Description
British Major-Genral and holder of the Victoria Cross.
ALS. 2pp (with integral blank leaf). 29 Bruton Street, W. July 15th 1893. To [William] Woodall. Together with a fine portrait PHOTOGRAPH.
"The Duke of Cambridge is dining with me on Monday the 24th at 8.15 p.m., it will be a great pleasure if you can come also. Parliamentary men I know want pairs and in case you should I may mention that I have asked Edward Saunderson."
8vo. Approx 7 x 4.5 inches. Mounting traces to verso of integral blank leaf, else fine. The photograph is a fine 19th century gelatin silver print measuring approx 6 x 4 inches (excluding mount), laid down on card. It shows Sir Redvers Buller in vignette head and shoulders, wearing full dress uniform and displaying his V.C. and other decorations. He gazes pugnaciously to his right - the very figure of a modern Major-Genral, as Gilbert & Sullivan would say. There are mounting traces to verso of mount but the photograph is in fine condition.
Both the letter and the photograph are from a 19th century collection made by the radical Liberal M.P., William Woodall. At the date of this letter Redvers Buller was Adjutant-General (having previously been Quartermaster-General) and Woodall was Financial Secretary to the War Office. Sir Redvers Buller was an exceptional soldier and had seen service in many foreign wars, such as the Zulu war, in which he won his Victoria Cross. He was chief of staff to Sir Evelyn Wood in the Boer War and was expected to succeed the Duke of Cambridge as Commander-in-Chief of the Army but lost out to Sir Garnet Wolseley when Lord Rosebery's government was defeated .
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