London

The UK election dominated the news while I was there.  I learned a great deal about their election process – fascinating.  We could learn a thing or two about limiting our tedious and prolonged campaigning process – now it goes on and on and on.  Their way is very different from ours, but that’s another story.

Guardsmen friends and the lovely female friend of the lad on the right.

I lodged mostly in the Victoria area of London, visiting often my good friend and the son I never had, Sgt Kev Gorman, Scots Guards at my favorite pub, The Cardinal.  He has two of the most awesome dogs I’ve met in my lifetime.  Alphie, a mix of English Bull Terrier and possibly Lab, and, Jennifer – a pure English Bull Terrier.  One doesn’t dare refer to them as “pit” anything.  They take great offense, and one really doesn’t want to offend an English Bull Terrier – they might eat you.

Alphie and Jennifer

Jenn and I fell in love.  Just a whim, a mere peccadillo, but I for one shall remember our steamy affair always.  She was next to me or in my lap constantly, giving Alphie fits.  Now having such a magnificent dog in your lap is much like having a large boulder in your lap.  She is hard as nails, but very affectionate … and those eyes !

"Jenn"

During the three weeks I was there, Kev and I worked diligently on a project we have going, to publish a diary of a Scots Fusilier Guards enlisted soldier who was in the Crimean War.  We, mostly Kevin, tracked down his entire family, and it is an amazing story … again for another time.  If we can do it, we’ll have the manuscript publication-ready by end of year.  I’ll keep you posted.  Should there be any one out there with an interest in publishing such a wonderful diary, please let me know.  We have several folks already interested, but would consider all other interested parties.

Kev and LTC Wade Russell, Royal Tank Regt (Ret) - a good friend

Cardinal Pub, Victoria, London - My local

Cardinal Pub - Again !

Amazing street in Shaftesbury, England

This has been a long several weeks.  My apologies for being off the blog, but as you may know I have been out of country.  I left for the United Kingdom the first of the month, and have been there since.  I had a lot of adventures, and over the next few days I will tell you about the highlights.

It had been my intention to give you a sort of blow by blow blog of my visit to “Old Blighty,” but it was not to be.  First, I found out that my internet access was to be extremely limited.  Then I thought I might be able to use my iPhone, but quickly found the cost of using it overseas was enormous, and unacceptable.

In any event, I took many photographs and will regale you soon with tales of my travels.

Home of LtCol T E Lawrence, Lawrence of Arabia, in London

Just me at the table

It is always good to be surrounded by like-minded folks.  For me that is especially true if they are historians, and the folks at this meeting are some of the best of the best.  It was last weekend from Thursday through Sunday.  I was able to renew old acquaintances and make new ones.  Mike Vice and I set up a table to talk about our book, “Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War,” and that served as an introduction to many of the attendees I might not otherwise have engaged with.  The displays of military artifacts were among the best I’ve seen – all the personal collections of the members.

A room full of history

The accommodations were superb at the Sheraton Hotel – Reston, and the meeting went like clockwork. There was plenty of time to chat about military history with the elite of military historians, who were more than willing to share their knowledge and research.  It was gratifying to discover how many of the members knew of our book, and how many already had a copy.  They were most kind in their praise for the work, which was for us a labor of love.

I would like to take this opportunity to thanks the CMH for an outstanding weekend.

The Clan Donald - Hutchison is a sept of the MacDonalds

OK.  So there I was, yesterday, Saturday, 3 April 2010, with my co-author Michael Vice, standing in a kilt wondering if I was going to sell even one book.  Well, I reasoned, it’s great fun just being among my fellow Scots whether or not I sell books. I was right.

My Dad was a piper in a Canadian Scottish regiment, and the sound of the pipes still stirs my soul. The Alexandria Pipe Band at Tartan Day this year was exceptional, and a pleasure to watch and hear. There is definitely something to be said about being around “men in dresses” that makes one reflect on so many things at so many levels.  The thing I like about my fellow Scotsmen in general is that most know exactly who they are, and don’t feel a need to prove it.  The thing I like about Scots women is …. Hey – What’s not to like !

I met many old friends from the District of Columbia St Andrews Society, and even some friends from Old Town I knew many years ago before I retired from Government. I did notice that many of my old haunts like Portners and Ireland’s Own have changed names, but are still there.

In the end we sold a number of  books, and I was able to chat about them with many visitors – which is the part I like best.  For those who bought them – Enjoy the read!  And…write to let me know what you thought of them.  That kind of feedback is what makes me grow as a writer.

Now – - – If some lovely lady were to ask me (and some actually do ask), “What’s worn under your kilt, Sir?”  I would be obliged to answer, “Why, m’lady, nothing’s “worn” under this kilt – no – everything works just fine.”

Michael Vice - Hard at work

Me - Hard at work

Alexandria Pipe Band

OK.  Call it outrageous self-promotion, but I don’t care this time.  What a great day. First I found out that my latest release in the Ian Carlyle Series, The Gettysburg Conspiracy, was accepted for sale in National Park bookstores.  This opens a whole new world of promotional opportunities.

