Service
Ensign and Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards: 1st of June 1849.
At the time of his entry into the Grenadier Guards, the only thing of note in the Commander-in-Chief's Memoranda is:
"Henry Fitzhardinge Maxse to be Cornet and Lieutenant vice John Francis Cust, now Lieut. and Captain, his age as 17, previously noted in August 39 [sic]",
There is also a letter from the Regimental Agents confirming that the sum of £1,200 had been received in payment for his commission. (The Commander-in-Chief's Memoranda for August of 1839 makes no mention of any previous correspondence.)
The Regimental Musters show that he was transferred to the 13th Light Dragoons (by exchange) on the 10th of June 1849 and several letters and memoranda exist relating to his various transfers between regiments:
"Memo. to the Officer Commanding, 21st Regiment of Foot, Hull.
Horse Guards,
7th of July 1852.
Lieutenant H.F. Maxse, recently exchanged from the 13th Light Dragoons to the 21st Foot, to join the latter Corps by the end of this month."
"Horse Guards,
17th of July 1852.
Sir, — I have the honour of your letter of the 16th inst. requesting that Lieutenant Maxse of the regiment under your command, may be required to join on the 14th of August instead of the 14th of September, and to acquaint you in reply that the Commander-in-Chief's pleasure has already been notified to Lieutenant Maxse and that it seems to his Grace unnecessary to recall this indulgence which has been conceded to him in consequence of the circumstances stated in your letter,
Lieut. Col. Ainslie, Commdng, 21st Fusiliers, I am, etc, etc.,
Hull, J. Brown, AG."
Exchanged (as Lieutenant) into the 13th Light Dragoons on the 11th of June 1852, but did not join the regiment.
Exchanged (as a Lieutenant) into the 21st Foot. 6th of July 1852.
Captain, 21st Foot: 29th of December 1854.
Lieutenant and Captain in the Coldstream Guards: 19th of January 1855.
Major, Coldstream Guards: 17th of July 1855.
On to half-pay, 16th of March 1858, and to have his Brevet converted into Substantive Rank on the same day, under the Royal Warrant of 6th October 1854.
Lieutenant-Colonel, ditto, 6th of July 1863.
Major (Unattached list) and appointed Lieut-Governor of Heligoland in 1863 and to Governor in 1868.
[EJB: Heligoland: an island off the mouth of the Elbe river that was ceded to Britain at the time of the Congress of Vienna in 1814 and exchanged for certain German East African possessions in 1890.
Retiring from the Army on the 22nd of December 1873 he was allowed to sell his commission, and received for this £1175. At the same time he commuted his pension and received £1650/8/0.
His London home was at 40, Upper Grosvenor Street, London, W1.
He was later Governor of Newfoundland between 1881 and 1883.
Died, at St. John's, Newfoundland, on the 8th of September 1883.
From his obituary notice:
"The death is announced of his Excellency Sir Henry Fitzhardinge Berkeley Maxse, K.C.M.H. Governor of Newfoundland. The deceased was the son of the late Mr James Maxse by his marriage to the Lady Caroline Fitzhardinge, second daughter of the 5th Earl of Berkeley, and was born in 1832.
He entered the 13th Light Dragoons as a Lieutenant in 1849 [sic], became a Major in 1855 and a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Army in 1856. He had served in the Eastern campaign of 1854-55 as Aide-de-Camp to Lord Cardigan and was present at the battles of the Alma and Balaclava, and at which battle he was wounded, and also taking part in the siege of Sebastopol, for which services he received a medal and three clasps and the Order of the Medjidie.
He was appointed as Lieutenant-Governor of the Island of Heligoland in 1863 and promoted to the Governorship in 1868. His long tenure of the governor ship was an eventful one for the island. The reformed constitution was established in 1868, the gaming tables were abolished in 1870 and he had to face the consequent financial difficulties and complaints of the islanders under him. Also, Heligoland was joined to the mainland by telegraph cable in 1881.
He was nominated a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St George in 1874, advanced to a Knight Commander in 1877 and was appointed the Governor of Newfoundland in 1881, but never really settled in there. (He was to be the last Governor of Newfoundland.)
Our Berlin correspondent telegraphed last night... The papers here have published with regret the telegram announcing the death of the Ex-Governor of Heligoland and now Governor of Newfoundland, Sir Fitzhardinge Maxse, but in speaking of his admirable qualities they forgot to mention that the deceased was the translator into English of Prince Bismarck's letters to his wife, sisters, and others, from 1840 to 1870. His translations, published in 1879, were by no means perfect, but it is by far the best rendering of any bit of Bismarck's literature that has yet appeared, most of the other translators being slovenly and inaccurate to a degree. The deceased was very popular with all who visited Heligoland and was fond of relieving the tedium of his honourable exile on the rocky isle near the mouth of the Elbe by amateur dramatic entertainments."
(One interesting comment on the pay of a Governor in the Colonial Service was an order that, "Half-pay is to be issued to him notwithstanding his holding the appointment of the Governorship of the Heligoland, the emoluments of which do not exceed three times the amount of his half-pay." (At that time 9/6d. per day.)
From The Times, 20th of November 1883:
"The remains of the late Sir Henry F. Maxse are expected to arrive at Liverpool on the 21st. Lady Maxse and her two sons are also on board the ship. The funeral takes place at the Woking Cemetery on Saturday at half-past 12 o'clock."
He had married, in August of 1859, Augusta, the daughter of Herr Von Rudloff, of Austria. His two sons both became officers in the Services, Ernest George Berkeley, serving in the Naval Brigade in Samoa in 1899 and being Admiralty Control Officer and Military Control Officer in Holland during World War One. He also served in the Diplomatic Corps. His brother, Frederick Augustus, K.C.B. C.V.O. D.S.O. commanded the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards 1904-10, and also served in the Sudan, South Africa, and during World War One. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre and the decoration of an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Belgium.
