Lord Roberts died the best death that could have been hoped for him.
He died in the field, within the sound of the guns, doing his duty for
his Country even at the age eighty-two.
It was very many years ago that I first got to know him. It was at
Simla, in India. I had just joined the Army, and was enjoying myself
in all the glory of my new uniform at a ball. I had gone to the
refreshment-room to get something for my partner, but I could not make
the native waiter understand what I wanted, as I had not at that time
learnt any Hindustani.
A very small but very polite officer alongside me kindly explained to
the servant what I wanted. Then he said to me that if I wanted to
enjoy India I ought to learn the language as soon as possible. I
should get much more fun out of the country if I could talk to the
natives. And he asked me my name and where I was staying.
After thanking him, I thought no more about the matter till next day,
when there arrived at my house a native teacher of Languages, who said
that Sir Frederick Roberts had sent him to give me some lessons!
Thus, like everybody else, I began my acquaintance with him by
heartily liking him. He had gone out of his way to do a kindness to a
young officer of whom he knew nothing. But that was just like him--it
was his way.
I need not tell you about his early career in the Army. Probably every
Scout knows how, in the Mutiny in India in 1858, Lieutenant Roberts
won the Victoria Cross. He had charged with the cavalry, and had
followed the flying mutineers, when he saw one of them attacking a
loyal native cavalryman.
Roberts at once dashed to his rescue and cut down the Sepoy. As he did
so, he saw two more Sepoys making off with a regimental flag; so he
pushed on after them, although single-handed and alone. He seized the
Standard and cut down the man who held it. The other man aimed his
rifle at him, close against him, and pulled the trigger but the gun
failed to go off, and the man turned and fled for his life.
In 1880 Lord Roberts made his famous march in Afghanistan, from Kabul
to relieve Kandahar, which was besieged by the Afghans. He took ten
thousand men and marched the 320 miles in twenty-two days, which was a
splendid performance in that difficult, mountainous desert. He arrived
in time to relieve Kandahar and to inflict a very heavy defeat on the
Afghans. For his splendid victory here he received the title of Lord
Roberts "of Kandahar."
In 1900 he was Commander-in-Chief of the British forces in the Boer
war in South Africa. Here again he displayed his self-sacrifice and
determination.
His winning of the Victoria Cross had showed that, though a very small
man--he was very nearly rejected from the Army because he was so
small--he had great pluck. And he also had a great heart.
His pluck and self-control were perhaps better proved by his bracing
himself up to send men to their death in battle when he loved them and
would gladly have saved them if duty and the good of the Country were
not at stake. And it was in South Africa that he met with the sorrow
of his life, when his only son was killed in trying to save the guns
at the battle of Colenso.
For his gallantry on this occasion young Roberts was awarded the
Victoria Cross, although he was dead. It is seldom that the Victoria
Cross has been won by both father and son.
In South Africa Lord Roberts again did me a kind act by riding out
many miles to meet me on my coming into Pretoria after the siege of
Mafeking.
On his return to England after that war, Lord Roberts became
Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.
When the Boy Scout movement began, he took the greatest interest in
it, because he was always fond, of boys and knew how useful to the
Country they might be if only they were trained to it.
So he came on the Council of the Scouts' Headquarters, and he reviewed
the Scouts at a big Empire Day parade in Hyde Park.
When I went to stay with him, he talked of little else but the Scouts;
and the Scouts at Ascot, who were raised and organised by his
daughter, Lady Aileen Roberts, miss their great friend.
The Ascot Scouts formed part of the Guard of Honour which escorted his
body through that place on its way to burial in London. At St. Paul's
Cathedral I was glad to see also a Guard of Honour of Scouts, who had
come to pay their last respects to our national hero.
Lord Roberts was a splendid example for any boy to follow, because he
rose from small beginnings to the highest position in the Army and,
what is more, to the highest position in the admiration and affection
of all his fellow-subjects of the King, whether they were white or
coloured. And he did it all by his own merit, though he was not
extraordinarily brilliant or clever as a lad.
How did he manage it?
I think it was largely because he was a true Scout in every sense of
the word. The things which brought him success were:
His pluck in facing every kind of difficulty or danger with cheery
hopefulness.
His eagerness to work hard and to do his duty regardless of whether it
was what he liked or wanted to do. His honesty and straightforwardness,
which made everybody trust and believe in him.
His humility, by which he put himself on equal terms with everybody;
he had no kind of "swank" or pride, in spite of his brilliant
successes.
His kind-heartedness and thoughtfulness for others, especially those
at the bottom of the ladder. And that was one of the secrets of his
success--those working under his orders worked like slaves for him
because they loved him.
His simple faith in God, which led him true and straight through every
difficulty.
Well, when you come to look into it, you will see that by doing these
things in his daily life Lord Roberts was exactly carrying out the
Scout Law. It is what you as a Scout are already aiming to do.
So, now that you have his great example before you, all you have to do
is to go ahead and stick to it, with all the greater determination
that you will make yourself, like Lord Roberts, a cheery, brave fellow
and a valuable man for your Country.