Comrades in Arms. A military romance

Preface

. If I have erred by occasionally entering too minutely into detail, when touching upon the routine and events of Army life, or if I have expressed certain views and opinions with too great freedom, I ask for some measure of indulgence from those who may chance to read the following " Military Romance." I have, while engaged upon this book, been alive to the danger of estranging the interest of some readers by a tendency to such details, or to such expressions of opinion. Nevertheless, I have at times felt constrained to use my pen unsparingly, since my object in putting this tale of ' Comrades in Arms ' before the public has been threefold. Firstly, to pro vide them with a story of military life, incident, and action ; secondly, while attempting to reproduce faithfully scenes from such military life, to give a fair idea of the stuff of which our officers and men are made ; and thirdly, by an endeavour to stimulate the reader's interest in soldiers, to lead to an increased sympathy with those of them below commissioned rank, who, on the conclusion of their service with the Preface. colours, are frequently driven to fight and struggle anew ; not, indeed, with any foreign enemy, but with one much nearer home — beggary and starvation.

Only in a few pages, however, have I ventured to allude to the subject of a more widespread employment of reserve and discharged soldiers ; yet it is earnestly hoped that those of my readers whose minds have not hitherto been directed to this im portant question, may not regard my remarks with indifference, but that they may be rather thereby in clined to give the matter their serious attention. For, apart from any considerations of public expediency, it is time that popular feeling should espouse the cause of this large and ever-increasing class of men ; it is time that those who voluntarily risk their health, who are ready to fight, and bleed, and die for their country and their Queen — that those who serve dutifully, soberly, and effectively, as the powerful limbs of a mighty nation, should, when the valuable aid they lend is no longer needed, yet be able to claim that nation's loving care — a place in that nation's heart.

I trust no apology will be considered necessary to the distinguished officers or famous regiments that have been occasionally mentioned by name in this tale of comradeship; lest, however, the gallant 1st Batta lion of the Royal Berkshire (the 49th Regiment) should think that in associating another corps with them, as sharing the honour which is their due for their brave conduct in the battle of Tofrik, any attempt has been made to rob them of what they can fairly claim in Preface. IX full, let me hasten to assure them, that such has by no means been my intention, and to remind them that this book is but a work of fiction. In conclusion, I must acknowledge my indebted ness to the ' History of the Sudan Campaign,' by Colonel H. E. Colvile, C.B., Grenadier Guards, by the aid of which valuable work my memory has been refreshed in many particulars. Arthur Amyand. 2%th May, 1895. CONTENTS. part h

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Chapter I. Introduces Rob

Before the date at which this story opens, the sug gestion that Sergeant Robert Stewart would abandon the idea of seeking a commission would have been considered most unlikely to prove true. Everyone had known, to their regret, of Stewart's desire to become an officer, that he had passed the necessary examination, had been strongly recom mended by his Commanding Officer, and that H.R.H. the Commander-in-Chief's sanction was all that was now required. While the question of his elevation to such a rank was, however, being tardily discussed in the recesses of the War Office, a circumstance occurred by which a smart officer was lost to the Army, though a smart non-commissioned officer was re tained to grace that famous Regiment of Lancers, 'The Readies.' Robert Stewart was quite a young fellow, twenty three years of age.

Of Scotch extraction, as his B name denotes, he was not, however, a Scotchman born. His father's relations, though they clung to the old traditions of their northern descent, had some generations earlier migrated South, where they had purchased property and farmed their own land. They were, in fact, wealthy yeomen, which position they had always maintained until Robert's father married a woman of extravagant notions. This lady was ambitious of filling a more exalted station, and aimed at the recognition of her husband's family as belonging to the county gentry. Accordingly the sons were sent to expensive schools, and the daughters highly educated ; and Mr. Stewart was gradually led into a style of living far beyond his means. When Robert Stewart was still at school, however, the crash came, the property was sold up, and his father retired broken-hearted to spend the two remaining years of his life in a small house near Farnham.

Robert had been removed from school, and at his father's death saw that it was imperative for him to shift for himself. Of his two elder brothers, the one was a struggling barrister, the other a poverty stricken curate, and there was but a barely sufficient income left to maintain his mother and three sisters. How he, under such conditions, could pose as a gentleman he could not imagine ; nor did he envy the lot of his two brothers. Indeed, the whole of the younger generation saw through their mother's folly, and blamed their father's weakness. Robert rapidly Introduces Rob. 3 determined, however, not to become a drag on his mother's income to the extent of a single penny ; but at first he was in sore straits how this was to be avoided. He felt at a loss as to what to turn his hand, for although he had knocked about his father's farm to some extent before going to school and in the holidays, he had had no real education as a farmer, and consequently before he could take up that profession a considerable outlay would be required.

