Skip to main content

Full text of "A memoir of Lt.-col. Edward Anthony Steel, 1800-1919 : consisting chiefly of his letters and diaries with numerous illustrations"

See other formats


UCSB  LIBRARY 


A  MEMOIR   OF 
LT.-COL.  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL,  D.S.O. 


LIEUT.-COL.  E.  A.  STEEL,  D.S.O. 


Frontispiece. 


A  MEMOIR  OF 

LT.-COL.    EDWARD 
ANTHONY  STEEL,  D.S.O. 

R.H.A.  AND  R.F.A. 
1880-1919 

CONSISTING  CHIEFLY  OF  HIS  LETTERS  AND  DIARIES 
WITH  NUMEROUS  ILLUSTRATIONS 


COMPILED    BY    HIS    FATHER 

COLONEL   J.   P.   STEEL 

F.R.G.S.,    LATE    ROYAL    ENGINEERS 


LONDON:  SIMPKIN,  MARSHALL, 

HAMILTON,    KENT    &    CO.,    LTD. 

1921 


No,  not  for  me  be  the  cypress  wreath  braided, 
Never  o'er  me  be  the  proud  marble  reared ; 

Vain  all  the  show  with  which  pomp  hath  paraded 
Names  that  in  hearts  are  enshrined  and  endeared. 


R.  C.  C. 


TO     THE     MEMORY     OF     MY     SON  .S     COMRADES 

WHO     FELL     IN      THE     GREAT    WAR,     AND    TO 

THE    SURVIVORS,     ESPECIALLY     THOSE     WHOSE 

TENDER      CARE     WHEN      HE      WAS     SEVERELY 

WOUNDED  ENABLED  HIS  RETURN  TO  DUTY;  AND 

TO  HIS  MANY  FRIENDS    IN  THREE  CONTINENTS 

THIS  RECORD  OF   AN    EVENTFUL   LIFE 

IS  DEDICATED 


INTRODUCTION 

AMONG  civilised  nations  it  has  been  the  custom  from  the 
earliest  times  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  their  dead,  and 
to  mark  their  final  resting-place  by  monuments  varying 
in  importance  from  the  pyramid  to  the  simple  cross  : 
though  it  must  be  admitted  that  in  our  own  country  this 
method  of  keeping  green  the  memory  of  our  departed  has 
not  always  resulted  in  erecting  works  representative  either 
of  art  or  beauty. 

In  more  recent  times  the  tombstone  and  inscription  on 
brass  tablet  has  to  some  extent  superseded  the  monument, 
except  in  the  case  of  individuals  of  national  or  historical 
importance  ;  and  again,  the  epitaph  has  had  its  vogue, 
in  which  the  survivors  endeavoured  to  assuage  their  grief, 
as  well  as  to  mark  their  sense  of  loss,  by  exaggerating  the 
virtues  and  accomplishments  of  their  lost  relatives  :  the 
Great  War  has  caused  us  to  reconsider  many  of  our  previous 
conceptions  of  duty  and  conduct,  and  with  our  dead  reckoned 
in  thousands  our  perspective  has  been  altered.  Still  the 
desire  remains,  and  a  recent  discussion  as  to  the  form  to  be 
taken  has  indicated  its  intensity  ;  and  if  any  other  evidence 
were  wanting  it  would  be  found  in  the  periodical  '  In 
Memoriam  '  insertions  in  the  daily  papers,  in  which  the 
epitaph  of  last  century  is  superseded  by  suitable  quotations 
from  classic  or  poet. 

In  all  these  cases  the  desire  to  locate  the  resting-place  of 
the  dead  has  not  been  lost  sight  of,  and  the  failure  to  discover 
it  has  led  to  dubious  methods  of  research. 

The  subject  of  this  Memoir  lies  buried  in  the  Cossack 
cemetery  at  Omsk,  a  city  of  importance  in  Siberia,  but 
until  recently  little  more  than  a  geographical  expression  to 
all  but  students  of  the  East  or  of  geography.  His  resting- 

vii 


viii  INTRODUCTION 

place  may  never  be  visited,  before  another  generation  it 
may  be  forgotten  ;  and  its  very  remoteness  cannot  be  con- 
templated without  emotion.  These  considerations  have 
suggested  an  endeavour  to  keep  the  memory  of  this  gallant 
soldier  green  by  substituting  for  marble  or  brass  a  simple 
record  of  his  short  but  eventful  life.  It  will  be  seen  from 
the  story  that  in  September  1916  he  was  so  severely  wounded 
that  practically  all  hope  of  further  distinction  was  denied 
him,  and  he  was  condemned  for  one  and  a  half  years  to 
see  his  contemporaries — not  always  of  superior  ability — 
pass  over  him  and  obtain  further  opportunity  for  distinction. 
I  know  he  felt  this  keenly.  I  sometimes  think  that  we  do 
not  give  sufficient  credit  to  our  killed  and  wounded  for 
winning  our  battles  ;  it  may  well  be  that  in  some  cases 
they  deserved  more  than  the  survivors :  but  let  that  pass, 
except  that  perhaps  it  gives  the  clue  to  his  departure  on 
his  last  adventure,  when,  according  to  general  opinion,  his 
health  was  not  sufficiently  repaired  for  this  undertaking. 

I  remember  going  to  see  him  at  school,  and  expressing 
surprise  to  his  schoolmaster  that  he  shaped  better  at  cricket 
than  I  expected.  His  master  remarked  that  he  was  very 
modest  about  his  own  performances.  This  characteristic 
he  preserved  through  life,  although  his  more  than  average 
ability  might  easily  have  encouraged  conceit.  He  was 
of  untiring  industry ;  whatever  he  attempted,  he  gave  it 
his  best,  and  whether  at  work  or  play  he  was  equally  keen. 
Under  a  somewhat  brusque  manner  on  first  acquaintance, 
due  to  a  certain  shyness  that  he  never  quite  overcame, 
he  concealed  a  warm  heart  and  an  affectionate  nature. 
He  was  no  courtier,  and  had  scant  regard  for  rank  or  station 
unless  it  was  supported  by  merit ;  he  was  a  shrewd  observer 
of  competence  or  incompetence  in  those  both  above  and 
below  him,  and  as  far  as  I  recollect,  his  judgment  was 
generally  sound.  He  easily  made  friends  with  others  of 
similar  tastes,  and  never  forgot  those  who  had  been  kind 
to  him,  whatever  their  station  of  life.  Besides  being  an 
athlete  of  distinction,  he  had  a  decided  talent  for  the 
acquisition  of  languages,  and  whether  in  the  study  of 


INTRODUCTION  ix 

economics — a  course  of  which  he  passed  with  credit — or  in  a 
course  of  surveying  which  he  undertook  to  fit  himself  as  an 
explorer  and  for  boundary  work,  he  displayed  the  same 
industry  and  thoroughness.  Socially,  he  was  always  an 
acquisition.  As  master  of  the  ceremonies,  actor,  or  songster, 
he  was  in  great  request,  equally  in  the  barracks  with  the 
men  or  in  general  society. 

