Hamilton’s letter to The Field
The Field, 11th June 1938, P. 1494
Sir, May I submit my quota of evidence on this important matter? Lord Kitchener was a genius, but he was not a universal genius and I am certain never invented snooker or any other billiard table game My knowledge is derived from die fact that at Pretoria, in 1901-02, I used to play a game of billiards almost every night for six months with Lord Kitchener from 11 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. Bar my own self he was about the worst player I have ever met. I have never doubted that my old friend, Sir Neville Chamberlain, invented the game of snooker. I was at Ootacamund in 1882-84, and there must still be some of that very crowd left who can testify to the belief then current that snooker owed its birth to Neville Chamberlain’s fertile brain.
Yours faithfully,
Ian Hamilton
1 Hyde Park Gardens, W. 2.