Again, he did not feel inclined to spend his days on an office stool, even if he had had the means of support necessary to maintain him in that unenviable position. What then was to be done ? His mother, whose favourite son he was, had always hoped he would pass into Sandhurst and obtain a commission in the Service. Such a career was in accordance with Robert's own earnest desire ; when therefore the family's fallen fortunes made it impossible he had been cruelly disappointed. Living as he did at Farnham, however, where he constantly saw soldiers, his military longings took an increased hold, and it gradually dawned upon him that by enlisting the riddle " how to live cheaply " might be solved, and not altogether unpleasantly. If he could not become an officer, (to which rank he did not honestly and with modesty consider himself by birth fully entitled), why should he not be a private soldier ?

He had learnt enough of soldiers to know that there were scores of fellows in the ranks as good B as he ; in addition to which, although doubtless the life might be rough at first, there was no reason why he should not in time gain promotion to ' sergeant,' by which he would avoid its chief disagreeables. That his mother would be horrified, he knew ; but his mind was soon made up, and he believed that, in spite of any prejudice of hers, such action as he con templated would, after the first shock, relieve her mind greatly of a most pressing anxiety. As Aldershot is so near Farnham he had every means of information at hand, and alive to the dis advantages of being too near to his relations at first, he determined to avoid if possible enlisting in a regiment quartered at that station. He had always had a great fancy for a Lancer Regiment, and particularly for 'The Readies,' with whose glorious annals he was (and who is not ?) to some extent acquainted, and whose splendid red and white uniform, of which he had seen a picture, attracted him vastly.

He knew that this regiment could not now be quartered at Aldershot or he would have seen some of the men ; but he walked into that town and made inquiries of a sergeant of Hussars whom he met, and from him he learnt that it was stationed at Preston. This worthy divined the object of young Stewart's inquiries, and immediately endeavoured to obtain him as a recruit for his own corps ; but Robert remained firm, and eventually to his delight extracted the information that he could be enlisted at Aldershot for any regiment he might Introduces Rob. 5 select, and that, in order to become one of The Readies, it would be by no means necessary for him to journey as far as Preston. Accordingly, two days later, Robert left home apparently on a visit to his brother, but in reality to go to Aldershot to enlist.

He was promptly accepted as a desirable recruit, and sent at once to the Cavalry Depot at Canterbury, where he speedily donned the ' red and white ' of the — th Lancers. He never repented of what he had done. The life suited him admirably, and it was not long ere his fond, though foolish mother — at first overcome with a false sense of a family disgrace — learnt to be proud of her soldier son, and to see how greatly he had bene fited her and the rest of his family. In time he left Canterbury a trained Lancer ; and when, four years later, The Readies, after one or two moves, again changed their quarters and came to Aldershot, Robert had already attained to the rank of Sergeant. It was now that he profited by an unexpected windfall. An aunt, his father's sister, came to stay with his parents, and it delighted her much to see her nephew in his bright uniform ; for Rob, by no means forgetful of his relations, would frequently walk over to Farnham to visit his family.

This old lady, who had no patience with her sister in-law, and looked on her as the cause of her brother's ruin, greatly applauded the sense Robert had shown ; and, realizing that he was getting on well, and more than carried away by the glamour of his appearance, determined to reward him. She was in sailing health, and at her death some six months later she left him nearly all her little property, which amounted to about a hundred pounds a year, expressly stating in her will, " that, although she did not approve of persons assuming a position to which by birth they were not entitled," (a nasty hit at her sister-in-law), " this money (should her dear nephew Robert think proper, for she did not wish to make it binding upon him), was to assist him to live as an officer in the Army, if he could by any means attain to such a rank, for which, from her own observation, she was persuaded he was fully qualified."

In which latter remark, con sidering her non-acquaintance with officers of the Army and military matters generally, she showed unusual perception. This it was then that decided " Rob " — as he was familiarly called in the regiment and in his family — after consultation with Lieutenant Anderton (the officer who temporarily commanded his troop), to aim at obtaining a commission, although since his en listment, the notion had not hitherto occurred to him. It was, however, with some misgivings that he came to this decision, for although Anderton had told him that some men can contrive to live in infantry regiments on £100 a year in addition to their pay, he realized that life as an officer, with so limited an income, would mean a considerable struggle. The idea also of soldiering, even though in a more exalted Introduces Rob. 7 rank, in the infantry, after having had so good an apprenticeship in the finest cavalry regiment in tbe service, was distasteful to him ; as was also the thought of leaving his old friends and comrades, and of forming fresh acquaintances, for whose companion ship — for all his good school education — he felt that he was not so well suited.

