Biography of Allenby

[kildaremark]

Does anyone have the following biography of General Allenby

ALLENBY

A STUDY IN GREATNESS

THE BIOGRAPHY OF FIELD-MARSHAL VISCOUNT ALLENBY

OF MEGIDDO AND FELEKSTOWE G.C.B. G.C.M.G.

By

GENERAL

SIR ARCHIBALD WAVELL

K.C.B. C.M.G. M.C. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MIDDLE EAST

NEW YORK

Oxford University Press

1941

In relation to his time on the Curragh, what does it say about his house "Simla". My father was born in this house.

Thanks

Mark

[Philip Wilson]

Does anyone have the following biography of General Allenby

ALLENBY

A STUDY IN GREATNESS

THE BIOGRAPHY OF FIELD-MARSHAL VISCOUNT ALLENBY

OF MEGIDDO AND FELEKSTOWE G.C.B. G.C.M.G.

By

GENERAL

SIR ARCHIBALD WAVELL

K.C.B. C.M.G. M.C. COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF MIDDLE EAST

NEW YORK

Oxford University Press

1941

In relation to his time on the Curragh, what does it say about his house "Simla". My father was born in this house.

Thanks

Mark

Mark

Yes - In March 1898 Allenby took up the post of Brigade-Major (or Adjutant as it was then termed) to the 3rd Cavalry Brigade in Ireland, at the Curragh. Lord Downe from the 10th Hussars was the Brigade Commander.

Here is the reference to the house on page 65 of the above biography:

'Ireland was in those days a highly popular station for the sporting soldier. Hunting was good and cheap, and there was plenty of fishing and rough shooting to be had. The Allenby's hunted, fished, and cultivated their garden, which they made one of the best at the Curragh. In his letters home from South Africa Allenby remembers continually the garden at Simla, their house and laments its fate of neglect on their departure.'

There is no other reference to the house, nor are there any illustrations of it in the text.

John Vaughan on page 8 of his book 'Cavalry and Sporting Memories' writes he first met Allenby at Colesberg in 1899, South Africa,when he was commanding a Squadron of Inniskillings. Vaughan regarded Allenby as one of the really outstanding soldiers of the early 20th Century. Vaughan later commanded 3rd Cavalry Division during the Great War.

Vaughan has this to say of Allenby: The public think of Allenby in retrospect 'as the Bull,' a nickname probably given him because he was a big, heavy man of inflexible determination, who knew his mind, but few realise that he was a skilled dry fisherman, a devoted bird lover and an expert botanist.

The edited Military Correspondence of Allenby during the Palestine Campaign makes no reference to Allenby's former home 'Simla,' in Ireland.

Whether any of the biographies or correspondence of Allenby's friends at the time make any reference to the house is something you may wish to explore.

Seasons Greetings

Philip

[kildaremark]

Thanks for putting that together Philip,

That confirms he lived at 'Simla' which is actually in Kildare town but on the edge of the Curragh. The house beside it is called 'Lucknow'.

Thanks

Mark