The memoirs of Major-General Robert Harley Wordsworth, Last of the Cavalrymen, were launched yesterday (Tuesday, 23 April) at the Tasmanian Army Museum to coincide with ANZAC Day.
The book, co-edited by Wordsworth’s descendants Ana and Charlotte Scarf, tells the story of his military career, which spanned both World Wars.
He began as a junior officer in the 1st Light Horse Regiment at Gallipoli, Sinai, and Palestine during WWI before transferring to the Indian Army. He spent a total of 25 years in the rarefied world of the British Raj, playing polo, fishing, and hunting game with maharajas and other royalty.
Wordsworth rose through the ranks to Major-General, and was placed in command of the 1st Armoured Division in the Middle East in WWII.
After retiring from the military and returning to Australia, he forged a career in public service as a Senator for Tasmania and as an Administrator of Norfolk Island.
He attributed much of his success to his sporting prowess, bravado, and a great deal of luck – all of which enabled him to live a grand life at the height of the British Empire.
Before he passed away in 1984, Wordsworth – known as ‘Wordy’ to his friends and family – dictated his life experiences into a tape recorder. Last of the Cavalrymen is a compilation of transcriptions of these recordings. Ana and Charlotte Scarf have organised, edited, and supplemented them with images and explanatory footnotes.
Wordsworth was a great storyteller, and his memoirs are an entertaining read. They paint a picture of a decent man of service who grasped opportunities when they came his way.
Last of the Cavalrymen is published locally by Forty South Publishing, RRP $49.95.
Callum J. Jones studied English, History, and Journalism at the University of Tasmania. He has written fiction and non-fiction for Tasmanian Times since 2018. He can be traced by the smell of fresh coffee.
Follow him on Twitter (@Callum_Jones_10) and Facebook (@callum.j.jones.creative).