Campaign service
Major Maxse served the Eastern campaign of 1854 as an Aide-de-Camp to Lord Cardigan, including taking part in the battles of the Alma and Balaclava (wounded) and the Siege of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps and the 5th Class Order of the Medjidie.)
His injury was caused by a final salvo from the Russian guns before they were overwhelmed. A splinter from a shell-burst struck his right foot and almost fainting from the pain and only able to use his left stirrup he was nearly ridden down by Private James Wightman of the 17th Lancers. The latter wrote in his "Memoirs" that... he had seen Lieutenant Maxse, badly wounded, and clinging to his horse's mane, cross his front, and that he had called out, "For God's sake, Lancer, don't ride over me."
Maxse himself said later that he had cut at two Russians around the guns as he passed through and one of them had pointed a pistol at him, but he was much too pre-occupied to notice whether he had fired. As he rode back he was worried that the man with the pistol might "pot" him and to be on the safe side he had dragged out a "rotten old pistol" belonging to his brother, Frederick (who was a Lieutenant in the Navy, but who seemed to spend most of his time ashore, carrying despatches between the Fleet and Lord Raglan's Headquarters, than on his ship, the "Agamemnon".) The Russian was not waiting for him and instead he pointed the pistol at a Russian cavalry-man.
Death & burial
His gravestone has now [1985] been found in Plot No. 22 Lair No. 93349, in Brookwood Cemetery (Old Twickenham Ground, St. George's Avenue.) Although partly covered with vegetation, the inscription on it is in remarkably good condition, the inscription on the memorial stone reading:
"Here lies the body of Sir Henry Fitzhardinge Maxse, son of the late James Maxse and Lady Caroline Maxse. Born April 29th 1832. An officer in the Grenadier and Coldstream Guards. Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-General the Earl of Cardigan during the Crimean campaign of 1854-55. Governor of the Island of Heligoland from 1863 to 1880 and afterwards Governor of Newfoundland. Died at St. John's Newfoundland, September 8th 1883. 'Beloved by all who knew him.' "
His wife, according to the cemetery records, is also buried in the same grave.
In 1996 the covering vegetation was removed and shows, below the main inscription, a low-relief carving of a two-masted ship being wrecked, either on rocks, or on icebergs (though nothing is known of any incident like this occurring to him during his lifetime).
On the bottom half is "This monument is erected by his brother, Fred.", followed by a circle in which are the initials, "H.F and B.M.", an inscription relating to his wife. "Auf Wiedershein, Augusta", and at the base, "Also Augusta Maxse, wife of the above, who died 23rd April 1915."
There is something odd in the fact of part of the inscriptions being in German, followed by the initials and of the memorial's erection by his brother, when the latter died some fifteen years before Henry Fitzhardinge's wife, unless it only refers to its erection by him after his brother's death.
The grave plot is enclosed by a kerb and in two opposite corners are conifer trees. Although there are a great number of similar large trees in the vicinity, these are smaller and give the impression — because of their positioning — that they were purposely planted there.
After her husband's death his widow lived at "The Nook" at Dorking, Surrey, and at 15, Cheyne Gardens, SW.
In an adjoining Plot (No. 24, and some 60 or 70 yards away) there is the vault of his mother, Lady Caroline Maxse, who died on the 20th of January 1886. (His father does not appear to have been buried here). On the top are the words:
"Sacred to the memory of the Lady Caroline Maxse of Effingham Hill, daughter of the fifth Earl of Berkeley and widow of the late James Maxse Esq.. Born 12th April 1803 — Died 20th January 1886. To those that knew her there is vital flame in these simple letters of her name. Those that knew her not, but said — so strong a spirit is not of the dead".
On one end the words, "Her second son, Admiral F.A. Maxse, born 13th April 1833 — Died 25th June 1900, erected this monument and is also buried here", appear on the base. The vault consists of a marble base and stone top, the latter being in the form of a partly unrolled sheet of paper.
There is also a memorial tablet in Effingham Church (St. Laurence) with the inscription:
"Sacred to the memory of the Lady Caroline Maxse of Effingham Hill, daughter of the Fifth Earl of Berkeley and widow of the late James Maxse, Esq. Born 12th April 1803, Died 2Oth Jan. 1886. This tablet was erected by her son, Admiral Maxse of Dunley Hill in the parish of Effingham."
There is another family memorial in Cranborn Church (St. Dunstan's) to the 6th Earl of Berkeley, Thomas Moreton Fitzhardinge, who was buried at Cranford, erected by his sister, Lady Caroline Maxse."
Admiral Maxse's obituary report in The Times states:
"In January last he went to South Africa to join his daughter, Lady Edward Cecil, who had accompanied her husband, then serving with the Grenadier Guards, at the outbreak of hostilities and whilst waiting at Capetown for the relief of Mafeking he had contracted typhoid fever. But on recovering sufficiently to return to England, his health then gradually deteriorated and he died of enteric fever at No 2 South Place, Knightsbridge, London, aged 67 years.
Whilst in the Navy he made his name familiar to his peers as that of a very clever, hot-headed and warm-hearted man, always ready to throw himself into any controversy and to sustain his view, which was generally an extreme view, one way or the other."
A special train ran from London to Brookwood carrying a large number of mourners for the funeral, but there does not appear to have been any naval ceremonial presence there. The interment took place in the same grave in which his mother, Lady Caroline Maxse, was laid to rest, the grave being lined with white flowers and evergreens. In order to comply with his request that flowers should not be sent there were only a very few wreaths.)
