Royal Military College of Canada - Review Yearbook (Kingston, Ontario Canada)

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1961 195 explored every possible source of revenue with the result that before his retirement in 1912 he had been able to present balanced budgets, abolish the- grants-in-aid and to adjust the Protectorate's finances so that the Imperial Treasury was eliminated as a controlling factor. This was a great achievement, and the way in which he carried out his investi- gations and the remarkable quickness with which he appreciated the position and spotted where economies could be effected without loss of efficiency was a constant source of admiration to myself and my staff .... Socially he was a delightful host with a keen sense of humour. He was deeply interested in the social life of the Protectorate and took part in many forms of sport. Apparently, he gave a trophy to be competed for in Soccer football and the C'iroua:rd Cupv is probably still a feature of that game in Kenya to-day. Retirement and Epilogue By this time Cirouard had served in the North, the South, the West and the East of what was then known as the Dark Continentii. His wisdom and foresight in the handling of problems there are evident in this .statement of his quoted only last year in an American maga21ine': If we allow the tribal authority to be ignored or broken, it will mean that we . . . shall be obliged to deal with a rabble, with thousands of persons in a savage or semisavage state, all acting on their own impulses and making themselves a danger to society generally. It was the purpose of these notes to trace only the career of this distinguished Canadian up to the date of his retirement fom the Army. This coincided with his resignation as Governor in East Africa in july 1912. At that time Lady Girouard was prevented from spending much time at Covernment House in Nairobi due to her health. There was also the schooling of his son' to consider. Moreover, in spite of his own vitality and his disregard of the African climate, the latter had not disregarded him. In due course, he retired into private life and spent the rest of his years in England. He died in London on September 26, 1932 at the age of 65. For many years Sir Percy had been the senior Knight Commander of his Order, having been knighted at ia relatively ea-rly age. Soon after he died a simple ceremony was held at St. Paul's Cathedral in the Chapel of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. Georgev at which a plaque to his memory was unveiled. This is the story of a man who left behind him a record in the Public Service which it is hard to equal. It is a record that can scarcely fail to be a matter of pride and inspiration to Canadians and to ex-cadets of the Royal Military College, no matter where they find themselves in the world today. 'The Hopeful Launching of a Proud and Free Nigeria . Life, September 26, 1960. Richard Desire, an only son, survives in England.

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I94 R.M.C. Review lose, he would not call it loyalty, for that was not a word which was applicable to the case. but the affection which we ought certainly to gain. Undoubtedly, Churchill must be credited for his astuteness in selecting the right man for what he saw was an important post. It is evident, however, that it was not only as an engineer but also as an ambassador of goodwill that Sir Percy justified the conHden-ce placed in him. British East Africa C1909-123 One must turn again to the pages of history to fully appreciate Sir Percy's contributions in British East Africa. From Sir Iames Hayes Sadler he took over the appointment of Governor and Commander-in-Chief, East Africa Protec- toratev in 1909. Later known as Kenya, it had been transferred from the Foreign to the Golonial Office in 1905. At that time the influx of whites and also Indians had reached such propor- tions that serious troubles had arisen between them and the natives, which the administration was called upon to settle. As an authority puts it: Sir Percy Girouard C1909-123 achieved the somewhat difficult task of working harmoniously with the settlers whose grievances then were chiefly over the delay in getting land grants, but who were already beginning to claim a share in the Govern- ment. Somewhat more forthright is the following account from a book by Lord Granworth, Profit and Sport in British East Africa, speaking of Sir Percy Girouard, he says: His wide sympathy, broad views and courageous policy cut many of the bonds which had bade fair to strangle the country at its birth, and she was started in a career of prosperity from which she is never likely to look back. During his reign the views of all classes received careful considleration, com- munications were improved, labour was ,provided in quality and quantity to the satisfaction of white and native alike, and the previous attitude of entire subservience to the Colonial Office received a considerable check. Sir Percy Girouard left a name which grows increasingly bright as time goes ong and many of those who did not always see eye to eye with his policy have found that time and reiiection prove that they themselves were in the wr-ong. To form some idea of the problems with which he was faced one should read White Man's Country - Lord Delamere and the Making of Kenyan by Huxley U935, Macmillanl. Of the many testimonials which were published when he relinquished his apointment, only the following from Pritchard's Memoir', is reproduced here, these are the words of the Treasurer in his Government who later became a distingushed Governor himself: Sir Percy speedily realized the importance of getting away from Imperial 'Treasury control'. When he took over the Government the budget was balanced by means of a grant-in-aid from Imperial funds, and because of this the Imperial Treasury insisted on maintaining the closest supervision over the finances of the Protectorate. The annual estimates had to be approved in detail by the Imperial Treasury as well as by the Colonial Office. no new appointment or revision of salaries were possible without Treasury consent, and this all meant vexatious delay in getting anything done which involved the spending of any sum of money however small. Sir Percy overhauled the estimates of each Department in the minutest detail and 'Em-yr-loymeflaia Britamiirfa, 1950, Vol. 13. D. 334.