But ambition carried the day, and the thought that he would be more likely to win fame and honour, or even might end his days as a distinguished general, decided him not to throw away what Anderton and many others called " his opportunity." Therefore, on the December afternoon from which this history dates, since Sergeant Stewart possessed an unblemished record with The Readies, and since all the necessary preliminaries had been successfully accomplished, it was generally expected that within the next few weeks he would be gazetted as an officer to some infantry regiment. But, of late, Robert Stewart had fallen deeply, earnestly, irrevocably in love ; and it was greatly to the surprise, though undisguised satisfaction of all, that he suddenly, later this same evening, announced his withdrawal of his application for a commission, and his intention of remaining in The Readies.

Chapter II

evening stables. The warning for " stables " had just sounded in the barracks of The Readies on the afternoon alluded to, and the men were standing about in knots and groups, or walking smartly up and down to warm themselves, while waiting for the " fall in." Each soldier was in stable dress and carried his grooming kit in his hand, in preparation for a good hour's work. Sergeant Stewart was there also. He was in tem porary charge of his troop, the Troop Sergeant- Major having left a day or two previously, and no other having as yet been appointed. Had he not been expected shortly to obtain a commission, Stewart thought it not impossible that he might have been recommended for permanent appointment to this post, one of great responsibility and requiring much tact ; and as he stood there on the parade ground and cast his eyes upon the men of his troop, all of whom he knew so well, and with whom he was so deservedly popular, he wondered if, after all, he might now be selected.

He was not the senior Ser geant in the regiment, but there were many other points in his favour. With his decision to remain with The Readies, he had not as yet acquainted a single soul, though he had made up his mind to tell Anderton about it after stables, and to announce it that night in the Sergeants' Mess. He believed that all his comrades would be heartily glad at the news that he was still to be one of them, and he him self felt glad ; for in his five years' soldiering he had made some true friends, and many good fellows had grown into his affections, to leave whom would have cost him much regret. Robert Stewart was not wrong in his belief that his brother N.C.O.'s and the men of the regiment would receive his intelligence with satisfaction, for it would have been difficult to find in The Readies another non-commissioned officer more of a general favourite than he.

All knew him to be thoroughly honest and straightforward, and this characteristic in a man of his position, most highly valued by the officer, is equally appreciated by brother non-com missioned officers and men. Stewart no doubt, like others, at times made mistakes of judgment, and possibly of temper, but his comrades knew that he was 'certain,' and not one to appear friendly one day, and the next seek an opportunity of getting them into trouble in order to gratify a private spite. The men felt that with him they were safe from being brought before an officer on a trumped-up charge, and that there was no fear of his ever being what among soldiers is known as " down " on them. In all his dealings he was fair and just, while he had a friendly, cheery way with them, which pleased them. Likewise with his brother non-com missioned officers he was popular, and they felt no jealousy of him, because (although he had been promoted rapidly, and — perhaps to some degree pushed on — had quickly attained to the rank of sergeant), they knew that he was deserving of his success, and that he had not sought to supplant any of them in an underhand or private manner.

Withal, he was a jovial companion and good fellow, always ready with a smile and a jest, and the possessor of a cheerful, ringing, hearty voice. Steady enough in all respects, and attentive to his duty, he was no prig ; nor did he set himself up as superior or as a paragon of virtue, while he entered heart and soul into his comrades' pleasures and pursuits. His life on his father's farm, where he had been used to horses from childhood, stood him in good stead in The Readies, and he was a fine and fearless rider, and at all military and other sports he could more than hold his own with the best. Of great bodily strength, Sergeant Stewart was indeed the 'show man ' of the whole regiment — no small praise where so many were of fine appearance and physique. Six feet one in height, he was perhaps rather too tall for a Lancer, but was nevertheless a picture of grace and symmetry ; while the breadth of his shoulders, shown off to perfection by his uniform, and his iron muscles would have made him an awkward customer with whom to try conclusions.

His manly figure was appropriately completed by a fair-haired, well-shaped, head, neatly poised on a muscular neck, frank, yet keen, deeply-set eyes, a healthy, ruddy complexion, finely chiselled nose, and good mouth, adorned with a slight, fair moustache, and large, regular white teeth. The dimple on his rounded chin proclaimed his good nature, though there was that about his powerful and intelligent face, and clear grey eyes, beneath well-marked brows, which betokened that if his temper were once really aroused, Robert Stewart could prove dangerous and determined. On the whole his was about as handsome, cheerful, and open a face as could be found in the whole Army, and it was not to be wondered at that his elderly aunt had been captivated by his appearance when she first saw him strolling up the garden path in his gay uniform, with his forage cap appropriately balanced on the right side of his head, and a whip in his hand.