He is mentioned in the book by H.O. Mansfield on the life of "Charles Ash Windham, a Norfolk soldier" (He was a Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General at this time) in the following terms:
"26th September — Sir George (Cathcart) at about one a.m. this morning desired me to go to the Katcha and inform the Senior Naval Officer on the station that Lord Raglan wished the base to be considered changed to Balaclava and the fleet to be moved accordingly. I was also to get all Commissariat stores, transport and sick on board the fleet.
I rode down to George Paget's tent to ask him for a dragoon to act as escort when G. Paget's charger kicked me with all his force on my right shin and hurt me most severely. I however rode on after having my leg dressed, gave my orders to Admiral Dundas and then to Sir E. Lyons, who took me in his ship, the "Agamemnon", to Balaclava, where I witnessed the capture of the town.
Windham took very unkindly to the neglect given to his action. In a later entry he speaks somewhat bitterly of the incident. A letter to Mrs. Windham written nearly seven months later, on the 9th of April 1855, shows all too clearly that the slight slur cast upon him continued to rankle. It is a curious fact that official histories of the war mention only that Lieutenant Maxse of the "Agamemnon" was given the task of carrying dispatches to the Fleet."
In conveying the order to the Fleet for change of base, I thought nothing of it until I heard such a splendid account of young Maxse's doings. Although Sir George Cathcart wrote to Lord Raglan on behalf of the 4th Division Staff, who had really conveyed the orders, and though Admiral Dundas wrote to me himself stating his annoyance at the unfair praise given to young Maxse, I still thought nothing of the matter, caring little for the reputation of a postillion."
O'Bryne's Naval Annual for 1855 gives the following description of the carrying of the despatches, and refers to Frederick Maxse's part in this:
"Having reached the camp on the Tchernya on the night of the 25th of September with despatches from the Admiral, he had immediately volunteered to retrace his steps through the forest and to communicate to Sir Edmund Lyons the importance attached to his presence at the mouth of the harbour of Balaklava the next morning, which difficult and dangerous service (from the intricacy of the country, so infested by Cossacks). Mr. Maxse had accomplished so effectually that the Admiral was enabled to appear off the harbour in question at the very moment that our troops showed themselves upon the heights.
So dangerous was this duty considered, and so probable was it that it would be defeated, that it was considered expedient that Mr. Maxse should bear no written despatch, but should communicate his message verbally."
[PB: See also Caroline Crawford's poem, "On Lieutenant Maxse", subtitled "Who volunteered retrace his steps at night through the dense forest, infested with Cossacks, to deliver important despatches from Lord Raglan to the Fleet."
In The Battles of the Crimea, with other poems on the Most Touching & Interesting Incidents of the Campaign, by Mrs Alfred Hayward from well-authenticated sources, published Fort Hope, Canada West, 1855. [This work is available online at https://archive.org/details/cihm_35429 (accessed 6.9.2014).]
In his Journal of the Crimean War Lord George Paget states:
"I was aroused by a voice shouting in the distance, "Where is Lord George Paget's tent?" This was Wyndham, one of Cathcart's staff, who asked me for a trooper and two mounted dragoons to accompany him to the mouth of the Belbek, to communicate with Admiral Dundas, and beg him to come round with the fleet to Balaclava.
Whilst the horses were being got ready, old "Exquisite" (my charger) who was picketed close in front of my tent, and with a high sense of duty and resentment for his master's continual alarms, lashed out and gave Wyndham such a severe wound on his leg (on the shin) that I had to send for the doctor, who pronounced him unfit to proceed; but he would not listen to my remonstrances and earnest request to let me go the rest of the journey (not two miles) so off he went.
Hardly another hour had elapsed before another voice was heard in the dark, "Where is Lord George Paget's tent." This time I thought we must be in for something, but not so, for this turned out to be Maxse, Lord Raglan's naval aide-de-camp, who told me that he had come from Lord Raglan. and that he wanted a fresh horse and two orderlies to communicate in the same way with Dundas. I said, "Well, of course there are the horses and men for you, but you are rather behind time, for Wyndham has got an hour's start on you on the same errand."
However, away he went, and I wonder if I shall ever see my orderlies again...
One can only assume that Cathcart foresaw the tactical need for moving the Fleet before Lord Raglan and took it upon himself to send the order in the first instance."
In a footnote, he added: "Some time after the war I compared notes one day with Admiral Dundas about this and he told me that Wyndham had got to him an hour before Maxse."
Frederick Augustus Maxse [brother]
His brother, Frederick Augustus, joined the Navy in 1846. Acted as Naval Liaison Officer to Lord Raglan and said to be possibly the only member of the ship's company of H.M.S. "Agememnon" to be entitled to the Crimean medal with all four clasps. Later became Captain R. N., and a Magistrate for South Hampshire. Lived at Netley Hatch, in Hampshire.
However, possibly contrary to what has been thought by naval historians, a Crimean medal (without clasp, and with engraved naming to "F.A. Maxse. A.D.C. to Lord Raglan." appeared in a Sotheby's auction on the 3rd of July 1986. After detailing his birth, promotions, etc,. and the date of his death, a footnote added, "The recipient was Acting Flag Lieutenant to Sir. E. Lyons during the Admiral's inspection of the Circassian coast and was the bearer of a flag of truce previous to the bombardment of Odessa and the attack on the Redoubt Kaleh and assisted in the disembarkation of troops. (Crimean and Turkish medals.) As Naval Attache to Lord Raglan he conveyed important despatches after the battle of the Alma at imminent risk to his life. (Promoted to Commander and honourably mentioned in despatches, 5th Class Order of the Turkish Medijie.)