His  early  death  will  be  felt  as  a  personal  loss  to  many 
beyond  the  family  circle,  both  in  the  ranks  of  the  Royal 
Artillery  and  even  in  remote  Rhodesia,  and  all  will  share 
the  regret  that  an  adventure  entered  on  with  such  high 
hopes  should  have  had  such  a  disastrous  result,  and  that  his 
last  days  should  have  been  saddened  by  the  knowledge 
that  the  cause  he  had  espoused  had  so  far  not  been  success- 
ful. Writing  to  General  Sir  A.  Holland,  I  made  use  of  a 
somewhat  similar  expression,  and  referring  to  this  the 
General  wrote  :  '  I  feel,  however,  that  the  touchstone  of 
life  is  not  so  much  in  achievement  as  in  the  single-minded 
effort  to  assist  in  a  noble  cause,  and  judged  by  this  standard, 
your  son's  life  gained  its  true  end.'  With  that  judgment 
we  may  rest  content. 

J.  P.  S. 


CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  I 

Early  Life — Education — R.M.A..,  Woolwich — First  Commission, 
Aldershot — Work  and  Play — Transfer  to  Royal  Horse  Artillery 
— Funeral  of  Queen  Victoria — Manual  of  Artillery  Practice 
prepared  ........ 


CHAPTER  II 

Exchange  to  India,  departure — L  Battery,  Secunderabad — Life 
there — Trip  to  South  India — Kashmir — Football— Autumn 
Manoeuvres — Visit  of  Viceroy  .....  7 


CHAPTER  III 

Festivities  at  Secunderabad,  1902— L  Battery  wins  Football  Cup- 
Bombay  Athletic  Meeting,  many  Successes — Secunderabad 
Tournament,  best  Man-at-Arms  .....  18 


CHAPTER  IV 

Leave  to  England — Military  Tournament — Sports  at  Aldershot — 
Presentation  to  King — Range-finding  Model — Return  to  Secun- 
derabad— Autumn  Manoeuvres — Bombay  Athletic  Meeting — 
Football  Accident — Ordered  Home — King  Edward  vn.  Hospital 
— Scotland — Fit  for  General  Service  23 


CHAPTER  V 

Seconded  for  Service  under  Colonial  Office — Departure  for  Nigeria 
— Staff  Officer  under  Major  Trenchard — 1905,  Trip  to  Lokoja — 
Eket — Return  to  Calabar — Cross  River — Further  Expedition — 
Leave  to  England .  .  -..',•-  *  .  ,32 

zi 


xii  CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  VI 

PACK 

Return  to  England — School  of  Musketry,  Hythe — Survey  Course  at 
Southampton — Return  to  Nigeria — Life  and  Work  at  Lagos — 
Blackwater  Fever — Return  Home — Lecture  to  Royal  Geo- 
graphical Society — Gazetted  Captain— Joins  68th  Battery, 
R.F.A.,  Woolwich — Trawsfynnid — Gravesend — Lecture  at  Geo- 
graphical Institute,  Newcastle — Christmas  .  .  .42 


CHAPTER  VII 

Joins  Ordnance  College — Lecture  at  United  Service  Institution — 
Brother's  Marriage— Aviation  Meeting,  Doncaster — Rejoins  68th 
Battery — Course  of  Economics,  Clare  Market — Certificate — 
Transfer  to  17th  Battery,  Hilsea— Survey  Course,  Southampton  53 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Offered  Appointment  to  Anglo-Belgian  Boundary  Commission — 
Sails,  January  1912 — Work  in  Rhodesia — Leave,  November — 
Appointed  Chief  Commissioner — Work  on  Boundary  .  .  58 


CHAPTER  IX 

Arrived  in  England,  July  1914 — Reports  at  War  Office — Ordered 
on  Service — Leaves  Southampton,  August  27 — Havre — St. 
Nazaire — Le  Mans — Ordered  to  join  4th  Division,  35th  Battery 
— Jury — In  action  to  crossing  the  Aisne — Ordered  to  North, 
Oct.  7 — March,  Villers-Cotterets  to  Compiegne — Train  to  Haze- 
brouck,  Oct.  12 — In  action — Bailleul — Chateau  de  Nieppe — 
Promoted  Major  .  .  /'  .  .  .  .  .  78 


CHAPTER  X 

Messines — Neuve  Chapelle — Haig's  Order,  March  9 — Affair  of  Neuve 
Chapelle — Reasons  of  Failure — Attack  on  Aubers  Ridge — Festu- 
bert — Wounded — Reasons  of  Failure — June  Festivities — Instruc- 
tion at  School  of  Gunnery,  Aire — Comments  on  Operations  of 
Year — Opinions  of  other  Officers  .  .  .  .  .93 


CONTENTS  xiii 


CHAPTER  XI 

PAOI 

Return  to  England — Training  New  Artillery — Return  to  France, 
April  1916— Dangerously  Wounded  on  Somme,  September  15 — 
King  Edward  vn.  Hospital — Convalescent — Lecture  to  Royal 
Geographical  Society — Reported  Fit  for  Light  Duty,  April  1918  116 


CHAPTER  XII 

Anti-Aircraft — Passed  for  General  Service — Embarked  for  Meso- 
potamia— Appointed  Command  Brigade  Artillery — Volunteers 
for  Service  with  British  Military  Mission,  Siberia — Journey — 
Singapore — Shanghai,  Visit  and  Festivities — Vladivostok,  Novo- 
Nikolaevsk,  Barnaul,  Bisk,  Omsk,  Yekaterinburg — General 
Jack — Illness  and  Death  at  Omsk — Letters  from  General  Knox 
and  Russian  Officers — Summary — Conclusion  .  .  .  131 

GENEALOGY     ........      169 

INDEX  171 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

LiEUT.-CoL.  E.  A.  STEEL  „  Frontispiece 

FACING    PAGE 

CAPTAIN  OP  HOCKEY  AT  DOVER  COLLEGE         ...  2 

CADET,  WOOLWICH 3 

WINNING  HURDLES,  WOOLWICH 3 

OFFICERS  L  BATTERY,  R.H.A.,  ON  FOOT  .         .         .         .  14 

(From photograph  by  Messrs.  Raja  Deen  Dayal  <fc  Sons,  Nizam*' 
and  State  Photographers) 

OFFICERS  L  BATTERY,  R.H.A.,  MOUNTED          .         .         .  15 

(From photograph  by  Messrs.  Raja  Deen  Dayal  &  Sons,  Nizams' 
and  State  Photographers) 

FINALISTS  IN  R.A.  MADRAS  FOOTBALL  TOURNAMENT         .  16 

(Front photograph  by  Messrs.  Raja  Deen  Dayal  &  Sons,  Nizams' 
and  State  Photographers) 

LIEUT.  E.  A.  STEEL  AT  BOMBAY  ATHLETIC  MEETING        .  17 

( From  photograph  by  Messrs.  Raja  Deen  Dayal  tk  Sons,  Nizam*' 
and  State  Photographer*) 

OFFICERS  OF  NIGERIA  REGIMENT      .....  32 

ARTILLERY  OF  NIGERIA  REGIMENT    .....  33 

CAPT.  E.  A.  STEEL  AT  TRAWBFYNNID      .        .        .        .  52 
OFFICERS  AT  ORDNANCE  COLLEGE,  12th  ORDNANCE  COURSE, 

1909 53 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  ENGLISH  COMMISSION    ....  58 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  BELGIAN  COMMISSION    .       .  .        .        .  58 

GATHERING  COPPER  ORE  IN  KAMBOVE     .        .        .        .  59 

TUNNEL  INTO  THE  COPPER  MOUNTAIN               .  59 

CAPT.  E.  A.  STEEL  ........  60 

SKETCH  MAP  (CONGO-ZAMBEZI  WATERSHED)      ...  61 


xvi  LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

FACING    PAGE 

THE  UPPER  KAFUE  RIVER 64 

KANSANSHI  MINE  . .  .  ; 64 

THE  COMMISSION'S  TRACTION  TRAIN  ,  65 

ZAMBEZI  EXPRESS  ARRIVING  AT  ELIZABETHVILLE  .  .  65 
GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  35iH  BATTERY,  AT  COMPIEGNE,  OCT. 

