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GENERAL SIR GEORGE GREEN,…

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GENERAL SIR GEORGE GREEN, K.C.B. Not a few of our readers possibly knew the late General Sir George Wade Guy Green, K.C.B., who passed away peaceably on the 27th ult., at Bedford Lodge, Cheltenham. Sir George Green was the third son of the Rev G. W. Green, M.A., of Court Henry, Carmar- thenshire. His mother was sister of Sir John Key, Bart., who was twice Lord Mayor of London, and M.P. for the City during the Reform Bill. Born on the 25th of April, 1825, at Tythering- ton Vicarage, in Gloucestershire, of which parish his father was the Incumbent, he came into Wales in 1832 when his family came to reside at Court Henry. His school-life was spent at Bridgnorth, in Shropshire, where he showed so much talent that Dr Rowley, the able headmaster, was desirous that he should proceed to the University, and had hopes of his substan- tial success there. But the lad knew better than his teacher the bent of his own genius, and wisely chose a military life. In spite of this natural propensity and of his subsequent career as a brave and well-tried soldier, we have üheard him say that he would on no occasion fight at school if he could honourably avoid it. He was of the same age as Napoleon and Marl- borough when he entered the army. Indeed he was obliged to wait in London for the completion of his 16th year before he was allowed to sail for India, which he did on the 28th of May, 1841, arriving in Calcutta on the 23rd of Sep- tember. His commission dated from June. He immediately proceeded to Ghazepore to join the 2nd European Bengal Fusiliers, now 104th Queen's, on the 31st December, and continued in regimental employ till August 1st 1845. Here, seeing the ill-effects of Brandy Pegs," he "registered a vow that he would not touch spirits so long as he was in the service, and he kept his vow faithfully, his one alcoholic beverage being bitter beer which he found agreed with Indian life, and left him a good constitution after many years' service there. In the latter end of 1844 he went with his regiment to Scinde, volunteering into the forlorn hope, and served throughout the whole expedi- tion under Sir Charles Napier .against the Hill Tribes on the Scinde frontier." Lieut. Green was too late by eleven days for the battle of Chilianwallah, and an unfortunate accident-a sprain in the ankle, which disabled him from going on foot, very nearly lost him a share in the battle of Goojerat which led to the annexation of the Punjab. But at last Brigadier Penny allowed him to act as his orderly officer so he rode into action. Brigadier Penny acknow- ledged his services both personally and officially in fflattering terms. "I have much pleasure," he writes (Despatch, 23rd February, 1849) "in bringing to the notice of the Major General the valuable assistance I derived throughout the day from Lieutenant Green, of the 2nd European Regiment, who attended me as orderly officer and conveyed my orders in so distinct a manner as to be highly creditable to himself and most useful to me." In the subsequent pursuit of the Sikhs and Afghans to Peshawur under Major General Gilbert, he twice served as Brigade- Major to the 3rd Infantry Brigade in the Army of the Punjab." At the recommendation of General Penny he was appointed (May 18th, 1849) second in com- mand of the 5th Punjab Infantry, and here pre- pared himself for his appointment as Command- ant of the 2nd Punjab Infantry (August 8, 1853). The date of his captaincy is November 24, 1853. He soon brought this regiment into an excellent state of efficiency. He would listen to no com- plaint except one made publicly in the Orderly Room, upon one occasion sending a man back who had come to make a side complaint, with orders to tell the regiment that the next man who did it should be well flogged and turned out of the regiment. The result of it was that the non-commissioned officers came and thanked him, for they had never before felt safe from any accusation that might be preferred against them. He was exceedingly strict on parade, but at other times he would talk freely with his men, showing an interest in their families and homes. It is needless to say that he was not only feared but loved by his men. They felt they could rely upon his justice and sympathy in camp, and upon his unflinching steadiness and determination in the field. In command of them Captain Green served in 1855 1857, under Brigadier Chamberlain in several expeditions against the Hill Tribes, on the frontier of Afghanistan, and Beloochistan, Urakzaies, Mirawzaies, and Bozdars. On the first of these expeditions the skirmishers of the second Punjab, were attacked and driven back by a sudden rush of the enemy sword in hand, when a native doctor and seven men were hacked in pieces, their rifles and accoutrements falling into the enemy's hands, but Captain Green, of