Girgeh,
February 12th, 1891.
Our plans are suddenly all altered. Powney has received a telegram offering him a staff appointment in India, so he will not be able to visit Luxor, but must return to London at once. As I do not care about going alone, I have decided to come home with him. Fortunately we found a steamer, an extra one, leaving for Assiout to-day, so we hurriedly packed up, and here we are in the river. We shall catch a steamer leaving Ismailia on the 7th, arriving in London on February 23rd.
Extracts from “The Brigade of Guards’ Magazine,”
August 1891.
BRIGADE INTELLIGENCE.
The photograph we publish this month is that of Lieutenant H. E. Pretyman, late Grenadier Guards, whose death at Windsor, on 19th July, we all most sincerely deplore. Lieutenant Pretyman was the second son of the Rev. Fred. Pretyman, Rector of Great Carlton and Canon of Lincoln Cathedral. He joined the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards in March, 1885, awaiting the return of the 3rd Battalion from the Soudan, to which battalion he had been posted. His zealous attention and active performance of his duties soon attracted attention, while his Company highly appreciated his tact and good temper. A keen sportsman, he had journeyed during his leave to Lapland, in the north, and south to Egypt, in search of game. Unfortunately in 1889 he had a severe attack of typhoid fever, and since then of jaundice; and it is much feared that he had not completely recovered when he accepted the post of Camp Adjutant at Bisley, under Colonel Ricardo. He arrived at Bisley, on Thursday, 9th July, and although complaining of a slight cold it was not until Wednesday, 15th, that his temperature began to rise, and it was deemed advisable that he should give up his duties. Dr. Campbell lent him his house at Windsor, and there he was attended by Dr. Ellison, with whom Mr. Edgcombe Venning was associated in consultation, but all efforts failed, and he died on Sunday, 19th July. The cortège to Windsor Station was attended by nearly all the officers of the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards quartered there; while at the funeral, at his home in Lincolnshire, his Company and all the officers of the Battalion were present. Wreaths were sent from many friends, as well as the Officers and the Sergeants of his Battalion, and the Officers of the Coldstream and Scots Guards, by all of whom his early death is most deeply regretted.