1914         .        .        .        .        .        .         .         .         .  100 

GROUP  OF  MEN  35TH  BATTERY,  AT  COMPIEGNE,  OCT.  1914  100 

SIGNALLING  STATION,  FESTUBERT,  APRIL  1915  .  .  101 

SIGNALLING  STATION,  FROMELLES,  APRIL  1915  .  .  101 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  35ra  BATTERY,  AUGUST  1915  .  .  108 
GROUP  OF  'No.  IV  OF  GUNS  AND  BATTERY  ARTIFICER, 

MAY  1915 109 

SCENE  ON  THE  OB 144 

GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  AT  BARNAUL,  1919  .  .  .  .  144 

TRAINING  RUSSIAN  ARTILLERY  AT  BARNAUL  .  .  .  145 
LiEUT.-CoL.  E.  A.  STEEL  AND  MR.  WILTON  DURING  THE 

RETREAT  FROM  YEKATERINBURG  .  .  .  .  145 

FUNERAL  PARADE  IN  THE  SQUARE,  OMSK  .  .  .  160 

MOURNERS  FORMING  UP  IN  CATHEDRAL  SQUARE  .  .  161 

GUN-CARRIAGE  COVERED  WITH  WREATHS  .  .  .  161 

PROCESSION  OPPOSITE  CATHEDRAL  .  .  .  .  .  166 

ANOTHER  VIEW  OF  THE  PROCESSION,  CHARGER  FOLLOWING  166 

THE  GRAVE  OF  LIEUT. -CoL.  E.  A.  STEEL  .  .  .  167 


The  Illustrations  facing  pp.  58  and  59  are  from  blocks  lent  by  South 
Africa,  and  those  facing  pp.  61  to  65  from  blocks  lent  by  the  Royal 
Geographical  Society. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 


CHAPTER  I 

Early  Life — Education — R.M.A.,  Woolwich — First  Commission, 
Alder  shot — Work  and  Play — Transfer  to  Royal  Hone  Artillery 
— Funeral  of  Queen  Victoria — Manual  of  Artillery  Practice 
prepared. 

EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL,  the  subject  of  this  memoir,  was 
born  at  Ajmere  on  December  12,  1880.  His  parents  were 
temporarily  residing  in  the  Residency,  which  had  been 
placed  at  their  disposal  by  the  Governor-General's  Agent 
and  Chief  Commissioner  of  Ajmere,  Major  Bradford,1  who 
was  on  tour,  and  to  whose  administration  Major  Steel,  R.E., 
was  Secretary  in  the  Public  Works  Department.  On  the 
return  of  the  Chief  Commissioner,  Mrs.  Steel  returned  with 
her  children  to  Mount  Abu,  and  remained  there  until  1884, 
when  Major  Steel  was  advised  to  take  sick  leave  and  came 
to  England. 

Shortly  after  reaching  England  Major  and  Mrs.  Steel 
settled  at  Park  Gate,  Wanstead,  and  in  1886  Major  Steel 
returned  to  India  and  resumed  his  duties  in  Rajputana. 

For  those  interested  in  genealogical  inquiries  the  pedigree 
of  E.  A.  Steel  is  given  in  an  appendix,  and  can  be  referred 
to  by  those  who  desire  information  in  such  matters. 

Edward  Anthony  Steel  remained  at  Park  Gate,  Wan- 
stead,  with  his  mother  until  1889,  when  the  lease  of 
the  house  at  Wanstead  expired  and  Mrs.  Steel  decided 
to  make  a  trip  to  India  and  spend  the  summer  at  Naini 
Tal,  where  Lt.-Col.  Steel,  now  Chief  Engineer  and  Secretary 
to  the  Government  of  the  N.W.P.,  was  residing ;  and  as 

1  Later  Col.  Sir  E.  R.  C.  Bradford,  Bart,,  Q.C.B.,  G.C.V.O.,  K.C.S.I. 
(deceased). 

A 


2  A  MEMOIR  OF 

the  boy  Edward  was  not  old  enough  to  be  sent  to  school, 
Mrs.  Steel  took  him  with  her. 

The  journey,  at  the  hottest  tune  in  the  year,  was  unevent- 
ful, except  that  at  Malta  they  encountered  Col.  Helsham- 
Jones,  R.E.,1  who  took  care  of  them  and  placed  them 
under  an  obligation  that  they  never  forgot. 

Their  stay  at  Naini  Tal,  in  the  entourage  of  the  Lt.-Gov., 
Sir  Auckland  Colvin,  passed  pleasantly  enough.  During 
that  exceptionally  heavy  rainy  season  many  houses  were 
damaged,  and  it  was  necessary  to  consider  whether  Govern- 
ment House  should  be  removed  to  the  opposite  side  of 
the  lake.2 

The  season  over,  Col.  Steel  returned  to  his  duty  with 
the  Government,  and  Mrs.  Steel,  with  Edward,  went  to 
Calcutta,  visiting  on  the  way  her  brother,  Sydney  Thuillier, 
a  tea-planter  in  Behar,  and  enrolled  in  the  Behar  Light 
Horse. 

In  Calcutta  they  stayed  a  week  with  her  brother,  Col. 
(now  Sir  H.)  Thuillier,  Surveyor-General  of  India,  and 
eventually  embarked  hi  the  P.  and  0.  steamer  for  Colombo, 
where  they  were  met  by  her  cousins,  the  Firmmgers,  and 
after  a  short  visit  continued  their  journey  home. 

In  the  following  year,  1891,  Col.  Steel  obtained  furlough 
and  came  home,  and  the  family  settled  at  Lowestoft  on  the 
East  Coast.  The  eldest  son,  John  Miles,  went  to  Stubbing  - 
ton  preparatory  to  joining  the  Navy,  the  daughter,  Frances, 
and  Edward  remained  at  home  for  a  year,  after  which 
Frances  was  sent  to  St.  Margaret's,  at  that  time  a  well- 
known  school  in  Trafalgar  Square,  Chelsea,  and  Edward 
to  Messrs.  Bruton  and  Os borne  at  Brighton.  He  remained 
there  till  1895.  It  should  be  said  here  that  it  had  been 
intended  to  send  him  to  Winchester,  but  after  much  con- 
sideration and  Dr.  Fearon's  assurance  that  the  curriculum 
at  Winchester  would  be  of  little  assistance  to  him  if  he 
went  to  Woolwich,  this  plan  was  rejected  and  he  was  sent 
to  Dover  College,  mainly  on  the  representation  of  Col. 
Eteson  (Bursar  of  the  College),  whom  Col.  Steel  had  known 

1  Died  1920.  *  This  has  since  been  carried  out. 


CADET,  WOOLWICH. 


