THE RECORD OF THE GOUGH&
[To TIM BOMB or MP “Siscrxrea.°1 Sza,—The name of General H. Gough, commanding the Cavalry Brigade at the Curragh, has appeared in the papers during the past few days. As I know something of them, let me tell the public who these Coughs are. A precious bad lot, will perhaps say the Radicals. Others may have a different opinion of these Coughs as soldiers, as gentlemen, and patriots. Well, those I mention are all of the family of one Field-Marshal Lord Gough, a noted soldier of a former generation. Of his family, cousins I think, were General Sir John Gough and George Gough, one of the few of the family who was not a soldier, but whose descendants have nobly atoned for his guilt in this respect. Of Sir john Gough's family will be found General Hugh Sutlej Gough, 0.11, and Colonel Alan Gough, D.S.O. The Army List contains a full record of the distinguished military service of these two officers. George Gough's sone and grandsons have removed any reproach to their ancestor's memory of his not having been a soldier. As a fact, I believe that, poor fellow, he had, to his regret, no choice. But he put his two sons into the Army. The elder was General Sir Charles Gough, V.C., G.C.B.; the other, General Sir Hugh Gough, V.C., G.C.B. Both of these most distinguished soldiers have died within the past few years only, and their Army record is well known. Old George, the Indian civilian (be is said to have ridden to hounds at ninety), might well have been proud of his eons. Both with the Victoria Cross and the Grand Cross of the Bath 1 The Sartorius family have run them close. But let us come to the next generation. The eldest son of Sir Charles Gough is this Curragh General. Ask those who were in South Africa with him of his work there. Besides this, he has a splendid military record, or, ae a comparatively young officer—he is hardly more than forty—he would not have been selected for the command of a crack cavalry brigade. His younger brother, again, Brigadier-General John Gough, V.C., has, like his father, won the Victoria Cross, is an Aide-de- Camp to the King, has been a Professor at the Staff College, and, like all the members of the family, has the tithed character among officers and men. Of such are these Gough& Will they run straight P To these Radicals the presence of such men in the Army, with a strong backing, must indeed be a terror. And undoubtedly some measures will have to be taken to discredit and to ruin them, together with other good men true to their principles. But should the day of trouble come from abroad, will they not be missed P—I am, Sir, Sco.,
Owns.
Previous page
