xvi BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE 



of age. He was married, and most happily married, his wife 

 taking a keen and active interest in his scientific pursuits. 

 He was recognized not only in his own University but in the 

 world at large as a foremost authority in regard to his special 

 subject. Yet, though on so many grounds he might have 

 rightfully disregarded the call to arms, he did not hang back 

 for a moment. Soon after the declaration of war he enrolled 

 himself in the Oxfordshire Volunteer Training Corps, and in 

 the following January accepted a commission as Lieutenant 

 in the 12th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment, being 

 gazetted Captain three months later. He was one of six 

 officers specially selected for service in the Dardanelles, and 

 left for Gallipoli early in May. Upon landing there he was 

 attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers; and, 

 after a little more than a week's experience of the trenches, 

 he took part in the general advance of June 4, and fell in 

 action on that day. 



Of such an end one can only say that it was worthy of his life. 

 He had always given the best of himself to some ideal cause, 

 whether it was that of science or of his country. This, indeed, 

 was the very secret of his charm for those who were his 

 personal friends that he was utterly single-natured, simple 

 and strong, at one with the reason and law which he instinc- 

 tively discerned in the seeming chaos of nature and human 

 life. Oxford will remember him sadly, yet proudly, as a true 

 son of hers, who, thanks to her ancient kindly discipline of 

 mingled work and play, learnt ' to philosophize without soft- 

 ness ' at once to love wisdom and to play the man. 



R. R. MARETT. 