WINNING  HURDLES,  WOOLWICH. 


Facing  p.  3. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  3 

intimately  in  India.1  From  there  he  passed  into  Woolwich. 
He  got  no  prizes  in  the  classes,  but  obtained  the  first  in 
Riding,  Horsemanship,  and  Swimming,  and  in  Athletics 
the  Hurdles. 

To  his  great  chagrin  he  just  missed  going  to  the  Boer 
War.  At  the  end  of  a  year  at  Woolwich,  the  Cadets  were 
asked  to  elect  if  they  would  go  out  at  once  or  stay  on  and 
take  their  chance  of  getting  engineers.  Edward  decided 
to  remain,  but  the  arrangement  was  upset  immediately 
afterwards,  and  he  was  flung  out  and  consequently  below 
all  his  juniors  in  the  previous  term,  and  in  the  meantime 
the  last  Batteries  to  go  to  Africa  were  completed. 

Receiving  his  first  commission  in  January  1900,  he  was 
posted  to  the  49th  Brigade,  consisting  of  three  Howitzer 
Batteries,  Nos.  146,  147,  148,  of  a  newly-formed  brigade 
then  being  mobilised  for  the  Boer  War  under  Major  Battis- 
combe,  from  recruits  strengthened  by  the  return  of  several 
convalescents  from  South  Africa,  and  Lt.  Steel  was  posted 
to  the  148th  Battery,  Major  Lyon,  R.F.A.,  O.C.2 

1  Mr.  Lee,  the  present  Head  Master  of  Dover  College,  has  kindly  given 
me  the  following  account  of  his  career. 

'  Your  son's  batting  averages  were  as  follows  : — 

No.  of  Innings.     Total  Highest  Times  not  Average. 

Runs.  Score.            Out. 

1897  .          .     11                   47  16*                 3  6-87 

1898  .          .     11                 233  61*                 2  25-88 

(2nd  best) 


Bowling. 

Overs. 

Maidens. 

Buns. 

Wickets. 

Average. 

88 

21 

179 

14 

12-78 

50 

9 

118 

7 

16-85 

1897 
1898 

'  He  played  three-quarter  back  in  the  Football  Team,  forward  in  the 
Hockey  XI.  He  was  in  the  Running  Team  in  1897  and  won  the  120  yards 
Hurdle  Race  in  18fr  seconds  in  the  Inter-School  Sports  with  King's  School, 
Canterbury,  and  Button  Valence  School.  In  1898  he  won  the  Hurdles 
again  in  18|  seconds. 

'  I  well  remember  persuading  him  to  do  his  hurdles  in  three  strides 
and  was  proud  when  he  won  the  Championship  in  India.  He  was  a 
fine,  all-round  man,  and  I  was  very  sorry  indeed  to  hear  of  his  death.' 

a  Major  Lyon,  who  commanded  the  148th  Battery,  wrote  of  him:  'Lt. 
Steel,  R.F.A.,  served  in  my  Battery  for  about  twelve  months  in  1900-1. 
He  showed  much  zeal  and  energy,  and  every  promise  of  being  a  most 
capable  officer.  He  left  the  Battery  to  join  the  R.H.A.' 


4  A  MEMOIR  OF 

He,  like  other  young  officers  at  that  time,  was  anxious 
to  get  to  South  Africa,  and  he  wrote  to  General  Raper, 
who  had  known  him  from  childhood,  asking  him  whether 
he  had  any  chance  of  going  either  with  drafts  to  replace 
casualties,  or  if  he  could  be  attached  to  some  South  African 
Native  Corps.  General  Raper  told  him  that,  as  he  be- 
longed to  a  Battery  already  detailed  to  be  in  readiness 
for  South  Africa  if  the  artillery  of  the  8th  Division  were 
ordered  to  go,  he  was  not  likely  to  be  taken  except  with 
his  own  Battery.  As  regards  employment  with  a  native 
regiment,  the  artillery  being  short  of  officers,  no  R.A. 
officer  would  be  allowed  to  go  at  that  time.  And  there 
would  be  no  advantage  in  getting  his  name  down  on  the 
list  for  that  Service. 

On  receipt  of  this  reply  he  settled  down  to  his  work  in 
the  Battery,  took  on  the  secretaryship  of  the  football  club, 
and  did  all  he  could  to  train  his  men  for  war  or  peace. 
The  result  of  his  work  will  appear  later.  As  to  his  success 
with  the  football  club,  it  is  on  record  that  he  succeeded 
in  getting  his  Battery  into  the  second  round  of  the  Army 
Football  Challenge  Cup,  first  by  playing  a  drawn  game 
with  the  3rd  Worcesters,  and  then  beating  them  by  5 — 1. 
The  affair  at  this  time  caused  tremendous  excitement  at 
Aldershot  and  was  commented  on  in  the  Broad  Arrow, 
which  gave  a  full  account  of  the  game,  adding  :  '  The  result 
is  highly  satisfactory,  and  Lt.  Steel,  R.F.A.,  the  Hon. 
Sec.  of  the  R.A.  Football  Club,  is  to  be  congratulated  on 
having  got  the  R.A.  Aldershot  Team  into  the  second  round 
for  the  Challenge  Cup.  The  following  composed  the  team, 
one  man  short  throughout  the  game  : — 

'  Goal  :  Gunner  James.  Backs  :  Driver  Ames  and 
Gunner  Taylor.  Half-backs  :  Lt.  Gray,  Lt.  Steel  (Capt.), 
and  Driver  Slater.  Forwards :  Gunner  Bristoe,  Driver 
Griffiths,  Sergeant  Baxter,  and  Gunner  Hampson.' 

It  was  not  only  at  football  that  Lt.  Steel  thus  early 
made  his  mark ;  he  also  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  a 
smart  officer  at  his  work,  and  later  on  in  the  year  he  was 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  5 

selected  for  the  Horse  Artillery  (1901),  and  ordered  to  join 
V  Battery,  part  of  which  was  then  at  St.  John's  Wood 
Barracks,  the  remainder  having  gone  to  Australia  with 
Major  Askwith. 

Commenting  on  the  transfer  the  Broad  Arrow  remarked  : 
'  Footballers  will  be  sorry  to  learn  that  2nd  Lt.  E.  A.  Steel, 
the  popular  Secretary  of  the  148th  Battery  Team,  has  been 
transferred  to  V  Battery,  Royal  Horse  Artillery,  at  St. 
John's  Wood.' 

