Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880Brooke, Henry Francis
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Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke: Late Brigadier-General Commanding 2nd Infantry Brigade, Kandahar Field Force, Southern Afghanistan, from April 22nd to August 16th, 1880
Brooke, Henry Francis
Afghan Wars; Brooke, Henry Francis, 1836-1880
The North of Ireland lost another fine fellow in Brownlow of the 72nd
Highlanders. He and your brother HENRY were perhaps the two men most
highly thought of in the armies occupying Afghanistan.
* * * * *
From Sir G. K.
St. Stephen's Club, London,
27th August.
... I am so grieved to see the telegram announcing General BROOKE's
death, and heartily sympathize with his Widow. He was the ruling
spirit of the Kandahar Force, and has died a soldier's death, and left
an honored name.
* * * * *
From Col. M.
St. James' Square, London,
2nd September, 1880.
Your Husband died nobly in the gallant attempt to save another life:
all honor, therefore, to his memory for so generously giving his own,
though it was given in vain. By his death the Kandahar Garrison were
deprived of their ablest leader, and the Bombay Army has lost an
Adjutant-General whose place will not be easily filled. Personally I
shall ever remember his kindness to me while I had the pleasure to be
associated with him on the Bombay Staff.
* * * * *
From Lt.-Colonel White, V.C., C.B., 92nd Highlanders.
Government House,
20th December, 1880.
My dear Mrs. Brooke,
... I was but a very few days at Kandahar, but in those few days I
heard enough to know what a name the General had left behind him.
Everyone I spoke to about him said, "that he had been so looked up to
and respected, that he had a cheery word and a look of confidence for
all his comrades throughout the investment," and at a time, when, I am
sorry to say, men of his stamp were badly wanted....
His heroic death speaks for itself; ... and every officer I spoke to
about him in Kandahar was as much impressed by his tender devotion to
others, as by the contempt for personal danger which he had invariably
shown....
I feel how inadequate anything I can write must appear to you, but it
may be gratifying to you to hear that at Bombay the most universal
regret was expressed to me for General BROOKE, who was known to
everybody there, and the deepest sympathy with you. Lord Ripon was
only too glad to do all in his power to carry out your wishes.
* * * * *
From Colonel Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., R.E.
Bath, 23rd January, 1881.
My dear Mrs. Brooke,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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