Friends of Hastings Cemetery

He was always, on these occasions, the best of comrades, being uniformly cheerful and optimistic, and at all times full of resource, insight and charm.

…….. the fatal malady due to a too lengthy detention in Eastern climes, which in the end was to conquer his brave spirit……..

……… revived happy memories of those most delightful years, which together we spent in the  Far East.”

In Land of the Dragon William gives an idea of the life he lived.

“I have had a few close shaves, and seen a few near things.  I have escaped without damage  from three of the most violent storms on the  North Atlantic; from a collision off the south  coast of Ireland; from a steamer on the Thames when her boiler exploded; from a ship on fire off  Sandy Hook; from a leaky ship in a Bay of Biscay gale; from the midst of icebergs and dense fogs off Cape Horn; from a hurricane off the coast of  Brazil; from waterspouts and cyclones of the Indian Ocean; from a ship struck by lightning in the Formosa Channel; and from the charge  of a herd of wild buffaloes in Central Australia.

Having gone through all these excitements, and a few more also, without harm, now, by way of a change, we are going to try a whirlpool.” [In China]

Mary doesn’t play a large part in the narratives, but when she does she shows common sense, and is equally full of daring and courage.

William Spencer Percival continued