whose conduct the Brigadier spoke very highly, allied his men under cover of the fire of two mountain-guns and retook the position." In the Bozdar expedition (March 1857), Captain Green advanced against the right and Major Cobe against the left of the enemy's position. The brunt of the attack (Brigadier Chamberlain's Brigade Orders) having fallen to the wings of the 1st and 2nd Reg. Punjab Infantry their services call for special notice, and the Brigadier begs to tender his grateful acknowledgment to Major Cobe and Captain Green for their in- trepid conduct." The Officers and men subsequently received the thanks of the Governor General, "for the excellent services rendered by them on that occasion." Within two months (May 18) the regiment marched for Multau, to assist in disarming the disloyal Native Regiments there. And on the 12th July, it proceeded, via Ludhiana, towards Delhi, where it arrived on the 14th August "with only nine men in hospital," although the distance from Ludhiana to Delhi, nearly 200 miles, had been traversed "in eight marches without a halt. Eleven days after this was fought the general action at Najafgarh, General Nicholson com- manded the column. The enemy were totally defeated, with a loss of 13 guns, camp equipage and treasure. Out of the 2000 in the column Captain Green had 400 in the field, and his services on the occasion were brought prominently to the notice of the Major-General" by General Nicholson who named in his despatch the Second Punjab Infantry, and praised them amongst others for their great "gallantry and steadiness." Major General Wilson, on receiv ing this despatch, recorded "his most hearty con- gratulations to the force, which had made a march of 18 miles over a country intersected with swamps at the end of which they fought an action with the enemy, variously estimated at from 4000 to 6000 men," and after the victory •• had to bivouac on the ground without food or covering of any kind." He records their steadiness and gallantry" and promises to bring them to favourable notice in his notice to the commander of the forces in the Upper Provinces." On the 14th of September, the storming of Delhi was effected, Captain Green with 450 men was in the 1st oolumn of 1000 men, under General Nicholson, which had to storm the breach near the Cashmere Bastion. Captain Green was among the wounded "by a grape shot, but fortunately it hit just below the ankle, and where his strap had been pinned up inside the trousers, and the cloth was in consequence some six folds thick. Notwithstanding, the ball cut his foot, turned the whole of his foot black and for three days it was so swollen he could acarcely put it to the ground. His pouch-belt also saved him from a nasty wound in the back. The bullet made a deep dent in the belt but did not get through it. The casualities in his Regiment were 43 killed and 64 wounded." He saw Nicholson, his general, after he had received his mortal wound Nicholson was a great friend of his and was always spoken of by him in terms of great affection. On the 24th of September the regiment moved with Colonel Greatbed's column towards Cawnpore, and fought at Bohindshur (28th), Alygurb (Oct. 5), and at Agra (Oct. 10). "The regiment arrived at Agra at 6 a.m., having marched during the night a distance of 30 miles. The battle hated about two hours. The p-irsuit was carried on for 7 miles. AU the enemy's guns (13 in number), and the whole of the camp equipage, baggage and ammunition fell into our hands. The regiment returned into camp at 8 p. m., having in 24 hours marched 44 miles and ¡ fought a general action without food." Colonel Greatbed wrote-" The steadiness of the 2nd Punjab Infantry under the most trying circum- stances reflects equal credit on Captain Green and the regiment he comuaauds. The gallant manner in which the Punjab regiment behaved and their untiring exertioaa aftor a inarch, with- out a halt, of thirty miles, deserves the highest admiration." The regiment arrived with the moveable column at Cawnpore on October 21st. It was now full four months since the brutal massacre there (June 27), and the traces of it were still visible in all their horror. All the walls are stained with blood (letter dated Oct. 29, 1857). There are the trees against which the poor little innocent babies had their brains dashed out, and locks of hair are to be found on each side of the pathway along which these incarnate devils (I can call them nothing else) dragged the bodies of their victims previous to throwing them down a well in the compound." Can we be surprised that a "thirst for revenge deep and dire was uppermost "in the heart of every man in camp. It seems like some horrible dream, and the place must be seen before any idea of the awful atrocities committed there can be realized." In the relief of Lueknow Captain Green exhibited much bravery and was favourably noticed. Captain Theophilus Green, brother of the subject