FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103  
104   105   106   107   >>  
ections, however, had orders to remain at their posts. November 4th brought the further news of an armistice with Austria, and early the following day Indian prisoners, released by the Turks, began to return to us through our outpost line. It was at this time that Major Davies, our O.C. (who had not been well since leaving the Jordan Valley, and for some time past had only been able to keep out of hospital by dint of great strength of mind and powers of endurance, in spite of the advice of his own, and medical, officers), was at last sent to the hospital in Aleppo, which had been established by the 14th C.F.A. He had only been there a few days, however, when, to the grief of all, he passed away in the clutches of that dread disease, malignant malaria. He was buried in the Aleppo Protestant Cemetery on November 11th 1918, in the presence of the Divisional Commander, the Brigade Commander, the C.O.'s of all the units in the Brigades, and many members of his Squadron, all of whom felt how regrettable it was that he had not been spared to hear THE GREAT NEWS which we all then felt was so close at hand, and towards the obtaining of which he had, ever since the outbreak of the War, contributed so much energy and ability. The "H.A.C." kindly provided us with a gun-carriage upon which to convey him to his resting place, and Capt. Powell, C.F., the Brigade Chaplain, officiated. NEARING THE END. As those who had been present at the ceremony were waiting for the motor lorries to take them back to Muslimie the momentous news was received that _an armistice had been signed with Germany!_ It was universally felt to be a sad coincidence that he who had come through the war from start to finish should thus have been laid low at the very end of his labours. That Major St. John Davies, M.C., was undoubtedly a great leader and very considerate of his men's welfare, was universally known. There can be no doubt that he would have had a successful career, had he been spared, in any profession he might have chosen. Malaria was taking its toll, and a few days later Signaller Boak, who had been the Squadron's Brigade Orderly throughout the last operations, fell another victim to its clutches. He was buried in the Military Cemetery, Aleppo, a number of his comrades being present at the graveside. AFTER THE ARMISTICE. Capt. R.H. Fairbairns, M.C., now took command, with Lieut. A.O.W. Kindell as Second-in-Command. The strength o
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103  
104   105   106   107   >>  



Top keywords:

Brigade

 

Aleppo

 

hospital

 

strength

 

Cemetery

 

universally

 
present
 

buried

 
clutches
 
Commander

Squadron

 
spared
 
armistice
 

Davies

 
November
 

finish

 
considerate
 

leader

 
undoubtedly
 

remain


orders

 
labours
 

lorries

 

waiting

 

ceremony

 

Muslimie

 

coincidence

 

Germany

 

momentous

 

received


signed

 

graveside

 

ARMISTICE

 
comrades
 
victim
 

Military

 

number

 

Fairbairns

 

Second

 

Command


Kindell

 

command

 
operations
 

successful

 
career
 
profession
 

NEARING

 
chosen
 
Signaller
 

Orderly