Alfred Arthur Greenwood Hales facts for kids
Alfred Arthur Greenwood Hales (born July 21, 1860 – died December 29, 1936) was an Australian writer and a special reporter who covered wars. He was known for his exciting adventures and many popular books.
Contents
Early Life and Adventures
Alfred Hales was born in Kent Town, Adelaide, Australia. His father, Frederick Hales, was a wood-turner. Alfred had a basic education and then became a carpenter's apprentice. But he loved adventure!
He soon left his carpentry job to travel the country. For many years, he worked on farms and did odd jobs, becoming a very skilled horse rider. He often wrote for small country newspapers, never staying in one place for long.
From Mining Reporter to Newspaper Owner
Alfred Hales eventually arrived in Broken Hill, New South Wales, a famous mining town. There, he worked as a reporter, writing about the mines. In 1890, he published his first book, The Wanderings of a Simple Child, which became quite popular.
After traveling to America and England, he returned to Adelaide and started a newspaper called the Adelaide Standard. Later, he went to the goldfields in Western Australia. He started another newspaper, the Coolgardie Mining Review. Sadly, a fire destroyed his newspaper equipment, leaving him with nothing.
He didn't give up! He worked as a dry-blower (a way to find gold without water) for a while. Then, in Boulder, he and his brother Frank started two more newspapers: the Boulder Star and the Boulder Miner's Right.
War Correspondent and Author
Alfred Hales even tried to become a politician, running for parliament, but he didn't win. When the South African War began, he became a war correspondent for the London Daily News. This meant he reported on the war directly from the battlefield.
He wrote bravely about the war, even criticizing how the British forces were fighting. During his time there, he was wounded and captured by the Boers. He was held prisoner until the war ended.
Famous Books and Characters
After the war, Hales wrote a book about his experiences called Campaign Pictures of War in South Africa (1900). The next year, his first novel, Driscoll, King of Scouts, was published.
He became very famous with his book McGlusky, published in 1902. This book featured an exciting Australian hero with Scottish roots. Hales wrote a long series of stories about McGlusky, which were incredibly popular. About 2 million copies of the 20 McGlusky books were sold!
More Adventures Around the World
Alfred Hales wasn't just a writer; he loved real-life adventures too! In 1903, he went to Bulgaria and actually fought in the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising against the Turks. He joined the group led by General Ivan Tsonchev.
After that, he covered the Russo-Japanese War as a war correspondent. In the following years, he gave many talks in England, South Africa, Australia, and South America. He visited mining areas wherever he went. In South America, he also studied farming and ranching.
World War I and Later Life
When World War I started, Hales tried to join the army, but he was too old. So, he went to France as a war correspondent. Later, he went to Italy and met General Garibaldi. He tried to join the Italian army, but it didn't work out. He continued to work as a correspondent.
In 1918, he published Where Angels Fear to Tread, a collection of essays about the war. After the war, Hales mostly lived in England and wrote many more novels. About 60 of his books are listed in a famous Australian literature guide. He also wrote a book of poems and some plays that were never published.
Alfred Hales passed away in England on December 29, 1936. He was married twice and had four sons and one daughter from his first marriage.
"Smiler" Hales
Alfred Hales was a big man, and everyone knew him as "Smiler" Hales. He loved sports and took part in many different kinds. He was a great journalist and a wonderful storyteller. He believed in living a good, honest life and wasn't afraid to share his thoughts. His books My Life of Adventure (1918) and Broken Trails (1931) tell many interesting stories from his adventurous life.
Images for kids
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Alfred Arthur Greenwood Hales
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Foreign correspondents Alfred Hales and Boris L. Tageev with General Ivan Tsonchev during the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising in 1903. Hales is kissing the flag.