In a Medal List for April of 1997 from John Burridge, Military Antiques, of Western Australia, there appeared a group of three medals described as "ADC to Lord Raglan and later Admiral F. A. Maxse, RN. Crimea, two clasps; "Balaclava", "Sebastopol" (engraved in contemporary upright caps. to F.A. Maxse ADC to Lord Raglan. Medjidie 5th Class, Turkish Crimea (Sardinian style with Crimea type suspension). In the "write-up" it said: The group comes with a large amount of research which included copies of two bound volumes of Maxse's Crimean diaries, various papers, colour print of oil painting, photo of him by Fenton, a copy of a book, "My Picture Gallery" by his daughter, Viscountess Milner and another about his son, "Far from a Donkey" the life of General Sir Ivor Maxse. also commented on was: "This is probably the best researched group I have ever had — there is enough here to keep one's interest for months.")
From the above it would appear that following the sale of the Crimean medal without clasp at Sotheby's in July of 1986 it has been "improved" by the addition of the Balaclava and Sebastopol clasps, the Turkish Crimean medal (possibly unnamed, although the Australian medal list does not say so) and a 5th Class Order of the Turkish Medjidie. The research material too, seems to have been added, nothing about it being mentioned at the time of the 1986 auction sale. The Naval medal rolls for H.M.S "Agamemnon" however, only show him as being entitled to the Crimean medal for service in the Crimea but the un-dated "Nominal List of Officers of the General and Divisional Staff as entitled to receive a clasp for the action at Balaclava on the 25th October 1854". when he is shown as Captain F.A. Maxse, RN, Aide de Camp to Lord Raglan, Another "Supplementary Roll (dated the 6th of January 1856 at HQ Sebastopol) of Staff at Headquarters entitled to a clasp for the fall of Sebastopol", shows him in the same rank and position. This roll however, only appears to cover all those who had left the Crimea before its date, and includes the four Army ADC's and Captain Maxse, RN. who accompanied the body of Lord Raglan to England, leaving on the 3rd of July 1855.
The family of Colonel M.W. Maxse, L.V.O. (descended from Rear Admiral F.A. Maxse) possess a watercolour believed to be by William Simpson R.I.. It is said to depict a scene on the evening after the battle of Balaclava (i.e. the evening of 25th October 1854), and to portray Lord Cardigan lying asleep by the side of a camp-fire with the brothers Maxse sitting talking. (This would be contrary to the oft-repeated story that Lord Cardigan returned to his yacht in the harbour of Balaclava that night.)
The names of those pictured is written at the base in a contemporary hand, as is the date, "Sepr. 25th 1854". Was a mistake perhaps made here and the wrong month recorded? The date recorded, too, was some six or seven weeks before Simpson was at the Light Cavalry Brigade Headquarters, so here again was the picture painted by Simpson, or another?
Although this particular picture was not recorded among Simpson's 81 lithographs published in 1855 as "The Seat of War in the East", there are other known facts which lend an element of truth to the story and the possibility of its being done as a favour to the brothers.
On being given a copy of extracts from William Simpson's autobiography, the family agreed that the picture that they possess is not of an actual event, but most probably something symbolic of the period and done as a memento or souvenir, for the brothers Maxse. Their own knowledge was based on a story which had come down through the family.
The Maxse Papers
On the 13th of November 1993 a large collection of letters written by or to members of the Maxse family was sold at auction by Phillips and from a bidding price of £12,000-20,000, only realised £9500. (What has been described as the "Maxse Papers" were at one time known to be in the archives of the West Sussex Record Office and these could well be one and the same.)
Descriptions by Henry Fitz. Maxse of the events leading up to the actual Charge differ in many respects (mainly as to "who said what to whom") from those who have written accounts of the scene, Kingslake, who wrote his version from what he had been told by both Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan and Cecil Woodham Smith, etc.
Both the brothers Maxse went on to have distinguished careers, and both attained entries in the Dictionary of National Biography. (None of these various letters and papers seem to have been made available to the authors of either entry in the DNB, indeed that on Fitz. does not even mention the Charge, nor by later scholars)
Their mother, Lady Caroline Maxse, although she had married a commoner, James Maxse, retained considerable social clout and, as the correspondence makes clear, remained on close terms with Lord Raglan and members of the army establishment.
Fitz. Maxse, (1832-1893) was the elder of the two brothers, even though from the letters one might think him the junior. He had been thrown out of the Guards and transferred to the 21st Fusiliers for, amongst other things, running a gambling syndicate. (It is family knowledge that his mother had paid off his gambling debts on several occasions) and when Raglan offered him a commission with the Guards once more, his brother Frederick expressed the earnest desire that "he reform his behaviour."
In later years he scandalised his family by having a tempestuous affair with an Austrian actress while serving rather improbably as Lieutenant-Governor of Heligoland, for which he was knighted. His later position as Governor of Newfoundland he apparently did not enjoy, and it was no doubt this distaste for colonial society, allied with his love of actresses and gambling, as well as his tact, that endeared him to Lord Cardigan.
Frederick Maxse (1833-1900), later rising to the rank of Admiral, stood several times for Parliament and achieved a measure of renown as a political commentator. According to the DNB, "the curious ideosyncrasies which made his character an interesting study to his friend, Mr. George Meridith ... unfitted him for modern political life. His liberalism was of no school, and on certain questions, e.g. woman's suffrage, and Home Rule, he was as tenaciously conservative as the highest of Tories."
A number of these letters were reprinted (in part) in the catalogue, and it is from these that the following extracts are taken:
From Fitz. Maxse to his parents during the months leading up to the arrival of the Army in Turkey and the battle of Balaclava:
"Lord Cardigan wishes me to ask Lord Raglan to support his request (if made) for me as Extra A.D.C. to him — as my requests to his Lordship go through you — will you ask him to support Lord Cardigan's request with Lord Hastinge — I have been dining with the Lord Lieutenant tonight and there met Lord Cardigan who asked me to ask Lord Raglan for the above favour — Pray see Lord Raglan, my dearest Mum and press it upon him — No appointment would I sooner have than extra A.D.C. to the Light Cavalry Brigade — and particularly commanded by my Lord — we shall see some service — Lord Cardigan was most anxious to know if you were pleased at the idea of my going with him — Get Lord Raglan to write him a word or two if possible saying that he may take me with him as extra A.D.C."