Then late this afternoon I discovered that The Gettysburg Conspiracy was selected as a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards for best historical fiction. I was surprised and pleased. It’s always good to know someone recognizes your work.  In fact, it’s good to know someone is actually reading it

Goodlake's Pepperbox Pistol and Bullet Pouch

Lieutenant and Captain (The dual rank system exclusive to Her Majesty’s Guards regiments) Gerald Goodlake, Coldstream Guards, took part in the Battle of Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol. The Coldstream Guards landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Guards Brigade, 1^st Division, English Army of the East.  These were Her Majesty Queen Victoria’s elite personal guards.  In the Crimea the Guards Brigade consisted of the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards, and Scots Fusilier Guards.  The Guards’ battle honours include Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

During a Russian probing action up Windmill Ravine on 28 October 1854, a week prior to the Battle of Inkerman, he led approximately 40 Guards sharpshooters against ten times their number in delaying a Russian flanking movement.  This allowed British reinforcements to arrive and drive the enemy back into Sevastopol.  For his gallantry in this action he was presented the Victoria Cross at Hyde Park by Queen Victoria, personally, on 26 June 1857.  He retired in 1881 as a Major General, and was awarded the Honorary Rank of Lieutenant General.

The photograph is of Goodlake’s  six-shot ‘Pepperbox’ revolving pistol and his leather bullet pouch.  He used these items throughout the Crimean War.  This type pistol, sometimes referred to as a “Pepperpot or Pepperbox”, was manufactured in .36 through .40 calibre, beginning in around 1830.  It was primarily for self-defense.  The six barrels were about 3.5 inches long.  The pistol, itself, was about 9 inches long, and weighed about 2 pounds.

The barrels revolved around a spindle, firing in turn as they came under the hammer.  As the trigger was pulled, the hammer cocked, the barrel rotated, and the hammer dropped on a percussion cap (thus igniting the powder and firing the bullet).  The bullets were round lead balls, loaded from the front of each barrel. Fairmans of London manufactured this particular pistol.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of the Guards Museum, London, UK.

I don’t know the name of Nolan’s horse, but I do know it was one fine animal.  It was a former troop horse of the 13th Light Dragoons.  When Nolan was assigned to deliver the fateful order, which, although misinterpreted, triggered the disastrous charge, it was in no small part due to his expertise as a horseman.  The order had to be delivered quickly, which meant Nolan had to ride at speed down into the valley from the heights.  A treacherous journey requiring both an accomplished rider and a superb steed.

After delivering the order telling Lord Lucan, the Cavalry Division commander, to attack “the guns,” Nolan joined his friend, Captain William Morris, Acting Commander, 17th Lancers.  Although a staff officer, Nolan was determined not to be left out of this action.  As the Light Brigade advanced, Nolan was seen to ride forward on his own.  His reasons are the subject of vast controversy and much speculation.  In any event, his audacity didn’t last long.  He was struck in the chest by a piece of shrapnel, making him one of the first casualties of the charge.

Nolan, or perhaps only his body, remained upright in the saddle.  The horse veered right, then back through the advancing line of the 13th Light Dragoons, the horse’s former regiment.  After passing through the lines, Captain Nolan finally fell to the ground, but his gallant horse was not through.  Troop Sergeant Major John Linkon of the 13th had just lost his horse.  He managed to mount Nolan’s horse and rode after his regiment.  Thus, although Captain Nolan did not complete the famous charge, his horse did.

Lieutenant-General Lord James Thomas Brudenell, the seventh Earl of Cardigan, leader of the Light Brigade, was without question brave, but not a particularly astute military leader.  He led his courageous brigade into the “valley of death,” through a veritable gauntlet of Russian canon and small arms fire.  He did this to obey a poorly considered, badly worded, and certainly misunderstood order.

Lord Cardigan was riding his cherished handsome chestnut horse, Ronald.  Ronald was lovingly brought to the valleys of the Crimea by ship all the way from Deene Park, Northhamptonshire, the Brudenell family home.

At Balaclava, on 25 October 1854, the black day of the ‘Charge,’ Lord Cardigan took Ronald straight into the teeth of the massed Russian canon.  Ronald survived the charge, as did his master, without a scratch, to return to Deene Park and live out their days with the memory of this ill-conceived, yet magnificent action.  Many of the troopers he led, and even more of their horses, were not so lucky.

Ronald's Hoof, courtesy of The Royal King's Hussars Museum - Photo from Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War

In remembrance of this loyal and magnificent horse, one of his hooves was placed on a bronze pillow, surmounted by a small statue of Lord Cardigan riding Ronald.  This artefact can be seen at The King’s Royal Hussars Museum, Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, UK. It can also be seen in my photography book, Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War.

There are many excellent books written about the Charge of the Light Brigade, but if you want to read a rather new release about Nolan, Cradigan, and the charge, I recommend Messenger of Death:  Captain Nolan and the Charge of the Light Brigade, by David Buttery.

For pure enjoyment, I tend toward police, espionage, and general thrillers, but they must be well researched, have good characters, good dialogue, and a great story. Daniel Silva, James Patterson, Caleb Carr (although his books like “The Alienist,” which take place around the turn of the century, are, I suppose, historical fiction), and Nelson DeMille are all on my personal bookshelves.  One of my very favorite characters is Silva’s Gabriel Allon.  The contrast of a world-renowned art-restorer who is an Israeli assassin is both stunning and compelling – and Silva knows his stuff.

I am looking forward to reading a few of the relatively new releases “I, Alex Cross,” and “The Defector.”  I have also not yet read “Angel of Darkness.”  Yes … So much good reading, so little time.  I must squeeze writing in somewhere.