With  only  the  skeleton  of  the  Battery  there  was  not 
much  occupation  for  an  energetic  officer.  It  happened  that 
Lt.  Steel  was  detailed  on  January  31,  with  twenty  mounted 
men,  to  act  as  signallers  during  the  funeral  procession  on 
that  date  of  Her  Majesty  Queen  Victoria,  and  to  act  as 
orderlies  to  the  G.O.C.  Home  District,  the  order  being 
signed  by  F.  C.  Ricardo.1  On  April  2  he  was  promoted  1st 
Lieutenant,  and  as  only  a  section  of  the  Battery  was  there, 
and  only  one  subaltern  besides  himself,  he  did  not  find  the 
work  very  attractive,  and  when  he  heard  from  Messrs. 
Cox  and  Co.  that  an  officer  in  L  Battery  at  Secunderabad 
(Lt.  Hambro)  was  anxious  to  make  an  exchange,  he 
availed  himself  of  the  opportunity,  arranged  the  transfer 
with  the  War  Office  Authorities,  and  prepared  to  embark 
for  India,  employing  his  spare  time  in  preparing  a  manual 
for  artillery  practice,  of  which  Cattermole  2  of  Woolwich 
was  the  publisher. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Col. 
Aylmer  to  Maj.-Gen.  J.  A.  Steel,  uncle  of  Lt.  E.  A.  Steel. 

'  This,'  wrote  Col.  Aylmer,  '  is  a  most  useful  little  work, 
and  should  answer  its  purpose  admirably ;  it  is  not  often 
that  one  hears  of  such  a  very  young  officer  taking  so  much 
pains  and  trouble  in  the  interests  of  the  Service  to  which 
he  belongs,  and  being  able  at  such  an  age  to  impart  such 
useful  knowledge.  Wlien  I  served  in  the  Horse  and 

1  Now  Col.  Francis  Cecil  Ricardo,  C.V.O.,  A.A.Q.  Home  District,  1900 
1904,  High  Sheriff  of  Berkshire,  1913. 

2  The  Horse  and  Field  Artilleryman's  Handbook,  containing  section 
gun  drill  of  the  12-  and  15-pounder  guns.  By  Lt.  E.  A.  Steel,  R.H.A. 


6     A 

Field  Artillery  I  should  have  been  very  glad  to  have  had 
young  subalterns  so  keen  and  zealous.  This  young  officer 
ought  to  go  far,  and  if  he  keeps  up  his  knowledge  he  is 
certain  to  be  well  thought  of  and  given  chances  of  dis- 
tinguishing himself.  He  is  lucky,  for  he  belongs  to  the 
finest  Service  in  the  world  and  joins  it  young.' 


CHAPTER  II 

Exchange  to  India,  departure — L  Battery,  Secunderabad — Life  there 
—Trip  to  South  India— Kashmir— Football— Autumn  Manoeuvres 
— Visit  of  Viceroy. 

1901 

HE  sailed  from  Southampton  in  the  P.  and  O.  steamer 
Peninsular.  He  suffered  terribly  from  seasickness  as  far 
as  Gibraltar.  Feeling  better  on  arrival  at  Gibraltar,  he 
managed  to  land,  and  went  up  to  call  on  Lady  White,  but 
was  disappointed  at  not  finding  her  at  home  ;  for  this  reason, 
no  doubt,  he  did  not  mention  it  in  his  letter  from  Marseilles, 
and  it  only  transpired  through  a  letter  from  Lady  White 
to  Mrs.  Steel  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : — 

'  THK  CONVENT,  GIBRALTAR, 
'  Oct.  4,  1901. 

'  I  am  more  grieved  than  I  can  say  that  I  have  missed 
seeing  your  son.  Your  letter  reached  me  when  I  was  just 
recovering  from  the  Royal  visits,  and  I  did  not  mention, 
as  I  should  have  done,  that  I  was  expecting  to  see  your 
boy  off  the  Peninsular.  When  he  called  we  were  on 
board  the  Majestic  lunching  with  the  Admiral,  and  when 
we  returned  home  it  was  too  late  to  see  your  son.  The 
Peninsular  had  sailed.  I  am  so  sorry,  for  we  love  to  see 
our  friends,  or  any  one  belonging  to  them.' 

He  passed  through  Egypt  without  incident,  and  had  a 
lovely  voyage  from  there  to  Bombay. 

He  stayed  at  Watson's  Hotel,  and  Hambro,  with  whom 
he  had  made  his  exchange,  came  round  to  see  him  and 
brought  his  butler.1 

1  The  butler  or  body  servant  on  the  Bombay  side  of  India  ia  a  general 
servant  and  is  usually  passed  on  to  a  new-comer. 

T 


8  A  MEMOIR  OF 

After  a  long  journey  of  about  twenty  hours  he  arrived 
at  Begumpet,  about  five  miles  from  Trimulgherry,  where 
'  Greathead  came  to  meet  me  in  the  Battery  Coach.' 

The  Battery  at  that  time  consisted  of  :  Major  lad,  on 
leave,  Capt.  Greathead,  Lt.  Jocelyn  Mellor,  Lt.  E.  A.  Steel, 
Lt.  J.  V.  Ramsden.1 

*  I  was  rather  disappointed  with  the  place  which  was  to 
be  my  home  for  some  time  to  come.    I  expected  to  find  a 
big  place  something  like  Aldershot,  but  you  would  think 
there  was  no  one  here  but  yourself,  and  our  lines  are 
nearly  a  mile  off  the  Mess.    There  is  not  much  sport  about 
here.    No    pig-sticking.    Very  little    football    or  cricket, 
and  not  much  hi  the  way  of  society. 

'  We  live  in  quarters  here,  not  nearly  so  nice  as  a  bungalow. 
I  have  the  room  next  to  Jocelyn.2  We  have  excellent 
servants,  and  they  keep  everything  very  nice.' 

'April  10. — Jocelyn  arrived  here  suddenly,  a  week 
before  his  leave  was  up,  so  there  are  three  of  us  hi  our 
Battery.  I  have  bought  rather  a  fine  horse,  a  bay 
Australian,  and  he  is  arriving  to-day. 

*  Jocelyn  is  very  fit  after  his  sojourn  in  the  Jungle,  and 
has  come  back  with  two  fine  tigers,  besides  trophies  of  other 
varieties. 

*  I  am  devoting  my  time,  or  whatever  is  left,  to  the  Battery 
Football,  in  which  neither  Greathead,  J.,  nor  Ramsden  take 

1  Josslyn  V.  Ramsden  (now  Lieut.-Col.),  D.S.O.,  1915,  B.A.,  son  of 
John  C.  F.  Ramsden,  grandson  of  Sir  J.  Ramsden,  4th  Baronet,  the 
only  survivor  of  these  officers. 

*  Jocelyn  Mellor  (second  son  of  C.  W.  Mellor,  Esq.,  J.P.,  Brighton, 
formerly  I.C.S.,  and  Florence  (n6e  Thuilh'er),  his  mother's  sister)  obtained 
his  first  commission  from  Woolwich  in  1897,  and  was  therefore  three 
years  senior  to  E.  A.  Steel.     He  was  a  keen  soldier,  beloved  by  his  men, 
towards  whom  he  combined  strict  discipline  with  sympathetic .  treat- 
ment to  all  who  were  anxious  to  become  efficient.     He  was  described  by 
General  Francis  as  the  best  H.A.  subaltern  he  had  ever  known,  and  this 
character  was  endorsed  by  the  O.C.  of  his  own  battery.     In  private  life 
he  was  universally  popular,  owing  to  his  attractive  personality  and  his 
chivalrous  and  generous  bearing  to  all  within  his  social  circle,  a  keen  and 
intrepid  sportsman.    For  the  cause  of  his  early  death,  which  was  deplored, 
not  only  by  his  comrades  in  the  Service,  but  by  all  who  valued  its  tradi- 
tions, see  p.  39. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  9 

any  interest.  The  men  are  getting  quite  keen ;  we  hope 
to  win  the  Cup,  which  comes  on  soon.' 

