I was the third senior officer in France; what must have been the fate of many junior to me? Had Lord Kitchener lived, I think I may safely say I should not have been cast on the scrap-heap; with his death vanished the last hope of re-employment in the war, and what other employment was worth having? I have a sufficient sense of discipline to refrain from further probing this story. I am still on the “Active List” of the Army and it is my duty to hold my peace; but I retain the right to tell my own tale when I am no longer employed, and I shall then do so. Even had I been totally deficient in “initiative and tactical skill,” there are ways of doing things. I had during my thirty-seven years’ soldiering served in fourteen campaigns; had received the Freedom of the City of London and a sword of honour, and the unique distinction of being mentioned by name in King Edward’s first Speech from the Throne. Had I not the right to expect ordinary courtesy?—but I belonged to the Indian Corps!—that explains much. The story of my own share in the work of the Corps in France is finished. I have endeavoured faithfully to record, to the best of my ability, the brave doings of brave men, British and Indian. I have tried to repay in some small measure the heavy debt I owe to them, but especially to the soldiers of India, my faithful friends and comrades in many campaigns, through whose loyalty, courage, and devotion I have risen from Subaltern to General. The memories of the long years spent in India are, at least, a possession of which I cannot be deprived. Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes angulus ridet. The following numbers of casualties, up to within a week of the date I left France, will give some idea of the part played by the Army Corps in the fighting and of the debt which England owes to her own sons and brothers from overseas; but still more to those chivalrous men, Mahomedans and Hindus, for they came from a sense of loyalty to their King-Emperor alone, although they had no personal bias in the quarrel, except to uphold Great Britain’s righteous cause. British officers 850 „ other ranks 10,300 Indian officers 420 „ other ranks 17,230 —————— Total 28,800 CHAPTER XXIV