A skilled hunter and an expert at many games, there was always something of the sportsman in his keen appreciation of war.

In the Matabele campaign he had out-scouted the savage scouts and found his pleasure in tracking them among their native mountains, often alone and at night, trusting to his skill in springing from rock to rock in his rubber-soled shoes to save him from their pursuit.

There was a brain quality in his bravery which is rare among our officers.

Full of veld craft and resource, it was as difficult to outwit as it was to outfight him.

But there was another curious side to his complex nature.
The French have said of one of their heroes, 'Il avait cette graine de folie dans sa bravoure que les Francais aiment,' and the words might have been written of Powell.