Fitz.'s letters charted the extraordinary influence that his mother, Lady Caroline wielded, for, in response to Cardigan's request, she got Lord Raglan to agree to the appointment:
"I saw Lord Cardigan today — he has received an official notification that Dupplin cannot be his A.D.C. He is however, unwilling to fill the appointment up at once — but tells me he has sent in an application for me as an extra A.D.C. and that the Horse Guards will doubtless consent — I may now consider myself on his Staff."
But the Horse Guards did not consent; for although his mother had won round Lord Raglan, the Commander-in-Chief, Lord Hardinge himself intervened; However, even though he was able to overrule Lord Raglan, he was not able to overrule Lady Caroline, who wrote him a firm letter and her son's appointment was acceded to."
From General Weatherall, Deputy Adjutant-General at the Horse Guards:
"Sanction was erroneously given to your appointment as an Extra Aide de Camp to Brigadier General the Earl of Cardigan. The General Commanding in Chief regrets your disappointment, but no Brigadier General proceeding to Turkey will be allowed the services of an Extra Aide de Camp."
In her reply, she said:
"Lord Cardigan made an application to the Horse Guards for my son, Lieutenant Maxse, 21st Fusiliers, as Extra Aide de Camp. Lord Raglan seconded the request in a communication to Col. Airey. Official permission in your name was granted, signed by the Deputy Adjutant General. My son also received a letter signed in the same manner'.
" I have now the honour to acquaint you , in consideration of the expence [sic] to which you have been subjected in the purchase of horses and outfit for Foreign Service the General Commanding in Chief has consented to your son accompanying the Earl of Cardigan in the capacity of Extra Aide de Camp, until a vacancy presents itself on his Lordship's personal staff."
From Colonel Richard Airey (who later wrote out the order by Raglan that led to the Charge of the Light Brigade):
"The Genl. Comg. in Chief has consented to your being appointed Extra Aide de Camp to Lord Cardigan , until a vacancy presents itself upon his personal staff.
It is particularly pleasing to me that the cause of your very natural disappointment is now removed, and the more so, so it originated solely, in an in-adventure of mine."
The story unfolds in that Cardigan's first A.D.C., Lord Dupplin, was taken ill and later invalided back to England:
"A great many people are going to be returned to England, sick, amongst them as I told you before, Dupplin. I am consequently at Lord Cardigan's request appointed paid A.D.C. in his place and was in General Orders yesterday.
"Yes, I have now been appointed 1st. A.D.C. and a man of the name of Lockwood of the 8th Hussars is appointed Extra A.D.C. "
Written from Devna (just outside Varna) on the 18th of July 1854:
"l get on with Lord C. — Dupplin did not do so from his manifest disinclination for doing any sort of duty. True, he did it — whatever it might be — but with a sort of slow despairing look that would have impressed a stranger that he was a suffering much ill used martyr — So should he be finally invalided to England, which is probable — you must not give implicit credence to all of the stories he may relate touching Lord C's temper — No doubt Cardigan has his faults like all of us — the worst of them and amongst them — a very touchy hot temper — and like a hot horse he requires a light hand — If he tells a man to do something — he must do it at once — and argue as a more favourable opportunity presents itself if he wishes it — Dupplin used to say that Lord Cardigan spited him — and all sorts of nonsense.
He is also one of those very weak-minded persons who listen to what their servants tell them and believing it like gospel — He had a clever servant who firstly did not like the work here and wanted to get back to England and secondly hated Lord C. because he blew him up one day — This man used to read Dupplin lectures on Lord C's behaviour — and rip up all old stories against him — As you will know when Lord Dupplin gets back to England and abuses Lord Cardigan — he will find lots of people to back him up — which he knows — All this disgusts me immensely."
On the Danube reconnaissance in July of 1854, the relationship between Lord Cardigan and Lord Lucan prior to going to the Crimea proper and the embarkation:
"Lord Cardigan has knocked up two of his five horses completely — but is still all for a brush with the Cossacks — We have been out on a long patrol (8 days) with two squadrons of cavalry to find out where the Russians are — Cardigan roughs it very well indeed." (He makes no mention of the feelings of the whole army as to what actually happened during this.) "
"Cardigan is very well and full of fight but is at present rather disgusted at having the command of his Brigade taken away from him. Lord Lucan is coming with us and from the 'muddling" propensities of the latter — we know that he will interfere with our chief's command.
It is rather hard upon Lord Cardigan, after he has been through all the rough and uninteresting work with his Brigade — that he should not land in sole command of his Brigade in the Crimea — Lord Raglan had so arranged it — & Lord Lucan was to have followed with the "Heavies" — but the latter kicked up such a row about it that he has been allowed to go."
"The place is so full of transports, rafts and horseboats and everybody is expecting the orders to embark — The general impression is that Sebastopol is the point, but I am much inclined to doubt this surmise as both Lord Raglan and Sir E. Lyons have talked about it."
From Frederick Maxse, to his parents, Lady Caroline and James Maxse ("My dearest Mum" and "My dearest Pup"), written on board HMS Terrible in the Bosphorous, whilst awaiting the arrival of HMS Agamemon, in which he was to serve until his transfer to Lord Raglan's Staff and containing an account of an expedition to Vardan, where he was feted by the celebrated women of the region:
"Certainly they are the most primitive people I have ever beheld — though mountaineering fine features — in fact, nearly all handsome — supported on strong athletic forms — their huts of wicker work, thatched with reeds — Their women are notorious all over the world for their beauty, and it is from Vardan that they are mostly shipped for the Constantinople market... We did not expect to see any at all, but in such high favour were we that their young women even came down — unveiled — & all sat looking at & chatting about us — they were very well dressed & some had parasols, a strange contrast to their rough male companions.
