Note 235 — Chapter XL · 1882—CHATHAM AND ALEXANDRIA
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The Secretary of State for War telegraphed to me, a small number of soldiers would be sent to strengthen the position in front of Alexandria, about which the Cabinet was apprehensive, and ended with the request, I would mention anything in which I desired help, officially or unofficially; this gave me an opportunity. I replied to the following effect:—“I am greatly obliged for your letter and telegram. I believe there is very little chance of the Egyptians attacking us, but if they do I am confident of defeating them. As a personal request, could you persuade your Department that I was alive from the 22nd December last to the 14th February, which has hitherto been denied, and I have been refused Half-Pay for that period.”
I wrote also fully to a similar effect, adding, “I am ashamed to trouble you on a personal matter, but I am more ashamed of the War Office’s interminable delays.” Mr. Childers was prompt, and long before he got my letter, had a telegram sent to me, “Amount claimed paid to your account at Cox’s.”
Later, I told Mr. Childers I had addressed his office three times without any result, and without his help I should never have got it, unless, perhaps, my refusal to pay some stoppage accruing in January 1882, on the grounds that I could not pay something out of nothing, brought the case to the notice of a higher placed civilian than he who at that time generally decided such questions, even in the case of claims made by Generals.