She was not the only individual of her sex whose heart fluttered at his approach, for Sergeant Robert Stewart was an ideal soldier, one whom most women would readily love, and all men would admire. Two characteristics of Sergeant Stewart, apart from his personal good looks, have not hitherto been dwelt upon — his loyalty to a friendship once formed, and his strong regard for the honour of his regiment. He may not have been remarkable in these respects, for incorporated in them is the fundamental spirit of comradeship, and of esprit de corps, the true principle that should act as the guiding star to every soldier ; but it is probable that he was also swayed by something clannish in his nature, inbred in him with his ancient Scotch descent. Cheerful and pleasant to all, he was not, perhaps, very quick to regard a man in the light of a friend, (the word had a deep significance for him), but if he did, he could not lightly countenance the rupture of such friendship, or imagine that he whom he had so honoured would play him false.

For such an one he felt the keenest sympathy in misfortune, and would strain every nerve on his behalf, while his honour and welfare he regarded as a matter in which he himself took no small share. In like manner he respected the honour of his regiment, and recoiled at the thought of any stain upon its glorious traditions, or upon any indivi dual connected with it. Thus it can be understood that when Stewart came to look upon one of his officers as a friend, it meant something more than is generally implied. It meant more than a mere liking, (irrespective of the exigencies of military discipline), it meant a complete trust in that officer's honourable dealing, and a devotion — if necessary — to the death. In such a light did he regard Lieutenant Guy Anderton, the officer commanding his troop.

As before mentioned, Rob was that afternoon standing on the parade ground considering his chances of being appointed Troop Sergeant-Major, and looking absently at his fellow-soldiers while waiting for the ' fall in,' when a Corporal came up to him, his face beaming with pleasurable excitement. " Heard the news, Sergeant ? " he asked, shortly. " What news ? " inquired Stewart in reply. " Anderton's got the troop," said the other. " Got the troop ? Hasn't he been commanding it, and had all the responsibility for months, without any extra pay too, I believe ? " l " Of course he has. But he'll get the pay now ; for this mornin' he was only a lieutenant, but this afternoon he's a captain," was the answer. " Do you mean to say he's been promoted ? " asked the sergeant incredulously. " Yes, and he'll be posted to * A ' troop in to morrer's orders.

Pity you ain't going to stay, you'd have been his Sergeant-Major for certain." Robert made no reply to the last remark, but again inquired, — "Are you sure it's a fact, Hill? Who told you? It's first rate — if it's true." " Well, it is, Sergeant. The Orderly Room Clerk has just told me. It's a fine bit of news for the chaps, and there ain't no doubt about it. Lord ! to think that bloomin' Moran hain't got the troop after all ! 1 It is (or was, for recent orders may have altered matters) one of the hardships of the service that subaltern officers may frequently be put in command of troops or companies, the responsibility and labour of which command they are frequently bound to accept without any extra pay. No fear of ' A ' not keepin' smartest troop in the regiment now ! " " No, I don't think there is ; I don't know what would have happened if Moran had been promoted to it.

I can't understand it, though, as only a few days ago Lieutenant Anderton told me he hadn't a chance, and that Moran was going to get the step. He'd heard so in London." " Well, there it is ! It's safe enough now, Sergeant. There ain't no other troop vacant and he's Captain, so he must 'ave it," rejoined Corporal Hill. " He's a gentleman, that's what he is, and he's always been in the old troop and he'll stay in it now, an' it'll be ' Three cheers for Captain Anderton ! ' in the troop room and in the canteen to-night." " And so it ought to be, Hill, for a better officer and a finer fellow never stepped God's earth," said Rob enthusiastically. " There's only one thing we wants now to add to our luck, Sergeant, and that's for you to chuck the commission, an' get made our Sergeant-Major. Then we'd have the finest Captain, and the finest Sergeant- Major, in the finest troop of the finest Regiment in the whole blessed Army."

The Corporal was a rattling, honest, dare-devil of a fellow, a good type of the sort of men who were numerous in The Readies, and he thoroughly be lieved every word he said, and spoke without the slightest intention of flattering his superior. Stewart was half tempted to tell there and then of the change in his prospects ; but on second thoughts he deter mined not to mention it to anyone until he had acquainted his newly-promoted Captain. So with a laugh at the Corporal's vigorous speech he replied modestly, — " Much obliged to you, I'm sure, Hill. But pr'aps I'm not so smart a chap as you think. How much I should have liked to be Sergeant-Major, you know ; and as to the commission," he continued enigma tically, after a slight pause, " well, ' there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.' " " Oh, you're safe enough, I'll bet, Sergeant," replied Hill, mistaking his meaning.

