of mourning.

SIR W. PENN SYMONS--GLENCOE

By the death of Major-General Sir William Penn Symons, the British army
lost a brilliant and distinguished soldier, and a man of great valour
and courage. He came of a Cornish family, the founder of which was a
Norman knight who came over with William the Conqueror. The eldest son
of the late William Symons, Recorder of Saltash, he was born in 1843,
and in 1863 joined the South Wales Borderers--the old 24th Regiment. He
became lieutenant in 1866, captain in 1878, major in 1881,
lieutenant-colonel in 1886, and colonel in 1887.

His first experience of active service was in 1877, when the Borderers
took the field against the Galekas. In the Zulu War of 1879 he served
with distinction, but was not present at the battle of Isandlwana, being
away from his regiment on special duty. In 1885 he served as
Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant and Quarter-Master-General, organising and
commanding the Mounted Infantry in the Burmese Expedition. Being
honourably mentioned in dispatches for his services with the Chin Field
Force, he received a brevet-colonelcy. In 1889-90 he was given a brigade
in the Chin-Lusha Expedition, was again mentioned in despatches, made a
C.B., and received the thanks of the Government of India. He commanded a
brigade of the Waziristan Field Force in 1894-95 with like distinction,
but he will best be remembered in connection with the campaign on the
North-West Frontier of India in 1897-98, after which he was made a
K.C.B. In 1898 he gave up his appointment in India and took command of
the British troops in Natal.

He was one of the best shots in the army, his military hobby in fact
being musketry, though he was also a great authority on the subject of
mounted infantry. He was a keen sportsman, an excellent linguist. He was
highly respected by all who knew him. As an evidence of how he was
regarded by his brother officers, one may quote from the telegram which
was sent from Sir G. White to the War Office on the morrow of the battle
of Glencoe. The communication said: "The important success is due to his
great courage, fine generalship, and gallant example, and the confidence
he gave to the troops under him."

Mr. Winston Spencer Churchill's remarks about him, in a letter to the
_Morning Post_, show how fully he was appreciated for his social as well
as for his military qualities.

"So Sir Penn Symons is killed! Well, no one would have laid down h