Will Hutchison's Journal

While I was in England, I was delighted to find out that the two books I published in 2009 were the recipients of awards here in the States. Although good reviews and comments are always welcome and important to me, it is always gratifying to realize that others out there feel your work deserves an award.

The historical photographic chronicle, Crimean Memories: Artefacts of the Crimean War, photographed by me and written with my co-authors (Michael Vice and B.J. Small), received a 2010 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Silver Award for best reference book.

My most recent novel, The Gettysburg Conspiracy, received a 2010 Independent Publisher (IPPY) Bronze Award for best regional fiction.   In addition, The Gettysburg Conspiracy was selected as a finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Award (BOTYA) for historical fiction.

IPPY Awards –         http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1362&urltitle=Announcing%20the%20Results%20of%20the%202010%20Independent%20Publisher%20Book%20Awards

BOYTA Award Finalists –         http://www.bookoftheyearawards.com/finalists/2009/category/fiction-historical/

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

The Gettysburg Toy Soldier Show Sunday was great fun.  My talk was well attended and no one fell asleep.  I was watching .

Now I’m in full swing preparing for UK Book Tour 1 – 20 May.  Looking forward to a pint and a curry on arrival, which might be a bit dicey at 9:30 AM –  UK time    

Unfortunately my blog may suffer a bit in my travels … but I will be back if I can’t get on the internet over there … I’ll bring back loads of stories and adventures.

My schedule in UK is posted on my web site for my mates in old Blighty. (http://www.willhutchison.com)

It seems like lately I’m always packing. Getting ready for the Gettysburg Toy Soldier Show. I’ve been asked to give a talk on the journey to photographing and writing “Crimean Memories” and am looking forward to it. I’ll be giving that talk at the show at The Gettysburg Hotel tomorrow, Sunday, 25 Apr 2010, at 11:00 am… Come on over.

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.

Officer's Coatee of Capt Hervey Tower

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.

Although they may have modified or discarded uniform parts later, when the Guards Brigade landed, they wore their full parade dress uniform with epaulettes and bearskin cap.  This photograph shows a fine example of a Coldstream Guards’ officer’s coatee, worn during his Crimean service by Captain Hervey Tower, 1st Battalion, 2nd (Coldstream)Regiment of Foot Guards.

The Star of the Order of the Garter, the badge of the Coldstream Guards, can be seen on each side of the Prussian collar.  It is also identified as Coldstream Guards by the sets of two buttons in double rows down the coatee front, thus the 2nd Regiment of Foot Guards.   The 1st (Grenadier) Regiment of Foot Guards buttons are evenly spaced, and the 3rd (Scots Fusilier) Regiment of Foot Guards buttons are in sets of three.  The back of the collar and cuff facings are blue, as were all Guards regiments.  There is a rose and crown in silver on gold on the strap of the epaulettes, designating the rank of Captain.  There was also a difference in the size and shape of the bullion descending from the crescent, depending on the rank.

Close observation shows usage stains on the white lining of the skirts.  In addition, the small slash pockets inside the turn backs can be seen.  These were used to carry such necessary and essential items to a Guards officer as white gloves, or a dance card.

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

Other Ranks Shako Badge - 19th Regt of Foot

The 19^th Regiment of Foot, nicknamed the Green Howards, landed at Kalamita Bay in the Crimea in September 1854, as part of the Light Division of the English Army of the East.  Their battle honours include Alma, Inkerman, and the Siege of Sevastopol.

The soldiers of most regiments in the British army who landed in the Crimea wore a shako introduced in 1844.  It was said to have been designed in part by Prince Albert, and was not so affectionately known as the Albert Shako.  The 19th Regiment’s Battalion Company enlisted soldiers, called ‘other ranks’, proudly wore the badge in this photograph on the front of their Albert shako.

Its actual size is much smaller than depicted, with the brass circular laurel wreath about 3 inches across and the wreath with crown above it about 4 1/2 inches high.

There were three types of companies in a British line infantry battalion in the Crimea.  Battalion Companies (All other companies than the grenadier company and the light company.) of Regiments of the Line wore this type badge, with their own regimental number.  The Grenadier Company on the right flank would have had a grenade somewhere within the wreath as well as the number.  The Light Company on the left flank would have had a hunting horn within the wreath, as well as the regimental number.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of The Green Howards Museum, Richmond, UK.

Epaulettes of Ensign and Lieutenant Fotheringham - Scots Fusilier Guards

The Scots Fusilier 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.

Although they may have modified or discarded uniform parts later, when the Guards Brigade landed, the officers wore their full dress parade uniform with epaulettes and bearskin cap.  The photograph is of a fine example of Scots Fusilier Guards officer’s epaulettes, worn by Ensign and Lieutenant Fotheringham.

They are identified as Scots Fusilier epaulettes belonging to a subaltern (Lieutenant) by the thistle standing alone on the strap within the crescent.  A Captain would have had the same thistle with a crown on the epaulette, and a field officer would have had a Saint Andrew’s star, with crown above it.  There was also a difference in the size and shape of the bullion descending from the crescent depending on the rank.

Scots Fusilier Guards records indicate that Fotheringham served honourably in the Crimea.  He left active service as a Lieutenant and Captain in 1859.

This artifact was photographed courtesy of the National War Museum, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland.

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