[EARLE (Major-General William)] &
LUKS (William).
[Cabinet card portrait of "The Late Major-General Earle".]
[EARLE (Major-General William)] &
LUKS (William).
[Cabinet card portrait of "The Late Major-General Earle".]
Despite being commander of the Alexandria garrison, William Earle (1833- 1885) was underestimated by his friend, Wolseley, and the commander of the Egyptian army, Evelyn Wood. Earle soon proved his worth with Wolseley com- menting that he was “the most businesslike & reliable man I have on the Line of Commns.—I wish he had been at its head instead of dear puzzle-headed Evelyn Wood” (Preston).
He was rewarded with command of the Nile column and, despite being tasked with a punitive detour to avenge the killings of Colonel J.D.H. Stewart and Frank Power, reached Khartoum earlier than expected. At Kirbekan on 10 February, 1885, Earle led a successful attack against a large group of Mahdists. At the very last of the action, he was shot and killed.
Preston, A., ed., In relief of Gordon: Lord Wolseley’s campaign journal of the Khartoum relief expedition, 1884-1885 (London, 1967), p.85.
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