of our notice, was amongst those relieved at Lucknow. This was followed by the relief of General Wyndham, who had been driven with 2,000 men into entrenchments with the loss of camp and baggage on December .9 7th. On the 6th of January, the regiment was with the Highland Brigade, scouring the country for rebels. They were at Lucknow on March 2nd, and formed part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade under Walpole. Capt. Green had meanwhile been made Brevet Major (19 Jan., 1858), for ser- vices during the seige of Delhi. For two whole days (letter 28 March) the gallant 2nd Punjab Infantry had to hold a garden, the walls of which were all down, exposed to a heavy fire of the enemy's artillery and musketry. You may imagine that we had no easy time of it when I tell you that I lost upwards of 20 men killed and wounded there without the satisfaction of kill- ing any of the enemy, who took care to keep well behind the walls." Three months ago, the regi- ment had lost upwards of 250 killed and wounded since they first came down to Delhi." The total loss of he regiment in taking Lucknow was 1 officer and 10 'men killed and 1 officer and 29 men wounded. The two Queen's Corps bri- gaded with them (each of which had more than double the strength of the 2nd Punjab), had not 30 casualties Detween them. Major Green's name was "honourably mentioned by Sir James Ontram, Sir H .pe Grant, and Sir Colin Campbell. For his services at the relief of Lucknow, he received the rank of Lieut.-Colonel by Brevet (March 24). We have no space to follow him and his regi- ment through the campaign in Rohilcund, the re- capture of Bareilly, and the homeward march to the Punjab. In September, 1858, Lieut.-Col. Green went home on medical certificate. He received an ovation in Carmarthenshire as one who sustained the character of Picton, Nott," and other Carmarthenshire heroes, having been made C.B. in July, for his services at the siege and capture of Lueknow In his regimental order, on leaving for England, he had recorded to his good fortune in being at the head of such officers and men, he is indebted for all the honours that have been showered upon him." In 1859, Col. Green married Ellen, daughter of W. Carter, Esq., of Troy, in Jamaica, and re sumed command of his old regiment in India, in March, 1860. He proceeded in April, under Chamberlain, against the Wuziri Tribe, and was in action again at the Burram Pass on the 4th of May. In 1866, Colonel Green officiated as Commandant of the Punjab Frontier Force, vice General Wilde on leave. In April of the follow- ing year, General Wilde presented the regiment with new colours, who wrote in his memorandum on the occasion to Colonel Green, Tell your Native Officers and men that the service per- formed by them under your command, both on this frontier and in Hindostan, are well known and highly estimated by the Government of India." He finally retired from the service in June, 1879 with the honoraiy rank of General, having been made Major-General in March, 1869, and Lieutenant-General in October, 1877. He was promoted to K.C.B. in June, 1877, ten years after he left India, and for 24 years his services have been lost to his country. During this period, he lived in retirement, regretting his enforced inactivity. In March, 1885, he read a paper before the Royal United Service Institution, on the Organisation and employment of Camel Corps in warfare." Lord Napier, of Magdala, was in the chair, who said in returning thanks, that "he well remembered their gallant friend General Green coming up to the relief of Lucknow, with his regiment of Punjabees, and how admirably he and his regi- ment had behaved." The only other occasion when his name came before the public was, when he wrote on behalf of Sir Frederick Roberts, his generous and forcible letter to the Times, concerning the planting of the Queen's colours by Roberts, on the roof of the palace at Luck- now. A valued testimony to General Green's character and ability has been written to his widow, since his death on November 27th, at Bedford Lodge, Cheltenham, by an old comrade- in-arms, who now occupies a very important post in this country—" I knew him better than many, a id always honoured and admired him, not merely for his soldierly qualities, which everyone knew of, but fur the simple, honourable, and kindly gentleman he was." Sir George Green was churchwarden at St. Luke's, Cheltenham, and treasurer of St Luke's school for six years. For the last two years of his life he was president of the Crescent Club. His funeral was attended by a large number of his brother officers and friends. One of the most grateful and appropriate tributes to his memory was alaurel wreath, which was sent by his friend, Mr F. Fitzgerald, brother of the Commandant of the Scinde Camel Corps. The wreath was lowered into the grave on the foot of the coffin.

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