GENERAL GATACRE
Reading edition
THE STORY OF THE LIFE AND SERVICES OF SIR WILLIAM FORBES GATACRE, K.C.B., D.S.O. 1843-1906
BY BEATRIX GATACRE
WITH PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND ILLUSTRATIONS
What I aspired to be And was not, comforts me. R. B.
LONDON JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. 1910
PRINTED BY HAZELL, WATSON AND VINEY, LD., LONDON AND AYLESBURY.
THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO TWO FRIENDS WITHOUT WHOSE SYMPATHY AND ASSISTANCE IT WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN WRITTEN
Assured of worthiness, we do not dread Competitors; we rather give them hail And greeting in the lists where we may fail: Must, if we bear an aim beyond the head! My betters are my masters; purely fed By their sustainment I likewise shall scale Some rocky steps between the mount and vale; Meanwhile the mark I have, and I will wed. So that I draw the breath of finer air, Station is naught, nor footways laurel-strewn, Nor rivals tightly belted for the race. God-speed to them! My place is here or there; My pride is that among them I have place: And thus I keep the instrument in tune.
GEORGE MEREDITH.
PREFACE
The main object in laying this book before the public is to provide an authentic narrative of Sir William Gatacre's work in South Africa. At the time of his recall no despatch giving the reason for this step was published, but a letter dealing with this matter has since appeared as an Appendix in the Official History of the war; it is with reluctance that I have been persuaded to reprint this letter at the end of this volume. It seemed, however, that Sir William's previous career was such a large factor in determining any opinion regarding his later work that some account of the man and his surroundings from the beginning would not be without interest.
In preparing the first half of this story I have been entirely dependent on the recollections of others, and have studiously avoided any attempt to eke out the material with an imaginary amplification; in the latter half my own personal knowledge of himself and his affairs has enabled me to seek my information from numerous sources, and to draw the portrait in richer colours on a more suggestive background.
I wish to acknowledge in full the loyal assistance afforded me by my husband's friends. In every case I have received the most cordial response and co-operation. I am sincerely grateful both to those who have asked me to refrain from naming them and to those who have given me the support of their names. Through the courtesy of these officers and others, I am able to say that every word has been read by one who has personal knowledge of the incidents recorded. In this way I trust that this narrative will have acquired an unimpeachable accuracy.
I am also deeply indebted to the Official History of the War in South Africa. Indeed, before the publication of this authoritative statement my task would have been impossible.
To the facts therein recorded I have added extracts from officers' reports, and from Sir William's own letters, and also the words of certain important telegrams which I had found amongst his papers, and for the reproduction of which official permission has been graciously accorded.
I beg the indulgence of the reader for faults of literary inexperience, and trust that he will recognise my honest endeavour to handle the facts fairly and dispassionately.
BEATRIX GATACRE.
April 8, 1910.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I
GATACRE . . . 1
CHAPTER II
TO INDIA AND BACK . . . 13
CHAPTER III
RANGOON . . . 38
CHAPTER IV
SECUNDERABAD . . . 52
CHAPTER V
BLACK MOUNTAIN EXPEDITION . . . 63
CHAPTER VI
MANDALAY . . . 82
CHAPTER VII
POONA . . . 98
CHAPTER VIII
BOMBAY . . . 110
CHAPTER IX
CHITBAL . . . 127
CHAPTER X
QUETTA . . . 145
CHAPTER XI
THE PLAGUE . . . 161
CHAPTER XII
FROM ALDERSHOT TO BERBER . . . 184
CHAPTER XIII
ATBARA AND OMDURMAN . . . 198
CHAPTER XIV
COLCHESTER . . . 214
CHAPTER XV
CAPE COLONY . . . 221
CHAPTER XVI
ORANGE FREE STATE . . . 239
CHAPTER XVII
BACK TO COLCHESTER . . . 261
CHAPTER XVIII
ABYSSINIA . . . 273
DESPATCH, APRIL 16, 1900 . . . 286
INDEX . . . 289
ILLUSTRATIONS
MAJOR-GENERAL SIR WILLIAM GATACRE, K.C.B., D.S.O. (Photogravure) . . . Frontispiece
COLONEL W. F. GATACRE, D.S.O., 1888 . . . 74
KACHIN BRIDGE, OVER WHICH 500 MEN CROSSED IN ONE DAY . . . 90
GOORKHAS CROSSING THE LOWARI PASS . . . 134
ON THE ROAD TO CHITRAL . . . 138
GENERAL GATACRE AND HIS FAVOURITE PONY . . . 142
BELUCHI MURDERERS . . . 158
HINDU BURNING-GHAT . . . 162
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE VISITATION . . . 172
INVASION OF CAPE COLONY: THE BOERS MARCHING SOUTH OVER THE ORANGE RIVER AT ALIWAL NORTH . . . 224
MAPS
At the end
MAP I. INDIA [Transcriber's note: this map was omitted, being too large to scan.]
MAP II. EGYPT AND THE SOUDAN
MAP III. EASTERN CAPE COLONY AND PART OF THE ORANGE FREE STATE
MAP IV. ABYSSINIA