'  June  16. — I  had  my  Exam,  yesterday,  and  hope  I 
have  passed,  so  I  may  go  and  see  Hart,  who  is  near  Madras, 
I  think,  and  then  go  and  see  Aunt  Bea.1  They  have  just 
got  two  months'  leave  and  have  gone  to  Murree.  I  propose 
going  to  join  them  in  Kashmir,  where  they  have  gone  for 
two  months,  so  I  am  planning  a  short  journey  in  Southern 
India.  I  propose  going  to  Madras,  Pondicherry,  Trichino- 
poly,  Tuticorin,  Calicut,  Bangalore,  Mysore,  and  finally  up 
to  Goa.  I  hope  I  may  get  back  safely.  I  shall  have  to  do 
some  part  of  the  journey  in  somebody's  bullock  cart  if  they 
will  let  me.' 

'  June  24. — I  have  just  returned  from  my  last  trip  and 
am  on  my  way  to  Kashmir  to  join  Aunt  Bea  at 
Gulmurg.' 

'  June  29. — I  arrived  at  Baramula  on  the  way  to  Kashmir. 
A  very  nice  bungalow  on  the  banks  of  the  Jhelum. 

'  I  find  I  shall  have  to  wait  till  to-morrow  for  a  pony. 
In  front  of  me  the  Jhelum  flows  very  smooth,  until  about 
100  yds.  further  down  it  becomes  a  torrent.  I  have  passed 
my  "  A  "  and  "  B  "  all  right.' 

'  July  8,  Gulmurg. — I  have  been  here  a  week,  and  am  just 
recovering  from  the  effects  of  a  journey  which  took  nearly 
eight  days.  Arrived  here  last  Sunday  from  Baramula  in 
drenching  rain  on  a  small  pony. 

'  They  were  very  surprised  to  see  me  on  such  a  terrible 
day.  After  this  we  had  a  whole  week  of  fine  weather,  and 
I  have  had  a  ripping  time.  I  have  met  Mrs.  Atkinson, 
Mrs.  and  Sybil  Beecher,  Mrs.  MacNeill  and  her  brother, 
who  knows  John  2  well,  Captain  Fisher  and  Leslie.* 

'  I  have  just  heard  my  leave  has  been  extended  till  the 
31st  of  this  month  ;  so  I  shall  leave  here  about  the  22nd, 
visiting  Srinagar  on  the  way.  I  was  very  glad  I  came,  as 

1  Aunt  Bea  (nte,  Davies),  wife  of  Col.  W.  Thuillier,  I.S.C.,  his  mother's 
brother. 

*  His  elder  brother,  Lt.  John  Miles  Steel,  R.N.,  at  that  time  command- 
ing T.B.  Destroyer  Flying  Fish. 

*  Leslie  Thuillier,  his  cousin. 


10  A  MEMOIR  OF 

next  year  I  hope  to  get  home  for  Frances' 1  wedding,  and  I 
think  I  shall  like  my  own  part  of  the  country  much  better 
when  I  get  back.' 

'  July  20,  Srinagar. — I  have  left  Gulmurg,  "  the  Meadow 
of  Roses,"  now  for  ever,  and  am  stopping  here  two  days  on 
my  way  back.  This  seems  a  wonderful  place,  rather  like 
Venice,  I  expect,  as  you  do  everything  hi  boats.  Pull  up 
at  any  one's  shop  which  faces  the  river,  and  then  go  on. 
I  have  arranged  a  trip  for  to-morrow  on  the  water  to 
see  everything  for  miles  around,  so  I  will  go  on  with  this 
later  on.  I  was  sorry  to  leave  Gulmurg  hi  a  way.  There 
were  some  nice  people  there  and  it 's  a  nice  change  from 
T'gherry,  where  there  's  nought  but  soldiering,  but  I  shall 
be  glad  to  get  back,  I  think.' 

'  Sunday. — I  don't  think  I  've  ever  had  a  day  more  unlike 
a  Sunday  than  to-day.  I  like  keeping  Sunday  rather, 
but  you  can't  in  a  place  like  this.  Ali  Jan,  a  great  em- 
broidery merchant,  came  round  in  the  morning,  and  I  had 
to  go  off  to  his  shop,  and  I  got  back  here  at  2  o'clock  this 
afternoon/ 

'  Dal  Lake. — I  woke  up  this  morning  with  a  beautiful 
sun  shining  hi  the  middle  of  the  most  beautiful  lake  in  the 
world.  Was  surprised  by  a  man  turning  up  in  a  small 
boat  with  wares  for  sale.  How  the  little  boat  didn't  upset 
I  don't  know,  but  he  was  almost  buried  behind  bundles 
of  things,  which  consisted  chiefly  of  guns,  rifles  (some  of 
his  own  make,  he  said),  knives,  old  Persian  tulwars,  etc. 
These  he  spread  out  on  the  deck.  I  explained  that  I  was 
not  going  to  buy  anything  at  all  and  had  come  out  for  a 
rest.  My  boatman,  however,  played  the  game  well,  and  I 
tossed  him  for  half  of  the  real  value  of  the  goods  in  question. 
Luck  was  on  my  side,  so  I  came  away  with  another  bundle 
of  goods.  To  make  up  for  my  luck,  he  suggested  I  should 
purchase  one  of  his  guns — an  absurd  thing,  of  course,  on  the 
face  of  it,  to  go  and  buy  a  gun  out  here — so  I  suggested, 
not  to  hurt  him,  we  should  try  them,  and  he  seemed  pleased, 

1  Frances,  his  sister,  married  L.  H.  Carr-Birkbeck,  M.B.,  who  served 
during  the  war  with  B.A.M.C.  and  retired  in  1919  with  rank  of  Major. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  11 

