Talking of old soldiers . . .

Talking of old soldiers . . .

                    

The most well-known old soldiers in England are the Chelsea Pensioners, often to be seen at public events, resplendent in their scarlet coats. Any British Army non-commissioned officer or soldier may apply to become a Chelsea Pensioner, provided he or she is over 66 years old or of State Pension age. (Women were first admitted in 2009) Commissioned officers may apply if they have risen through the ranks.

 Upon acceptance, pensioners must relinquish their army pension and any disability allowance, in return receiving free board, lodging, clothing and medical care. The objective is for every resident to contribute at least £175 per week, and if their pension does not cover that amount, the difference must be made up from personal savings.

                            Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home accommodating 300 pensioners. It aims to enable its residents to live a supported independent life and is open to widows and widowers who may otherwise face a life alone. It replicates the communal bond of comradeship which army veterans have enjoyed during their military service.

The hospital was founded as an almshouse in 1682 by King Charles II as a retreat for veterans. An almshouse was charitable housing provided for people in need in a community, particularly in mediaeval times. Alms relate to food or money given to charity.  The hospital is sited in 66 acres on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea.

Wearing the peaked cap or shako

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Pensioners are able to come and go freely and can wear civilian clothing wherever they travel. They are encouraged to wear their blue uniform, known as ‘blues’, in the hospital and its grounds. If they go further from the hospital they are expected to wear the scarlet coat and peaked cap. For ceremonial occasions, they replace the cap with a tricorne hat and add white gloves.                     

In 1972 a number of generals from NATO countries were in London for a week of meetings. During the evenings, entertainments were organised, to the ballet, opera, theatre, all of which were greatly appreciated.  As a young major, working with them, Barry escorted a number of them to the Royal Hospital Chelsea for a day-long visit.  

In full formal dress, with tricorne hat and white gloves (and well-polished shoes)

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The generals found it fascinating listening to the veterans, some of whom were on active service before many of the visitors were born. The pensioners recounted their experiences of serving during the Boer War and the First World War.

It was universally agreed by the generals that the highlight of their week was the day they spent with the Chelsea Pensioners at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

ABC Wednesday U is for Ulundi

King Cetshwayo  photographed c1875

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Ulundi was the final battle of the Zulu War of 1879 and destroyed the military strength of the Zulus. The battle was fought in Ulundi, the capital of Zululand, in South Africa on 4^th July, 1879. Six thousand British troops were commanded by Lieutenant General Lord Chelmsford and faced King Cetshwayo’s army of twenty thousand warriors.

Sketch of Lord Chelmsford made by an officer shortly before the battle of Ulundi 

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Despite the disparity in numbers, the British army was one of the best equipped in Europe while the Zulus were armed mainly with shields and spears. King Cetshwayo had acquired thousands of muskets and rifles but they were mostly of inferior quality and handled by Zulu troops poorly trained in their use. So although Ulundi was a victory for the British their tactical capabilities were exposed by a superior opponent in the first Boer War a year later.

As dawn broke on July 4^th the British crossed the White Mfolozi river and formed up into a hollow square, infantry protected on the flanks and at the rear by mounted troops. Around 09:00 the Zulus attacked the hollow square on all sides but were unable to get closer than thirty yards. Within half an hour the skirmish was over, with 1500 Zulus dead and perhaps the same number injured.

Ulundi was razed. The fire burned for days.

The burning of Ulundi

Engraving of 1879

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

King Cetshwayo had taken refuge in a village and escaped when he heard of the defeat. He was captured on August 28^th and exiled to London. He returned to his throne just before he died in 1884.

You can find more Us here, thanks to the efforts of the Unique Denise Nesbitt and her Unflappable team.

ABC Wednesday – K is for Kitchener

Horatio Herbert Kitchener was born in 1850 in County Kerry, Ireland.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

He became a British Field Marshal who was titled Lord Kitchener of Khartoum after winning the Battle of Omdurman in 1898 and gaining control of the Sudan. He was then appointed governor of Sudan. During his governorship he placed much emphasis on education for all children. He also ordered the rebuilding of the mosques in Khartoum, ensured that the Muslim day of rest – Friday – was recognised, and guaranteed freedom of religion to all Sudanese people. 

This egalitarian, human side of his character is at odds with the popularly conceived version of his actions during the Second Boer War of 1899 - 1902. Following the failure of a proposed peace treaty in 1901 the Boers were brutally overthrown by a scorched earth policy through which farms, crops and livestock were destroyed, wells poisoned and salt spread on the land. Women, children and the elderly were confined in tented camps which became known as concentration camps. Most Boer prisoners of war were deported to camps overseas, in Sri Lanka, Saint Helena and Bermuda. The huge numbers of people in the South African camps quickly became too many for the British force to cope with. Insufficient space, poor diet, inadequate sanitation and scant medical care led to disease of epidemic proportions – measles, typhoid and dysentery all took their toll, causing the deaths of 26,000 of the inmates.

When news of the conditions in the camps became known there was an outcry even though matters had vastly improved by late 1901. Contrasting the horror of the camps was Kitchener’s justified decision to court-martial several Australian soldiers who had executed Boer prisoners of war. He signed the death warrants for two guilty officers who were then shot by firing squad. Nonetheless, Kitchener’s reputation was somewhat tarnished, though he was not solely responsible for events.

Until the outbreak of the First World War Kitchener served in India, where he reorganised the Indian Army, and in Egypt. When war was declared Kitchener was appointed Secretary of State for War. He predicted a long war, though many disagreed with him, pointing out that huge numbers of troops would be required to fight the might of the Germans and that there would be immense loss of life. 

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Thus a colossal recruitment campaign was launched, featuring the face of Lord Kitchener on countless posters. Prodigious numbers of volunteers enlisted and were trained in what became known as ‘Kitchener armies.’

At the same time, Kitchener endorsed a Red Cross plan to urge British, Canadian and American women to knit ‘comforts’ for the troops in the trenches. Such comforts included mittens, scarves and socks, the latter based on a sock design of his own devising. This had a seamless grafting stitch, now known as the Kitchener stitch, at the toe which made the socks far more comfortable than the regulation socks which had seams that rubbed.

His involvement in the Gallipoli Campaign of 1915-1916, against his better judgement, and the Shell Crisis of 1915, when a lack of high explosives led to failure in the Battle of Aubers Ridge, made his political future uncertain. The Liberal British Government was brought down and a coalition government formed. Lord Kitchener’s responsibility for armaments was taken over by a newly formed ministry under David Lloyd George.

Interviewed by politicians at the beginning of June 1916 about his administration of the war effort, Kitchener pointed out that at the onset of war in 1914 he had ordered two million rifles from a number of US arms manufacturers. By 1916 a mere 480 had been delivered. The same woeful story applied to the supply of shells. He had made strenuous efforts to procure stocks from alternative suppliers. The politicians, some 200, thanked him unequivocally for his honesty and his endeavours to keep the troops sufficiently armed. They gave a vote of thanks that was seconded by the man who had proposed a vote of censure (that failed) against his running of the War Department just a week before.

Thus exonerated, Field Marshal The Right Honourable The Earl Kitchener, now 65, prepared to sail the next day, June 5^th, on a diplomatic mission to Russia.  Lloyd George was scheduled to accompany him but cancelled at the last minute. The ship on which he was sailing, HMS Hampshire, battling a force 9 gale, hit a German mine and sank off the Orkneys. There were no survivors and Kitchener’s body was never recovered. Many conspiracy theories followed his death.

This meme is organised thanks to the Kindness of Denise Nesbitt and her Kindred spirits.

Click here to see more Ks!