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196 R.M.C. Review CLASS MEMORIALS The practice begun a few years ago of Classes on the occasion of their Reunion present- ing memorials to the College has resulted in the gift of three handsome paintings, a memorial plaque and a carved oak lectern. The presentation of the meimorials of the Classes of 1929, 1934, and 1939 were recorded. in the 1960 Review. The following are the recents gifts:- Class of 1910-13 Through the efforts of 870, Major Eric Greenwood, who was the Staff-Adjutant at the College from 1919 to 1924, the Class of 1910 presented to the College on Sunday, 2 October, 1961, an oil painting of Colonel E. O. Hewitt, C.M.C., the first Commandant of the College. The portrait was presented byi Major Greenwood before a gathering of the Class in a short but im- pressive ceremony, and was accepted, by the Commandan-t, No. 2265, Brigadier W. A. B. Anderson, O.B.E., C.D., A.D.C. The portrait was unveiled by Mrs. C. F. Con- stantine, the wife of the late No. 621, Major-Gene-ral C. F. Constantine, C.B., D.S.O., a former Commandant. The painting is the Work of Mr. Rudolf Csjeres, a Hungarian artist, who came to Kingston to exfrniri-e photographs, uniforms and decorations and' whatever material was available to enable him to give accuracy to 1 his work. The portrait, with its memorial 1 plaque, now hangs in the new Senior Staff Mess and is a treasured addition to the College art collection. It is a fitting gift and does honour to the donors and to those members of the Class of 1910-13 for whom it is a memorial. Class of 1919 , In early May, 1960, the Class enter- 1 ing in 1919 presented a painting of Fort Frederick to the College. It is an excellent work by' the Canadian painter, B. VV. Pilot. The then Commandant, NO. 2184, Commodore D. W. Piers, D.S.C., C.D., B.C.N., accepted the gift on behalf of the College. The work of organization was done largely by No. 1495, C. Howard Cordon, Esq., of Montreal, who kept his Class informed of the project. The painting is a me-1n- orial of the Class of 1919-22 and 1919- 23. It is n-ow hung in- the new Senior Stafff Mess. The painting is a colourful view not only of Fort Frederick but of the Skyline of the- City of Kingston. Class of 1925 The Class of 1925 presented a handsome lectern to the College on the occasion of the Annual Meeting, 1 October, 1961, and was used for the first time at the meeting. It was presented by No. 1596, Lieutenant-General C. G. Simmonds, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., C.D., and accepted on behalf of the College by No. 2265, Brigadier W. A. B. Anderson, O.B.E., C.D., A.D.C. The lectern is a meimorial to No. 1606, F. T. McIntosh, who was killed in action in Italy in 1944, and to No. 1611, 1. F. Acer, who was killed in action in France in 1944.