Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-23


the letters "K. c., V. o., X. C. b., D. S. o."
powerfully built country boy he went to
London at the age of 10 and enlisted in
the 9th Lancers Promotion from the ranks
is not frequent. The great majority of Of
ficers come from the military school at Sand
hurst. But the door is kept open for a pri-
vate of good education and character. BY
passing a stiff examination he may obtain
a 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
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.
His first few years as a soldier of Britain
revealed almost none of the powers and traits
which distinguished him later in life He was
brave, hard-working trooper, bit more in
telligent than his mates. but otherwise of
the average He studied tactics and ulti-
mately bee; ne a non-commissioned officer.
He was ten years in the ranks before his
commission as second lieutenant was won.
He was old for his rank, and it was quite
natural to presume that the highest rank he
sibly colonel He was gazetted to the Third
Dragon Guards He Joined his regiment
in India, and one of his first experiences as
a cavalry officer was the picturesque cavalry
concentration at Muridld Camp, near La
hore. in January. 1889. He had been twenty
nine years reaching a grade which most
men held at the age of 90
Studies Indian Dialects
Robertson soon became known lin
gust of ability He mastered the many
dialects of India as few Europeans have
He made himself so valuable to his COM
manders that promotion soon came his way
He took no part in what is known as the
first Miranzai expedition, which penetrated
into Indias mountainous districts in 1891
He subsequently took part in the relief of
Chitral and was badly wounded He was
railway and transport officer in those cam
paigns.
1t was during the Chitral expedition that
Sir William Robertson had his narrowest
escape from death His zeal led him to ride
forward without his Gurkha guard. and his
sword, being in the way, he handed 1t over
to a Pathan guide who was riding with
him, going himself little ahead of the man.
The next thing that he knew was that two
shots were fired at him, one of them pass
ing under his arm and neatly clipping OFF
his horses ear. Turning round he saw that
the Pathan who was guiding him had fired
the shots. and the next moment the traitor
charged him and hit him over the head with
his own sword.
Robertson grappled with his opponent, but
noticing two other Indian tribesmen, who
seemed to appear from nowhere, rushing
forward TO attack him. he was obliged to
let his man go and beat retreat to his
Gurkha guard. which was some three or
four hundred yards in the rear.
medal and clasp, the Distinguished Ser
vice order, and mention in dispatches were
Robertson's reward for his work in the
Chitral expedition, and when the South
African War broke out it was acknowledged
that he was the one man for the job OF at
tending 10 the transport OF food ana troops
stan officer throughout the South Afri-
can soar-iep re earned the praise OF Rob
.s e4.4 Iii - - LA eaHaetts fof get