Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-14
Stories of the War
Sir William Robertson.

Little is known to the outside world
about Sir William Robertson, K. C. v.
o., K. c. B., D. s. O., whose remark
able career from the ranks to Chief
'of Staff of the Army is so well known
to the army itself. His work in rela-
ton to that of Sir John French, the
commander in chief, has been de-
of a great corporation to that OF Its
President.
A powerful built country boy, he
came to London at the age of nine
teen and enlisted in the eth Lancers.
Promotion from the ranks is not fire.
quenU. The great majority OF officers
come from the military school at
Sandhurst. But the door Is kept open
for a private OF good education and
character. By passing a stin exalni-
nation he may secure commission.
Young Robertson had had only an
elementary education; but he set out
to make up for the deficiency by study.
He invested his shilling a day, which
is the pay OF a British private, in
books. AS a British regular trooper
has none too much time to himself he
used to get comrades to read to him
from Bacon and the English classics
while he was grooming his horse or
cleaning his equipment.
Not until he had served ten years
did he pass his examination which
l gave MIN a COMMISSION IN the CRU
Dragon Guards. He was then 20 and
the average second lieutenant had
about eight years the start OF him on
| the Army list. In the course OF lin
eral promotion he could never hope to
be more than a major. Special pro-
| tinguishing himself. Macdonald who
won fame by his charge at Omduran
| and other eminent British command
ers who had risen from the ranks had
won their way as natural leaders OF
men in the field. Robertson's career
is the more striking, officers say, be-
cause 1t is due to excellence in or
ganization and In the application OF
the methods of modern war which
presupposes the grounding OF q thor
ough military education
Four years after he had received hi
commission he had won enough at
tention to be assigned to the Intelli
gence branch OF the Quarternaster'
Department in India In India he fount
his oportunity. Rewards are given OF
ficers for Learning native dialects.
To the average officer there Is moth
! ing very attractive in spending hour
with a native "munshf' or teacher Il
: acquiring a tongue which can be o
use with only some frontier tribt
: Robertson offered his munshi q quar-
ter of the reward when he was prohci
. ent enough to earn II by passing a
1 examination.
: Sir William. when he Is reminiscer
D will recall what an excellent bargat
this proved to be. The munshi saw
:. 1t that his pupil did not fail to i'm
q prove any spare moments He woul
be waiting ut his pupils door at day
Q break and put him through an hour
!, lesson before breakfast Having maj
}. tered one dialect Robertson undertoc
Z another and then another. Soon
: became known as a language exper
Q This gained for him another opportur
Z ity which was to apply his knowiedf
7 by explorations on the Northwe
frontier. When the Chitral troun
= came his linguistic accomplishment
: and his knowledge OF the country wei
y Invaluable. He came out Of the Chi
raj campaign with the Distinguish
Service Order for services which II
Guided gallantry IN action when