, of the 2^nd Rifle Brigade. Major Edwards was mentioned in dispatches during the Hazara Campaign of 1888; and Major Thesiger gained the same distinction, together with a medal and clasp, in the Omdurman Campaign. We wish both gallant officers a speedy recovery from their wounds.

Two very distinguished officers are going to the front in the persons of Major-General Sir F. Carrington and Colonel Ormelie C. Hannay. General Carrington is especially well-known for his successful organisation and command of the Mounted Infantry in Griqualand West, 1875. Colonel Hannay has also been to South Africa before, having served in the Zulu War of 1879.

Lieutenant Masterson

Major-General Sir Leslie Rundle

Lieutenant A. D. Shore

Captain W. R. Robertson

"One of the best" is the description that one of his old mates of the Irish Fusiliers sends to us of Lieutenant J. E. I. Masterson, of the 1^st Devons, who received no less than ten wounds during the assault on Ladysmith on January 6^th. He used to be a colour-sergeant in the 87^th Royal Irish Fusiliers, and has thoroughly justified his promotion from the ranks. May he recover from his wounds and grow old in the service of his country!

Major General Sir Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle, K.C.B., C.M.G., is to command the 8^th Division. He is a Devonshire man, born in Newton Abbot in 1856, and has a distinguished career behind and, let us hope, before him. He was in the Zulu War of 1879 and the Boer war of 1881, and has been in every Egyptian campaign from 1882-98. He was one of Lord Kitchener's few married officers. He has been repeatebly decorated for his services in Egypt and the Soudan.

Mr Athur Dashwood Shore, who is the son of Mr R. N. Shore, late of her Majesty's Bengal Civil Service, is capable lieutenant in the Imperial Light Horse. He was severely wounded at Elandslaagte on October 21^st, but got back to active service again, only to get another wound had as the first in Lord Dundonald's skirmish at the Acton Homes on January 18^th. He served through the Zulu War, and so is not an inexperienced volunteer. Here's to his speedy recovery!

Captain William Robert Robertson D.S.O., of the 3^rd Dragoon Guards, sailed for South Africa in the transport Aurania on Monday, January 21^st, as Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General for Intelligence on Lord Robert's Staff. Captain Robertson is well-known prize-winner at military tournaments and has a knowledge of the Army from the point of view of a private as well as an officer, for he enlisted in the 16^th Lancers in 1877. He got his commission in the Dragoons in 1888. He was in the Miranzai and Black Mountain Expeditions in 1891, was Staff Captain and D.A.Q.M.G Intelligence Branch, Simla, 1892-96, and especially distinguished himself under Sir Robert Low as Intelligence Officer in the Chitral Relief Force, 1895. He is regarded by the authorities as a "Young officer of exceptional promise."

Lieutenant Alfred Burt, of the 3^rd Dragoon Guards, was one too many for a party of Burghers near Rensburg on January 25^th. He is General French's remount officer, and on this occasion was nearly cut off with his servant by twenty of the enemy. Instead of giving in, this gallant young officer actually captured one of the enemy, a Free Stater, and brought him safely into camp. Lieutenant Burt is twenty-five years of age.

Major Arthur Forde Pilson, of the 1^st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, is with Colonel Plumer's gallant little band that is harassing the enemy far away north in the country of the Gaberones, and is making periodical excursions into the Transvaal itself whereby it is laying up a vast store of information which it is hoped will be useful in the near future. Major Pilson knows something about warfare in South Africa, and especially in the districts in which he is now engaged, as he took part in quelling the native rising which followed Doctor Jameson's raid. For his able services in this matter he was mentioned in dispatches. He is just the kind of officer wanted in South Africa.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert George Buchanan-Riddell, of the 3^rd Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps, and Captain Gilbert Macdonald Stewart, of the 2^nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, were among those who fell in the stubborn attempt to hold Spion Kop on January 24^th. Colonel Buchanan-Riddell was born in 1854, and entered the Army through the Militia a quarter of a century ago. He fought the Boers before in 1881 and was in Egypt in the following year, when he received the bronze star and a medal and clasp. He was also in the Soudan campaign of 1844. From 1890 to 1895 he was an Adjutant of Volunteers. The command of the 3^rd Battalion of the King's Royal Rifle Corps was given to him in December 1898.

Captain Stewart had not seen active service, having been stationed at Malta almost ever since he entered the army in 1893. He was born in 1873, and obtained his company only last year.

Lieutenant Humphrey Frank Pipe-Wolferston of the 2^nd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers, who met death at Spion Kop, was in his twenty-six year. He entered the Army in 1894 and saw his first service with the Chitral Relief Expedition in 1895, when he received the medal with clasp. In 1897-98 he distinguished himself with the Tirah Expeditionary Force in the operations on the North-West Frontier. For his services there he was mentioned in dispatches. He was regarded as a most promising young officer.

Lieutenant Claude Champion De Crespigny is 27 years of age. He entered the 2^nd Life Guards from the militia five years ago, and got his lieutenant's commission in the following year. His recent gallant deed in rescuing a wounded trooper under a heavy fire has rightly been recognised as one of "most distinguished bravery." He will probably be one of the new V.C.'s The gallant Colonel, his father, has just started for the front.