so  we  landed  on  a  little  island  called  Sonahawk,  about 
30   yds.  broad  only,   with  some   trees,  and   black  sheep 
grazing.     He  wanted  me  to  try  his  own  make,  600  bore 
rifle  with  Eley  cordite  bullet  which  he  supplied,  and  the 
boatman  being  greatly  excited,  stuck  up  a  bit  of  paper  on 
a  tree  about  20  yds.  off.   So  just  to  show  them  what  I  could 
do,  I  took  aim  and  fired.    My  shoulder  was  nearly  blown 
off,  and  a  bit  of  tree  came  back  and  nearly  stunned  me. 
The  tree  nearly  fell  down  and  the  sheep  all  ran  into  the 
water  and  were  nearly  drowned,  so  I  returned  Ramzanah 
his  own  make  rifle,  and  we  left  the  island  amidst  the  shouts 
of  the  boatmen,  who  were  greatly  impressed  with  the  Sahib's 
shooting.     Our  next  place  was  the  "  Nishat  Bagh,"  where 
we  landed.    It  consisted  of  a  sort  of  palace,  and  behind  were 
gardens  beautifully  laid  out  in  terraces,  and  rivulets  running 
through  it  from  the  mountain,  which  towered  gloriously 
behind.     I  was  rather  afraid  at  first  of  landing,  as  I  couldn't 
believe  a  place  like  this  was  meant  for  any  casual  visitor. 
But  I  did,  and  apparently  it  was  uninhabited,  save  for  a 
few  gardeners  who  were  sleeping.    The  garden  was  full  of 
every  kind  of  fruit  imaginable,  one  hardly  knew  which  to 
pick  first,  but  the  peaches,  which  grew  like  plums,  received 
most  of  my  attention.    It  reminded  one  more  of  fairy  tales 
one  reads,  and  more  than  once  I  felt  as  if  I  were  wandering 
through  dreamland  and  should  suddenly  meet  some  fairy 
who  would  turn  me  into  an  animal  for  trespassing.     It  is 
hard  to  express  on  paper  one's  feelings  on  being  alone  in 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  spots  on  this  earth,  so  far  away 
from  one's  home,  but  I  had  to  leave  it,  as  the  day  was  getting 
on  and  I  must  be  back.    We  went  on  to  another  place 
exactly  the  same,  where  half -civilised  Kashmiris   live   in 
absolute  bliss  and  ignorance  of  their  beautiful  surroundings. 
I  got  back  at  8  P.M.,  dined  at  the  hotel,  and  then  returned 
to  my  boat,  which  I  had  taken  round  to  the  place  where 
the  Tonga  started  at  4  A.M.  next  morning.     As  I  am  travel- 
ling down  with  the  English  mail  I  will  go  on  with  this  along 
the  journey.' 

'  July  26,  Gwalior. — Arrived  here.    Staying  at  the  Guest 


12  A  MEMOIR  OF 

House,  which  the  Maharajah  has  built  for  strangers,  but  it 
is  more  like  a  palace,  with  pagoda  and  turret  and  beautifully 
furnished.' 

'  July  27. — Arrived  at  Bhopal.  I  love  these  Indian 
places  which  the  white  man  does  not  frequent,  they  are  the 
only  places  where  one  sees  Hindoo  life  in  reality.  I  thought 
I  had  been  hi  some  hot  places,  but  never  before  like  to-day. 
As  I  write  in  the  moon,  beads  of  perspiration  are  streaming 
down  all  parts  of  my  body — I  have  lost  many  pounds.' 

*  July  28. — Went  on  to  Indore.     At  the  Residency  met 
Capt.  Dixon,  R.H.A.,  who  took  me  back  to  dinner.     Same 
day  left  for  Bombay,   arriving  on   the   31st   at   Trimul- 
gherry. 

'  Aunt  Bea  was  awfully  nice  and  wouldn't  let  me  pay 
for  anything.  It  was  a  good  idea  sending  my  book  to 
Mrs.  Eustace.1  I  must  write  to  her.  I  think  I  am  rather 
good  at  travelling  by  train.  I  don't  mind  the  heat  a  bit, 
although  it  was  hot  at  Gwalior. 

*  J.  is  commanding  the  Battery  and  doing  it  well,  too, 
Greathead  having  gone  to  Bangalore  for  a  Garrison  class. 

'  I  think  I  told  you  last  mail  we  had  beaten  the  49th. 
The  Final  was  put  off  last  Thursday  on  account  of  Lt. 
Harvey's  (4th  Hussars)  death,  and  we  played  the  23rd 
yesterday  in  the  Final.  However,  the  23rd  have  protested 
that  the  umpire  played  over  tune.  I  don't  know  if  I  told 
you  in  my  last  letter  that  I  heard  from  Nellie  Clarke.' 2 

'  Sept.  4,  The  Mount,  Madras. — I  have  got  here  at  last.  This 
is  a  very  charming  place.  Two  nice  rivers  with  a  beautiful 
Boating  Club,  a  Gymkhana  Club,  Racing,  and  Swimming 
Baths.  So  that  it  is  far  superior  to  Bombay  in  that  way, 
but  the  heat  is  terrific.' 

1  Now  Lady  Eustace  (n6e  Marina  Stewart),  the  second  of  four  beautiful 
daughters  of  the  late  Sir  Donald  Stewart,  married  Capt.  (now  Sir)  Francis 
Eustace,  K.C.B.,  at  that  time  commanding  B.A.  at  Aldershot,  now  Col.- 
Commandant,  B.A. 

1  Nellie  Clarke  ('  the  Fairy  of  Portland  Place  '),  only  daughter  of  Gen. 
Sir  Andrew  Clarke  of  the  Royal  Engineers,  Governor  of  Straits  Settle- 
ments, Member  of  Indian  Council,  etc.,  married  Commander  (now  Capt.) 
Sueter,  C.B.,  B.N. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  13 

'Sept.  11,  Madras. — No  news  except  the  sad  bit  that  we 
were  beaten  yesterday  in  the  Final  by  the  55th,  who  had 
come  from  Belgaum.  Every  one  expected  us  to  win,  and 
photographers  had  made  arrangements  to  take  us  next 
day  with  the  Cup  for  different  English  papers.  We  leave 
this  evening  for  Secunderabad.' 

'  Sept.  24. — You  have  heard  that  our  football  campaign 
was  not  a  success.  It  is  very  nice  here  for  football  really, 
but  not  so  at  Madras,  where  the  heat  is  terrible.  I  am 
sending  home  the  account  of  the  Hyderabad  City  and  the 
festival  we  all  went  to.  I  want  you  to  try  and  get  some  one 
to  take  it.  I  will  also  send  an  account  of  our  two  Batteries 
for  the  Final  Madras  Cup  with  the  combined  photo. 

'  I  have  done  nothing,  except  playing  a  game  of  cricket 
last  Sunday,  and  since  then  we  have  had  parades  every 
day.  To-day  I  am  going  up  to  spend  the  day  with  the 
Reids  at  Bolarum.' 

'  Oct.  16. — To-morrow  will  be  the  last  day  of  the  Races, 
and  as  I  have  a  horse  running,  I  am  keen  on  being  down 
there  ;  after  that  I  have  a  rehearsal  for  a  piece  I  am  acting 
in.  It  comes  off  in  a  fortnight,  and  I  have  only  just  been 
given  the  piece.  It  is  called  Id  on  parle  francais.  I  have 
been  laid  up  again  the  last  few  days  with  a  kick  from  a 
horse  on  the  knee,  and  it  is  not  right  yet. 

'  I  have  just  come  back  from  the  rehearsal  (8  P.M.).  It 
went  off  fairly  well.  We  had  a  very  nice  afternoon  at  the 
Races,  only  my  horse  lost,  he  was  just  hustled  into  3rd 
place. 

'  I  told  you  I  was  laid  up  with  my  knee  and  am  thankful 
for  the  rest,  and  I  know  J.  wishes  he  could  get  one  too ;  it 
would  be  a  well-earned  one.  You  will  be  glad  to  hear 
that  we  have  done  awfully  well  in  our  preliminary  exams., 
such  as  Fuze-setting  and  Laying,  and  beaten  the  other 
Batteries  outright.' 