I believe they would have liked us to buy them — I am sure I would not have minded doing so — they got hold of one of our ship-boys & commenced pulling him about and kissing him , which I would not have minded either, for they were very pretty, and looked so uncommonly natural... but their men testified their regard for us in the most uncouth manner — two of my mess-mates & self had retired a little apart on the beach to smoke our cigars and get some quiet — when lo! some 40 of them came & and formed a circle round us & commenced a most extraordinary chorus of glee, I presume, by hitting stones together."
On the devastation at Sinope where the Turkish Fleet had been destroyed:
"The sight of the beach at Sinope is a fearful thing, I never could have even imagined that such a total & continual, as there is displayed along the shore — broken masts — burnt spars — defaced figure heads — shot ripped parts of hulls — smashed boats & and half -buried corpses are a never ending feature of it. "
Of a trip to Sebastopol and references to his brother Fitz, who he had visited at Varna:
"I went down to Constantinople yesterday and saw the Sultan's harem out driving, that is, a few of his wives, there were some 20, 4 in each carriage guarded by black eunuchs on horseback either side, their veils were very thin and I could distinguish great beauty in nearly all — a dreadful monopoly! I thought.
I fell into conversation with a Turkish officer on my way up to the steamboat — he said there was nothing now to prevent a Russian Army landing on the South Coast of the Black Sea and capturing Trebizond, Sinope, Terbrli and Batoum...
I had a Turkish bath yesterday and came out like a limp wafer, having had all of my bones cracked and flesh vapoured, but a great luxury, especially the sitting or laying down after it on a couch with a white turban twisted round the head and the tube of a nargilleh in one's mouth, I think how Eliza would laugh to see me thus."
"Found Fitz. at a house Lord Cardigan was temporarily living in — I roused him out of a deep sleep (he having dined the night before on the Bellerophon accompanying Lord Cardigan, with the Captain of her, Lord Geo. Paulket, who is very fond of giving champagne dinners) & chatted and paid my respects to Lord Cardigan, made the acquaintance of Brigade-Major Mayo — and Lord Dupplin — breakfasted with Lord Cardigan & afterwards rode out to the nearest camp (infantry's). with Fitz. about 9 miles off, there we picketed our horses — smoked a cigar and had a glass of brandy & water — rode in again — dined & the next morning I rode out part of the way with Fitz. and Lord Cardigan who were leaving Varna for good, to encamp at the further camp, where are the 8th Hussars — 17th Lancers — artillery and some Turkish cavalry, all of which Lord Cardigan has command of. "
From Frederick Maxse to his parents, describing (in various letters) life as a member of Lord Raglan's Staff during the winter of 1854-55:
"I am now turned soldier, either a Military Flag-Lieutenant or a Naval ADC to Lord Raglan . I live with him and am very jolly, his staff being a good set of fellows."
"Pup says in his letter that he would be glad to have a crumb of comfort about the suffering of our army — I think the best way would be to cut the Times — the paper is becoming the plague of England — it wrote us to the Crimea in an improper season — it writes the most minute and dangerous information to our enemies — it is writing discipline out of the army — it wrote the ministry out — and gradually if not checked it will write anarchy into the country — already it is writing against our constitution , viz. the aristocracy — for it is quite certain that if we are to remain a monarchical power the aristocracy must retain their present power."
"I really think that unless the Times be suppressed our constitution will be overturned — and historians in after times will truly lay the blame of another revolution at the door of the weak ministers who had not sufficient courage to suppress a seditious journal."
"We then discerned a flag of truce — I looked over in great delight & saw the Russians close to me and bowing & I was almost startled to see one get out apparently, of the earth, within what would appear to be 50 yards of me — it was a Russian sharpshooter who perdue there all day was on the look out to pick off a stray scalp that might protrude itself from the French batteries — really this positive game of taking life is very preposterous, one chap hiding behind a rock to pot another, whole again, a schoolboy trick of stretching a wire along is adopted to murder many ... It is too absurd.
The Allies are at war with Russia. What vague ideas these words give rise to so nearly in all, but here it is all realised within 200 square yards — a regular game of ninepins — and yet, to the world, sublimity."
"Last night, dinner being over and I about to paddle to Ld. Burgersh's room for an hour's smoke before going to bed (where you will no doubt ejaculate "those beastly cigars"), Lord Raglan stopped me and said "I want to speak to you for a moment, "so I went to his room wondering what it could be — he said, "Do you think your father and mother would like to see Fitz. in the Guards again."
Extract from a letter sent by Lord Raglan to Lieutenant-General the Earl of Stratford, GCB:
"Before Sebastopol,
23rd December 1854.
My dear Lord Stratford, — Colonel Steel has communicated to me your letter of the 8th December in which you desire him to inform me of your wish to place at my disposal two commissions of Lieutenant and Captain in the Coldstream to be taken from the Subalterns of this Army and I take unreservedly this opportunity to express to you my warmest thanks for this additional expression of your regard and for the great kindness which you have always experienced towards me .
The two officers which I wish to recommend to you are Lieutenant Henry Fitzhardinge Maxse of the 21st Regiment and John Augustus John Connolly of the 49th Regiment, (This officer was later awarded the Victoria Cross.) The first entered the Grenadier Guards as an Ensign, but becoming extravagant was made by his father to go into the Line. He has now become much wiser and Mrs Maxse [sic] would be glad to get him back into the Guards, He has been serving as Aide-de-Camp to the Earl of Cardigan, and was wounded in the instep in the action in front of Balaclava. His wound is not serious but his health being bad, it would not heal here, and a Medical Board lately recommended that he should be sent home. I offer you these two wounded men, well knowing your kind feelings towards those who have served well, and I trust that you will willingly accept them.
