Canadian Journal of Irish StudiesCanadian Association of Irish Studies

Major General Sir Henry Hugh Tudor (1871-1965)Author(s): Michael BoyleSource: The Canadian Journal of Irish Studies, Vol. 34, No. 2, Ireland and Newfoundland /L'Irlande et la Terre Neuve (Fall, 2008), p. 65Published by: Canadian Journal of Irish StudiesStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25515722 .

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Michael BOYLE

Profiles of Irish Newfoundlanders

Major General Sir Henry Hugh Tudor (1871-1965)

Although there have been many books about various aspects of the Irish fight for independence in the 1920's, it does seem strange that there are none on

General Tudor whom Michael Collins described as the

greatest British Army General ever. When he lived in Ireland, Tudor did not keep a diary (Senior, CNS) and this lack might be one reason why there has not yet been a critical assessment

of his role as the leader of the infamous "Black and Tans."

However, for the last forty years of his life General Tudor

was far removed from the troubles of Ireland and residents

of St.John's, Newfoundland would often see him on his way

to visit British Governors. Locals did not know much about

him, but some were aware of his past -

enough to

give him

the nickname "Blackie Tudor" (Ryan 9).

Henry Hugh Tudor was born in 1871, the second of

four children. His father was the rector of the Church of

England Parish at Lusdeigh in Devon. He fought in the Boer

War and World War I. He witnessed the rapid decline of the

British Empire. The great training ground of the Empire in

the 19th century was India and it was here that Tudor saw

his first action as a member of the Royal Horse Artillery in

1895 at Bangalore. He also met a Hussar called Lieutenant

Winston Churchill and they remained friends for life. In

December 1899 Tudor was wounded in the Boer campaign

and he was decorated twice for his service in South Africa.

In early 1904 he married Eva Edwards from Yorkshire and

they had a family of three daughters and one son. It appears

they separated in 1924. During World War I Tudor served on the Western front from 1914 until the Armistice and he rose from the rank of Captain to that of Major General in

charge of the 9th (Scottish) Division. The Newfoundland

Regiment was under his command in the final batties of the

war. Tudor was known as an excellent tactician, making use

of smoke shells as a screen to shield movements of troops

from the enemy. Sir Claude Jacobs described him as a "first

rate commander very energetic and gets things done always

reliable and he can be depended upon" (Cave 92) It is generally accepted that Tudor's distinguished career

took a nose-dive after his tenure in Ireland during the intense

and violent struggle between the "Black and Tans" and the

IRA. Few in Ireland even today can forget the Bloody Sunday massacre of 13 people by the "Auxiliaries" during a Gaelic

football game at Croke Park Dublin - actions authorized

by General Tudor. He 'resurrected' his tarnished career by

becoming Director of the Police and Prisons in Palestine.

In 1925 he came to Newfoundland as a fish buyer and

he is listed as residing at 42 Circular Road, the residence of

George M. Barr, an English-born fish merchant. He was

very active in sports like boxing, polo and horse racing. In

St. John's he was an accomplished golfer and cross-country

skier (Provincial Archives). During the winters he played chess, listened to BBC overseas broadcasts and corresponded

with his old friend, now Sir Winston Churchill. When he was

ill, the Governors came to visit him at his second residence,

which was coincidentally the Churchill Square Apartments. The famous General died on September 25, 1965 with a

full military funeral from the St. John's Anglican Cathedral

and buried at the Anglican graveyard in St. John's (this was

repoted in the Evening Telegram of 27 September 1965). Tudor led a secretive existence in that he had for

many years a live-in Irish Catholic 'housekeeper', Monica

McCarthy, to look after him. He gave no press photographs or interviews, and many questions

are unanswered about

the roles of the Newfoundland and British Governments

in ensuring his personal safety. Local folklore (as recounted

by Paul O'Neill) suggests that, in the early 1950s, members

of the IRA came to Newfoundland to assassinate him.

General Tudor did not leave a will and after his death his

military uniforms and medals mysteriously disappeared

only to resurface later in 2004 in a military auction house

in England. Mr. Burroughs, a collector in Belfast, acquired

all of his military paraphernalia (Ryan 9). With so much

secrecy and intrigue in Tudor's long life of service, exile

and loyalty to his Prime Minister it is indeed passing strange that a Hollywood producer has not brought his story to a

larger audience.

Works Cited:

Cave, Joy. "A Gallant Gunner General: the Life and Times of Sir H.H. Tudor KCB, CMG." Ms. Imperial War Museum.

Mise 175 (Item 2658): 92, 97,102.

O'Neill, Paul. The Oldest City: The Story of St. John's Newfoundland. St. John's: Boulder Publications, 200j.

Provincial Archives. Ballyhaly Golf Club History Files and Government House Records (GN 1/16). The Rooms, St. John's, Newfoundland.

Ryan, Gerald. "Major General Sir Hugh ('Black') Tudor." History Ireland13:5 (2005): 9.

Senior, Hereward. Letter to Peter Hart. 29 May 1989. Centre for Newfoundland Studies (Memorial University): biographical file, General Tudor.

CJIS/RC?l 34:2 65

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