Assassination of Sir Lee Stack, Cairo, 9th November 1924

Lee Stack's assassination 1924 

• Name - Sir Lee Stack (1868-1924)
• Occupation - Governor-General of Sudan
• Assassins - 7 Egyptians, (all executed August 23rd 1925)
• Assassination Method - Shot at close range with revolvers
• Place of Death - Cairo, Egypt

THE MURDER OF SIR LEE STACK.ONE OF KITCHENER'S OFFICERS.

BRITISH CABINET ENQUIRY.

The wounds received by General Sir Lee Stack, Sirdar of Egypt, from the bullets of assassins, ended fatally on Thursday.

The Sirdar of Egypt (Major-General Sir Lee Oliver Fitzmaurice Stack) died tonight from the effects of the injuries he received when he was attacked by assassins on the previous day.
General Stack was born on May 15 1868, and was educated at Clifton School and Sandhurst Military College. He joined the Border Regiment in 1888 and became Attache to the Egyptian Army in 1899. In the same year he was Staff Officer to the Commander-in-Chief in Crete. He saw much war service in Egypt, and in 1917 was appointed Acting Governor of the Sudan and Sirdar of the Egyptian Army. Two years later he was made Governor-General of the Sudan.

LITTLE HOPE FROM THE FIRST.

Sir Lee Stack

The Sirdar began to lose ground in the afternoon of Thursday. There was a slight mprovement in his condition in the evening, but there was never much hope of his recovery. - Reuter.

LORD MILNER'S TRIBUTE.

Lord Milner, who is now visiting South Africa in an entirely private capacity, in an interview with the Cape "Argus," paid a high tribute to General Stack. He said:- "He was one of the last of the group of officers appointed by Earl Kitchener. In those days Egypt was well  governed. The people were content until the Nationalist agitation began."— Reuter.

COURAGEOUS OFFICIALS.

The Cairo correspondent of the "Morning Post" mentions that the chauffeur of Sir Lee Stack is Mr. March, an Australian. After the shooting he turned to the aide-de-camp, and exclaimed, "I am hit in the side." The aide-de-camp, who was also hit, replied "Carry on." Thereupon Mr. March rushed the car through the crowd, and so perhaps prevented the Sirdar being killed outright by the assassins.

FRED MARCH'S INSPIRING STORY.

The story of the bravery of the Sirdar's Australian chauffeur, Mr. Fred March is told by Lady Drummond Hay, the special correspondent of the "Daily Express" at Cairo. When she visited the Anglo-American hospital, where the Sirdar was lying, she says she followed a pleasant British nurse into a large bright room, furnished in English style, where she was introduced to Fred March, who was wounded, and who was lying in bed. He is a good-looking man, about 30 years old, with tanned skin and dark hair. In spite of his
wounds, he had cheerfully welcoming eyes. He said:- "I was born in Australia, of Australian parents. I have travelled all over America and Japan. I speak French and Arabic. I first came to Egypt in February, 1915, with the 7th Light Horse Brigade, and went through the battles of Gallipoli, Palestine, and Syria, until the
armistice." March continued:- "Since I have been in Egypt I have owned a garage, but it failed. Afterwards I undertook private work. The car used by the Sirdar is mine. I had just bought it. It has had a good
christening, you think? I hope the Government will repair it, aud will fill up the bullet holes with putty." Lady Drummontf Hay adds:—March, who is the acknowledged hero of Cairo, was apparently ignorant of the critical condition of the Sirdar, who was in the next room when he spoke.

THE TRAGEDY DESCRIBED.

Lady Drummond Hay cables:—March's story of the shooting is as follows:- "After leaving the War Office I was obliged to drive slowly when crossing the tramway lines. Suddenly I heard a report. I looked to the right and saw just alongside the car, three revolvers- pointed at me. there were five men, Effendis - you know the sort - standing right on the edge of the footpath. I immediately changed the gear, realising that to get away
quickly was the only hope of saving the party. I imagine that seven shots were fired at me, because seven empty cartridge cases were found at my place. They continued firing at the Sirdar and the back of the car. I drove on to the Residency as fast as I could. Ten shots hit the car. One hit my arm and another the bones of my right leg, causing very great pain, I lowered my head and determined to avoid the shots at it, because I realised I was responsible for the lives of those behind me. How I avoided the traffic I do not know, but instinctively I followed the road to the Residency. When I arrived I was unable to move owing to the pain. Subsequently I was carried inside, where I was congratulated by Lord Allenby, the King's Chamberlain, the American Minister, and others. I was then brought to the hospital.''

ACTION BY THE BRITISH CABINET.

The Emergency Cabinet last night considered the grave situation created by the Egyptian outrage. The Government, in entering a protect against the deed, will call for the cessation of the anti-British propaganda in reference to the sovereignty of the Sudan, whether it encouraged by the Egyptian Government or otherwise.
It is recognised (says the "Daily Express") that the campaign inspired by the native leaders is partly responsible for the existing state of affairs, and a firm assurance of its discontinuance will be
requested.

A PAINFUL IMPRESSION CREATED.LONDON

The news of the Sirdar's death has created the most painful impression, though it was not unexpected, and it

undoubtedly intensifies the gravity of the position. The "Daily Telegrpah's" diplomatic correspondent says, "To-day or tomorrow should record a communication to Egypt expressing the grave view taken by the British Government, of the crime and the political circumstances by which it was preceded. The attitude of the Government is described as one of firmness, and combines dignity and calm. Nothing will be
done that might be misconstrued as Imperialistic policy, although the Egyptian Government may be held to a strict accountability for their actions in the pastand the future.''

INCAPACITY TO GOVERN HERSELF.

The "Daily Telegraph" says, "The fact that the Cabinet is considering the matter is satisfactory, but we should be glad to have an assurance also that the general question of the grant of European methods of government to peoples not ready to receive them was also on the agenda of yesterday's meeting." The article in the firmest tone says the Egyptian questionhas become, an affair in which the whole eastern hemisphere and large interests in America are involved. It adds:- "We cannot as trustees for others allow the common weal of the Eastern Mediterranean and the right of transit to Asia to be periodically hazarded by Egypt's incapacity to govern herself. Other nations whose rights we profess to guarantee are justified in expecting that we shall perform the obligations of an unwritten trust or allow foreigners to secure the interests of their
own nationals." The article also declares that it must be brought home to Zaghlul Pasha that a man of his position must shoulder the inevitable results of his heated and ill-considered attacks upon those to whom the independence of his country is due.

A CHANGE IN POLICY; CAIRO

The newspaper "Ahram" says the British Government have instructed Lord Allenby to inform King Fuad and the Egyptian Government of Britain's decision to separate the Governor-Generalship of
the Sudan from the Sirdarship of the Egyptian army.—Reuter.

Captain P.K. Campbell

The late Sir Lee Stack's aide-de-camp was a New Zealander, Captain P. K. Campbell, who holds a commission in the Black Watch. He served with the "Old Contemptibles," taking part in the retreat from Mons. He was wounded on the Aisne in 1914 and again at Loos in September, 1915. Since the war he has been attached to the staff of the Governor-General in the Sudan.