Lord Kitchener of Khartoum (1850-1916)

A silver-plated strut frame containing a photograph of Horatio Herbert Kitchener, first Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and of Broome. Lord Kitchener rose to the rank of Field Marshal during a life of extensive and unusual service as a soldier and administrator. This began when he entered the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich in 1868; three years later, he gained a commission in the Royal Engineers, which was to take him to France, Palestine, Egypt and the Sudan, East Africa, South Africa, India and elsewhere. During the First World War, his inspiration and the poster bearing his portrait with the words 'Your Country needs you' encouraged thousands of men to volunteer for the Army. Kitchener was appointed A.D.C. to Queen Victoria in 1888, and his later responsibilities occasionally brought him into contact with the Queen. On 16 November 1896, she noted in her Journal that 'Sir Herbert Kitchener is a striking energetic looking man, with rather a firm expression, but very pleasing to talk to'. Kitchener was on friendly terms with other members of the Royal Family, particularly King George V and Queen Mary. At his death in June 1916 Queen Mary described his loss as 'a great blow & personal grief to us... We had seen much of him during the last 22 months, he was a real friend, like a rock & always straight & full of confidence'.