Lieutenant General Sir DAVID HENDERSON K.C.B., K. C. V. O., D.S.O., Colonel Highland Light Infantry, Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalum, Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, of the Crown of Belgium, of the Sacred Treasure of Japon, of the White Eagle of Russia, and of the Crown of Italy. Born August 11, 1862, entered Army 1883, Captain 1800, served Soudan 1898 (despatches, Brevet Major and Khedive's medals with clasps), South-Africa 1899-1900 (wounded, despatches twice, D. S. O., Brevet Lt. Colonel, Queen's and King's medals, four clasps), Director Military Training 1912, European War 1914-1917 (Major General and Lieutenant General) Director General Military Aeronautics, Member Army Council, Military Counsellor Paris 1918, Director General League of Red Cross Societies 1919. Died: August 17, 1921. LIEUTENANT GENERAL SIR DAVID HENDERSON. TH HROUGH all his military career he was universally beloved, and the charm and candour of his disposition prevented any envy of his advancement. Personal ambition was unknown to him he worked for the cause he served and accepted promotion without seeking it. He showed brilliance, caution and courage in South Africa, and a few years later came to him the scientific inspiration based on military knowledge, which later was to be the driving force of the Royal Flying Corps. Military aviation that brave and reckless, yet calmly scientific and almost impersonal form of struggle, which is so little bound up with the violent and personal hatred associated with much of the machinery of war was a fitting subject for his organising genius, through the first years of the war. Throughout his life he was conspicuous for his unselfishness and high courage, as well as for the gentleness and justice, which are the attributes of moral strength. On the conclusion of the European war, this brave and gentle spirit, who had devoted the greater part of his life to the defence of his country, threw himself with enthusiasm and conviction into the development of the Red Cross in peace for the health and well being of the world. Though his health showed, even in 1919, slight signs of failing, he displayed a fine energy and a shining enthusiasm in the work of the League of Red Cross Societies, of which he was the first Director General. The clear sincerity and justice and the finely balanced judgment, of which he gave proof in his work, have been an inspiration to the whole staff of the League and a powerful factor in the new conception of the Red Cross as an emblem of charity and brotherly helpfulness in the struggle against disease and distress. His thought and the manner of its expression were of an equal clearness and decision. The great responsibility, which was his through many years of his life, he bore not lightly, but with the never failing support of his clear and sane intelligence and above all of his infinite faith in the power of good. Justice, Faith and Mercy were the three beacons which lit his strenuous life. RED CROSS APPEAL FOR PEACE. Following a resolution voted by the Xth International Conference of the Red Cross, which met in Geneva on April 1, 1921, this appeal was issued on July 19, 1921, by the Joint Council of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies: N virtue of a higher law and duty, and of principles above the level of human passions, the helping hand of the Red Cross was stretched forth to all victims throughout the ordeal of the Great War. To-day, the Red Cross owes it to all its many workers to proclaim, as an ideal and a practical intention, a struggle against the horrors of war, an attempt by world-wide help and unselfishness definitely to abolish war. The mere continuation of Red Cross activity in time of peace will no longer suffice. It is the wish of the Red Cross to work in the interest of peace. Therefore, the Red Cross calls upon all whole-hearted citizens, irrespective of nationality, religious belief, profession, or social rank, to join, as far as lies in their power in a systematic campaign against that spirit of war, which is a constant menace to the world's peace. During five years, millions of men were killed or mutilated. Today, thousands of ex-soldiers or prisoners at last set free bear indelible marks of bodily and mental suffering. All of them believed that the generations to come would reap the fruits of the great ordeal in a new international life, which would be more brotherly, franker and more full. Instead, disorder and uncertainty, distrust and greed, hatred and the thread of fresh quarrels are re-appearing throughout the world. The spirit of war, unconquered, reigns supreme. Its sinister influence is evident. It inspires lines of policy and press campaigns, which lead public opinion astray and embitters the economic competition among nations. During the terrible years of the recent war, superhuman efforts were required of the different nations. In order to inspire such sacrifices, a supreme reward was promised, namely, the annihilation of this same spirit of war, which is a peril as old as the world and a constant menace to mankind. Thus generations yet unborn would have been delivered from the scourge at the price of the suffering which the war entailed. This hope sustained nations and armies. Have they hoped in vain? Have millions of human lives and the wealth of nations been sacrificed in vain? Faced with these questions, the Red Cross recognised a duty. Red Cross, the tenth International Red Cross Conference, which met at Geneva on April 1st, 1921, voted the following resolution: "The International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies shall address an appeal to all nations, exhorting them to combat the spirit of war, which dominates the world. These two organisations call therefore on nations and individuals to fight with all means in their power this maleficent spirit. May statesmen, writers, school and university, capital and labour remember that it is their duty, in the interest of mankind, to help peace to conquer the earth. Above all, children should be brought up in this fundamental belief. It is essential that the human mind should once more be open to the broad lines of an internationalism, which, while allowing the citizen to love his town and the patriot his country, teaches all men to respect the existence and the rights of their fellows, by bringing into the daily life the individual light of a justice, which is to be in all the world for all the time. This true internationalism cannot be attained without the active and intimate cooperation of governments, parliaments, voluntary organisations, the press, the clergy, and above all, national Red Cross Societies. To the union of these forces must be added a supreme factor: the power of individual conviction. Every man, as far as lies in his power, must contribute to make peace permanent in the world. The individual must no longer see the world in the light of his own selfishness, anger, fear, and human passion, but in a spirit of concord and mutual aid. Thus only can a better future be prepared. Faithful to the ideal which inspired its founders, and which it has ever served, the Red Cross hereby declares before the whole world, that its work does not end with war. The Red Cross appeals to the heart of all mankind, that each individual may find in himself the needful strength and determination to make and keep universal peace. Gustave ADOR, For the Joint Council President of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Claude H. A. HILL, Acting Director General, League of Red Cross Societies. TO HELP RUSSIA. (International Geneva Conference, August 15-16, 1921) THE HE Joint Council of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies, in view of the disaster threatening Russia as a result of the famine and epidemics, has issued the following appeal: "Owing to the distress of the Russian people and the famine which threatens them, the Joint Council of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies, which has received several appeals for intervention, particularly from the Government of Czecho-Slovakia, proposes that the various Governments, the League of Nations and all philanthropic institutions should organise an international relief association with the object of centralising both the distribution of food supplies in Russia on behalf of the Governments and the activities of the various voluntary relief societies. The Joint Council, which fully appreciates the action already taken by Dr. Nansen, by Mr. Hoover in the United States, and by the Commission des Crédits" towards obtaining the assistance of various Governments, is convinced that only a powerful international organisation, recognised by Governments and especially by the Soviet Government, will be in a position to direct relief work, to coordinate the efforts of relief societies, to collect funds and to supervise the distribution of supplies in Russia. The Joint Council has, therefore, called on the representatives of all European and American bodies interested in the question of Russian relief to meet in Geneva on August 15, in order to discuss the organisation of an international relief association. The Council hopes by this means to provide a neutral ground for discussing eventual action to Governments who desire to cooperate in a great international work for the relief of Russia, and who are willing to send delegates. The International Committee of the Red Cross and the League of Red Cross Societies will make every effort to facilitate the work of this international association by sending out delegates, by the technical organisation of child welfare work, by carrying on the fight against diseases and epidemics, and by appealing to all the national Red Cross Societies for their active collaboration in this undertaking." Geneva, August 4, 1921. On behalf of the Joint Council: Gustave ADOR, Chairman of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Claude H. A. HILL, Acting Director General of the League of Red Cross Societies. |