The next moment the trumpets sounded, the men fell in, and off the regiment marched to stables, the strict order, discipline, and routine of which did not, however, prevent the spread of the report of Guy's promotion, and of the certainty of his commanding ' A ' troop, news which gave unbounded satisfaction to the men. What a scene of wholesome labour and well-ordered bustle " stables " in a cavalry regiment is ! To one who has not previously witnessed it, the sight of some fifty horses (or in the large stables considerably over that number), undergoing the operation of grooming at the same time is stirring and interesting. Some times, too, a loud squeal or an animal " letting out " attracts attention and causes a thrill of excitement, when it is obvious to the onlooker that the care of some horse is not unattended with danger, although of so contradictory a nature may it be, that it is not at all improbable that once saddled and bridled and on the parade ground no better can be found.

It is indeed interesting to note both men and horses at this hour, and although possibly at such an inspection it may be difficult to gauge the true value, for military purposes, of the latter, yet certainly from the way in which the former do their work, a fair opinion may be arrived at of their worth as effective and useful soldiers. A man before enlisting may have been totally ignorant of horses, but if he is careful and attentive he will soon learn all that is necessary under the guidance of good officers and non-commissioned officers. Such an one will frequently turn out of more value in a regiment than one who may have been brought up as a groom and learnt the tricks of the trade, and, accordingly, may think he knows as much as or more than those set over him, and be, consequently, not so amenable to discipline.

The man who grooms his horse with a will, who is fond and proud of it and the way it is turned out, is generally a good soldier all round. Many may look smart dressed up on parade, but how they work in the stable, whether the eye of a superior is on them or not, proves their real usefulness — apart from any con sideration of their intelligence. And it is at stables that the true physique and stamp of our cavalry soldiers is most to be observed. There they have no gay uniform, no padding, but the man himself, coat less and with his sleeves turned up, stands unadorned and bare-armed to his work. Indeed, there is no better means of gaining a thorough insight into the fine material of which the British Army is mainly composed, (and that it is fine material is distinctly asserted in the teeth of the opinions of many adverse critics), than for a stranger and non-soldier to visit the stables of a good cavalry regiment at this hour.

It will be a matter of much surprise if the visitor does not leave deeply impressed at the manly vigour, power, generally fine bodily characteristics, and even class displayed. Advantages other nations may have over us in point of numbers and, possibly, in military science, equally well horsed some foreign regiments may be ; but there is not one that can approach us — young though our soldiers are — in the point of the hardi ness, work, physical strength, or appearance of the men. Now — the time allotted for grooming past — suddenly the whole scene becomes one of bustle and excitement. Every man leaves his horse and hurries outside the stable ; for " bed down " is the order of the day. There is no undue noise or con fusion, but those who are most on the alert, and most careful of their horses' comfort are earliest on the spot, and fill their arms with as large a share as possible of the bedding which has been saved, shaken out, and dried in the sun and air since the early morning stable hour.

This they carry into the stable and spread carefully over the stalls, after which C they receive from the non-commissioned officer super intending, the amount of fresh straw allotted to each man to be mixed with the old bedding. Meanwhile the Troop Sergeant-Major ' strides up and down (as he has done the whole of stables), directing proceed ings, or pointing out anything that may require attention here and there ; while the remaining non commissioned officers have each their separate duties to perform. At this moment, perhaps, (if he has not already visited the troop), the Orderly Officer makes his appearance, when the Sergeant-Major gives the command "Attention," at which every man stops his work and stands to attention, until they resume their labours on being ordered by the officer to go on with their work.

The Sergeant-Major salutes, and reports " all present and correct " (or otherwise), and accompanies the Orderly Officer through the stable, or is at hand until he leaves. Then the trumpets sound a stirring blast ; the horses know it well, and many of them turn their heads, and begin to whinny and to paw the ground. Again all is a scene of bustle, for it is " the feed," and every man has left his horse to return with the feed of oats mixed with chaff served out to him. Next the stable is finally swept down, the non- 1 At the date to which this story refers Cavalry Regiments were divided into " Troops.'' Now the Squadron (equal in numbers to two " troops ") is the smallest unit, and the senior non-commissioned officer is entitled " the Squadron Sergeant- Major." commissioned officers see that the horses are properly secured for the night, " all fed " is reported to the Orderly Officer, and on the welcome call " turn out " sounding, the men fall in, and are speedily dismissed, their day's labour being at an end. C