Thank you once again for your most obliging offer.
Yours faithfully,
Raglan."
This was one of the two commissions which Raglan had at his disposal, which gives some indication of the brother's standing, as he later remarks in the same letter:
"What a guardian and friend Lord Raglan has proved himself to the family.
A most awful hurricane has been sweeping the Black Sea... It took place on Tuesday and on the Heights here everything has been swept flat to the ground, tents, trees, huts and horses, my tent wonderfully has not been blown down, it being one of the few exceptions...
Just fancy how the army suffered having to stand up all day entirely unprotected from the rain and snow, The consequence may be imagined, some dead, and a number were taken ill, a drummer of Marines blown into the air and never seen again . At sea, the disaster was even more awful...What will the Editor of the Times say to all this, that potentate whose will sways all. The loss to the Army by these disasters is immense — ammunition — warm clothing — hay, etc. — All much better than a victory on the ground to the Russians."
"Will you tell Fitz, that I am afraid there is no chance of Lucan going home — also that my private belief is that Lord Cardigan will never have command out here again — he has rendered himself too unpopular with the cavalry". Tell Mum if she wants to see good pictures of Sebastopol and true — to call in at "Conalghi and Co." — 13 & 14 Pall Mall, East — and to send in her name — and they will at once show her the originals — as I have been very useful to the artist here, Mr William Simpson."
From Frederick Maxse to his parents, describing the battle of the Alma, which he had witnessed from the masthead of his ship:
"There was no enemy in sight except a Russian officer who just previous to our landing came on the spot & seemed to be taking notes of our force, immediately galloping off towards Constantinople, accompanied by a solitary Cossack...) I was on board the Himalaya, clearing her and hoisted Lord Cardigan's and Fitz's horses out of her and sent them on shore...
At about 11.30m a.m. the passage of the Alma commenced — Every movement and glade was spread out before me from the masthead, like one of Burford's panoramas — the Frenchmen quickly forded the river — anxiously we waited to see our men at work — who were now entirely hid from view in river-dell & of whose existence we knew not except for some stray artillery and musket firing from the Russians towards their position -/p>
'When are they coming — How slow they are.' were our constant remarks — till about an hour after the French commencing — all anxiety for their appearance was changed into the same for their success — they suddenly emerged from the vale, bodies and bodies of red-coats driving before them two regiments of Russians and advanced right up towards the most difficult and dangerous stronghold of the whole field — and entirely unsupported by artillery — against an entrenched battery of some 15 guns that kept flashing its shot & shell with the utmost rapidity on the pressing throng — until they slowly advanced, mass after mass coming out of the river."
From Fitz. Maxse to his parents, written from HMS Agamemnon, Balaclava Harbour, October 13th, where he was recovering from fever: "I lost my revolver at the battle of the Alma". And from the same ship "Off Sebastopol", 18th September [misdated for October], "I am fast recovering from the remnants of fever and hope to rejoin Lord Cardigan tomorrow."
His brother's constant bouts of fever gave Frederick concern, too. He wrote, "Lord Cardigan has been very good to him — a Captain Lockwood is temporary doing his duties."
From Fitz. Maxse to his mother, written [in pencil] from RYS Dryad (Lord Cardigan's yacht), Balaclava Harbour, 28th October 1854, while recovering from his wounds:
"I am writing this lying down, as I do not trust myself with ink — I hope the pencil will last — De Burgh has just told me that a post goes out directly — The papers will tell you of our affair of the 25th inst. Our loss was fearful and I will scrawl you a short account. The Russians attacked (about 25000 strong) Balaclava on the morning of the 25th — they took all the Turkish batteries and 7th of the guns lent to the Turks immediately. The Turks deserted their guns almost at the first shots.
They were pursued — by clouds of Russian cavalry between 2 and 3000 strong who came right up to our tents — The Heavy Brigade about 800 strong charged gallantly and routed them — He sent back me to Lord Lucan to explain that the spot we were ordered to attack was 3/4 of a mile off, there were batteries on either side and a heavy battery in front, also that the hills were lined with riflemen — Lord Lucan said that he could not help it & and we must attack.
Lord C. dropped his sword and led the way 20 yards in front of the Brigade — The plan below (still present) and the statement of our loss will show the tremendous fire we were under. It thinned us like a sickle through the grass — Lord C. led gallantly right through to the battery — a gun going off right between his horse's legs — I was struck on the foot by a spent round shot — or a bit of shell and though I managed to get on 40 or 50 yards from the batteries — I was obliged then to cling to my horse's mane and was nearly fainting —
I managed to cross the terrible cross fire still playing in the valley — and a French surgeon kindly dressed my foot for me — We cut down the gunners and broke the cavalry beyond — and then everybody had to fight his way out. It was a most brilliant but useless waste of life. Our Loss, 270 Men killed & wounded and 24th [PB: "th"?] officers. — I am too tired to write more."
A second letter home gives news of the casualty returns after the Charge (underestimated) and:
"Nothing can exceed Cardigan's kindness to me. My brother ADC, Captain Lockwood was killed in the charge, poor fellow — We had severe work the other day — of those 11th officers of our Brigade missing — there are only two prisoners, and they wounded — This we learnt by a flag of truce. Poor Fellows, they must have been murdered by those confounded Cossacks or left wounded by the Russians to die upon the field — The sale of their things took place yesterday — I lost my Varna horse with an English Pack saddle on him — and now probably a Don Cossack is wondering what it is."
And another, written from aboard the Columbo, off Scutari, 9th of November, while recovering from dysentery:
You asked me what horse I rode at the skirmish on the 19th of September (before the Alma). I rode your last present, the chestnut stallion. I also rode him at that desperate charge made by the Light Brigade at Balaclava the other day — & to him I owe my safe escape from a couple of Cossacks who came at me after I was wounded — when I could hardly hold on to his mane."
