The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-15

or all the brilliant soldiers who helped
to found and consolidate the British
Empire in the East none has acquired a
higher niche in the temple of military
fame than he who was known In the
British peerage as Earl Roberts of Kan
dahar. and to the public as "Bobs" a
name popularity bestowed almost a genera
ton ago, when the fiery little soldier was
first focused in the public eye through
the drab medium OF official mentions"
He was of slight physique and in his
| youth suffered from a weak heart. Yet
! he was 50 courageous that early in life
| he won the Victoria Cross and gave many
other proofs of physical prowess. SO
skilled leader was he that in his
Indian campaigns on more than one
occasion with 5000 troops he defeated
| So, 600 of the enemy SO skilled In ad-
ministration and organization that he
| could bring order out of chaos in as
| quick time as he could quel an Indian
mutiny. and withal kindly. cheerful. stanch
! in his friendships and continually fighting
/ for the best for his soldiers. 1t was no
wonder that "Bobs'' soon won world wide
fame and secure place In the hearts OF
his countrymen.
He was born In 1899 at Cawnpore,
/ India. the son of another famed Indian
4 fighter Gen. Sir Abraham Roberts c. c.
b.. and was christened Frederick Sleigh.
He was educated at Elton, Sandhurst
and Addscombe. At Addlscombe he suf-
fered much from his heart, and when he
went to Bombay with fifty other cadets
In was doubtful II he could endure the
, climate. At the outbreak Of the Indian
mutiny in May, 1857. he was transferred
from the Quartermaster-Gene stan
to the Delhi field force, and here he saw
his first real service.
1t was service such as millions OF Euro
peans are undergoing now. Bullets rained
around him one OF his best friends, stand
ing within a few feet OF him, was killed,
| and when the final assault was delivered
Roberts's horse was killed under him
After this he went back to his BIRTH
place TO serve as n staff officer, distin-
gushing himself repeatedly. In one action
while in command OF the Ninth Lancers
he performed the feat OF marching sixty
six miles In forty hours, ghting all the
way.
He was with Sir Colin Campbell a
the second relief Of Lucknow, and at the
battle OF Cawnpore shortly afterward
II was in the engagement at Khudasan1
on January 2, 1858, that he won his
Victoria Cross by capturing In single
handed combat a standard from two
sepoys and also by killing a sepoy who
was about to kill sowar.
He served the rest of that month ant
then returned to England on year.
sick leave Besides the Cross In this, hi
first campaign, he was mentioned sever
times in dispatches, received the media
with three clasps and on his promotion
TO Captain, shortly after the expiration o
; his sick leave, brevet majority Dur
ing his sick absence he married. on Ma!
II 1859, Miss Nora Brews.
On his return he saw service In som
of the mountain campaigns. and in 1856
, was appointed Assistant Quartermaster
General to Sir Donald Stewards benga
brigade for Abyssnia. He then mad
3 another record for efficiency In handlin
troops, for which he was mentioned thre
times in official dispatches. Then he go
another leave, returning to India In 1855
!. when he undertook another particular
{ troublesome campaign into Lushai,
which he had to cut path 100 miles lon
I through dense forests. while his troop
we're attacked by cholera. as well a
e barassed by the natives Later he be
r came Quartermaster-Gen eral In Benga
and in 1875 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES an
Colonel. lie settled the details or N
70 ,ereat camp OF exercise at Delhi when IN