"There was a desperate battle fought the day before I left the Crimea (Nov. 5th). I, as you may guess, was in bed and not present. The cavalry however did not charge, the infantry did all the work. Fred was there."
From Frederick Maxse, describing what he had seen from the Heights above Sebastopol and to which he had ridden with Lord Raglan and his Staff after what they "imagined was another false alarm from Lord Lucan":
"Our cavalry then slowly advanced & halted, while the enemy retreating a little did the same, maintaining No 1 and No 2 Heights out of which we soon saw them dragging our guns. Upon which Lord Raglan sent an order to Lord Raglan to "follow enemy with Horse Artillery and endeavour to recover guns. the order was nearly this or certainly to that effect, in fact ordering the cavalry to what any cavalry should do, hover over an enemy which seems inclined to retreat.
The Quarter Master General wrote the order, Nolan carried it. — Lord Lucan (who you must know, Mum, fearfully mismanages the cavalry) and only 10 minutes before lost a most glorious opportunity of cutting off the enemy's cavalry with the Light Brigade when the Heavies had charged — on receiving this ordered Lord Cardigan to charge the enemy with the Light Brigade.
Then came what may truly be called a disaster — The Light Brigade galloped right down on the enemy's army who played on them a tremendous fire of artillery in front and both flanks — it was a hopeless gallant desperate thing, they went up to the guns, sabred the gunners and not content with that they charged into a square of infantry and column of Cossacks — the result may be easily imagined — wherever they charged they made their way, but it was like a shot through the air that gradually expends its force — they were obliged to retreat (naturally 800 against 2000 besides guns) with a fearful loss — out of the 800 that spurred their horses to this mad attack, only 200 remained —
Went down on the plain thinking to enquire after brother & delighted to hear he had only been very slightly wounded in the foot by a spent 6lb shot, in fact, only a contusion, then rode slowly on towards neutral ground (I mean the ground between our own & the enemy).
Suddenly looking to my left I saw poor Nolan lying dead, who ten minutes before I had seen eager & and full of life galloping down to Lord Lucan anxious & determined to make him do something with the cavalry (of which he is a member, he was always very indignant at the little they had done in the campaign & bitter against Lord L.).
All the cavalry lay his disastrous charge on his shoulders & say that he left no option to Lord L. to whom they say his tone was almost taunting delivering the message — if he was to blame, he has paid the penalty. 400 yards further on I found poor Charteris likewise dead, in fact the plain was strewn with horses and men. Towards sunset I rode home."
Also a letter from him describing his experiences as a member of Lord Raglan's Staff at Inkerman:
"Sunday, November 5th. — 8 a.m., a report brought of an attack on our right on our right on which horses were immediately out and away we went (by we, I mean Lord Raglan and Staff) and soon found ourselves in a pretty rapid fire of shell from the enemy's artillery, who had come out in great force...
There was an immense firing of musketry close to us and the minies (i.e., Minie bullets) were whistling over our heads, the object of contest seemed to be the brow of a hill close to us... The dullness and excessive density of the atmosphere prevented our distinguishing how the day went, at one moment things looked so bad that I imagined our position was almost lost, partly from observing a backward movement on the part of our men & partly from hearing such reports made as the following, "The Light Division has no ammunition left." — "General Pennefeather begs for immediate support or he cannot hold," -"The Guards are so reduced and slaughtered that they must retire and all their ammunition is out," — Five battalions cut to pieces," — "Pray, my Lord, let us have some more artillery'- "When are the French to support."
Then gradually things looked better ... our men gradually disappeared over the brow in advance, the shells dropped less frequently and the fine hearty British cheer was heard in the Hollow..."
(There is something odd here in that if he been at Inkerman, why did he not get the clasp for it, especially as there is another letter in the collection from Lady Charles Somerset thanking Lady Maxse for Frederick's having saved the life of her son, Colonel Poulet Somerset, a fellow ADC to Lord Raglan, at Inkerman. — "when a shell burst amongst us, killing Somerset's horse and taking off General Strangeway"s leg." )
From Fitz. Maxse to his mother telling her of his being invalided home and of the reception at Deene Park on the return there of Lord Cardigan:
"I am not bloodthirsty nor do I pretend to like cannon balls — but I should have wished to see Sevastopol fall & to have lasted it out with the rest of them. Lord Cardigan has been to see me — and has written a very handsome letter to me — in answer to mine resigning my appointment as ADC and requesting me to keep it and sending the re-appointment in a most kind manner."
We were received on entering Oundle with Flags, triumphal arches, etc,. — having been cheered the whole away down at each station — Cardigan, who was in his chariot — heard a speech etc., and drove off from the Town Hall in a volume of cheers.
I followed in a modest fly about 20 minutes afterwards and was as loudly cheered by the assembled crowd — somebody having told them my name — I did not tell Cardigan — as I thought he would not like anyone cheered but himself — He is going to buy that picture of himself that we saw in the shop in Conduit Street."
[PB: which pic?]
From a second letter sent the following day:
"We had last night, as Cardigan expressed it, a stormy dinner. Bob Williams got very screwy and quarrelsome — contradicted all Cardigan's assertions, etc., — who behaved beautifully however — and we have therefore to thank God for not being blown out of our beds by a duel this morning."
From Frederick Maxse to his mother describing Cardigan's anger at Lord Lucan's failure to acknowledge Fitz's gallantry during the Charge:
"Lord Cardigan is going home, As he was going out of the yard yesterday I wished him Good-bye.- and he said to me "I was very sorry not to see your brother's name mentioned in the despatch of Lord Raglan's about the cavalry charge. — he was the only ADC not mentioned and yet he was wounded in front of the battery. I think he ought to have been."