'  Oct.  31. — Last  Friday  I  felt  a  little  fever  coming  on.  I 
went  to  bed,  and  I  am  hi  it  to-day.  For  one  week  I  have 
been  suffering  from  a  shocking  headache  all  the  time.  It 
went  off  yesterday,  as  well  as  the  fever,  and  this  afternoon 


14  A  MEMOIR  OF 

I  am  having  my  residence  transferred  to  Bolarum  to  stay 
with  the  Reids  and  be  looked  after.  He  is  a  Gunner  Captain 
in  one  of  the  Hyderabad  Contingents. 

'  A  shocking  bit  of  luck  has  happened  to  me.  My  syce, 
riding  my  beautiful  young  racing  horse,  "Flying  Fish," 
let  him  run  away — ran  him  into  a  tree,  fell  off  himself, 
and  the  horse  in  some  wonderful  way  was  walked  up  to  the 
sick  lines,  where  after  an  operation  he  died  in  fearful  agony. 
A  piece  of  the  tree  had  entered  his  flank  and  caused  a  terrible 
wound.  There 's  over  1000  rupees  gone  in  one  blow ! 
It  has  made  me  quite  sick  of  the  place  now.  I  've  had  a 
rotten  time  since  I  've  been  out  here — no  luck  anywhere.' 

*  Nov.  14. — I  returned  from  Bolarum  to  duty  again,  and 
last  week  we  had  Inspections  every  day  by  General  Stopford, 
R.A.,  previous  to  going  to  Practice  Camp.' 

(The  whole  of  November  was  spent  in  Practice  Camp  at 
Bellary.) 

'Dec.  5. — We  are  now  back  in  Barracks  again,  and  very  glad 
too.  I  told  you  we  had  won  the  First  Prize  and  First  Class, 
and  may  win  the  Madras  Presidency  Shield.  I  have  just 
heard  from  the  Barrs,1  asking  me  to  go  there  to  dinner  and 
meet  the  Franks.2  They  have  also  asked  me  to  a  dance  on 
the  17th.  I  am  playing  football  to-day.  Dining  at  the 
Residency  to-night.  Hyderabad  Contingent  Dance  on  the 
next  day.  Our  Gunners'  Dance  on  the  llth,  so  we  are 
quite  gay  for  this  place.' 

'  Dec.  26. — Yesterday  we  celebrated  Christmas  in  a  sort 
of  fashion,  but  we  were  content  to  let  it  pass  without  much 
notice.  In  the  evening  a  silent  minute  was  spent  in  drink- 
ing the  health  of  those  at  home.  Otherwise  the  place  was 
more  deserted  than  ever.  Christmas  certainly  makes  one 

1  Col.  Sir  David  Barr,  K.C.S.I.,  Resident  of  Hyderabad. 

*  Captain  Norman  Franks,  C.I.E.,  formerly  in  the  Buffs.  In  his 
young  days,  one  of  the  best  steeplechase  riders  in  Europe.  He  retired 
young,  and  invested  his  capital  in  coffee  plantation  with  great  success. 
He  was  a  proficient  linguist  and  became  tutor  to  Holkar,  and  on  retiring 
therefrom  was  decorated  with  the  Companionship  of  the  Indian  Empire. 
He  lost  his  only  son  at  Cappy,  quite  early  in  the  war.  He  was  adjutant 
of  his  regiment. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  15 

feel  how  far  away  it  is  to  home,  and  how  lonely  one 
really  is. 

'  In  the  report  on  Manoeuvres  His  Excellency,  the  C.-in-C., 
observes  the  H.A.  was  most  skilfully  handled.  It  does 
not  seem  like  me  to  have  a  bit  of  luck  like  that — I  mean 
Capt.  Greathead  going  sick  and  I  commanding.  J.  was 
on  the  other  side  with  two  guns.1 

'  The  Assault -at -Arms  is  on  all  this  week  and  finishes  on 
Saturday.  At  present  I  have  won  the  Heads  and  Posts 
(Mounted)  and  the  Bayonet  versus  Sword.  The  latter  has 
done  for  my  thumb  nearly,  he  caught  me  right  across  the 
fingers  with  his  sword.' 

1902 

*  Feb.  27. — We  are  having  this  week  R.A.  Sports,  and  I 
am   a   groundsman.     Many  thanks  for  Marion  Doughty's 
book  about  Kashmir — it  is  splendid.' 2 

'  Mar.  20. — The  Secunderabad  season  is  over  and  people 
are  beginning  to  leave  us.  In  fact,  every  one  talks  of  going 
somewhere  except  myself.  We  have  been  fairly  gay  this 
week — what  with  the  Burlesque,  Regatta  at  the  Boat  Club— 
Football  Tournament — dances  and  dinners — then  there 
was  the  wedding  at  the  Residency  between  Captain  Walker, 
4th  Hussars,  and  Miss  Barr.  The  Nizam  lent  them  a 
magnificent  gold  carriage  which  we — Captain  Greathead, 
Ramsden,  and  myself — pulled  nearly  to  pieces  with  six 
R.A.  horses.  It  was  a  great  show. 

'  The  Viceroy  arrives  at  Hyderabad  on  the  29th.  We 
are  going  down  to  do  escort,  I  think.  I  have  had  a  very 
nice  letter  from  Mrs.  Eustace  ;  she  says  she  hasn't  heard 
or  seen  you  for  ages. 

'  Major  and  Mrs.  Cloete  have  arrived,  they  seem  very  nice. 
I  have  got  two  horses  now,  but  one  is  a  brute  ;  he  has  been 
absolutely  spoilt  in  the  Riding  School  and  become  unsafe  to 
ride.' 

1  An  interesting  account  with  a  map  has  been  omitted  for  want  of 
space. 

*  Afoot  through  the  Kcuhmir  Valley,  M.  D.  (Helton   Mervyn).     Sands 
and  Co.,  London.     1902. 


16  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  April  3. — I  have  been  at  the  Residency  with  my  Section, 
a  Squadron  of  4th  Hussars  and  Detachment  Middlesex, 
doing  escort  to  the  Viceroy.  We  were  asked  to  lunch  and 
introduced  to  every  one.  Being  in  the  R.H.A.  I  am  senior 
to  every  one  else  there  on  this  show.  Lady  Curzon  is  quite 
the  most  beautiful  woman  I  have  ever  seen.  The  Viceroy 
and  party  have  now  gone  out  to  do  their  shoot  and  come 
back  just  to  see  the  Lungaur.  I  am  sending  a  photograph 
of  our  L  Battery  Officers  and  N.C.O.'s. 

'  Our  new  Major *  is  simply  a  ripper.  However,  I  can't 
stay  long  in  the  R.H.A.  It  is  the  finest  branch  in  the 
Service ;  every  year  more  is  expected  from  the  subaltern 
in  it.  I  know  my  work,  but  I  can't  see  well  enough  to  do 
it,  so  it 's  no  good.' 

*  April  16. — I  was  down  at  Hyderabad  on  Good  Friday 
and  Easter  Day.  Good  Friday  we  spent  going  down  there, 
and  Easter  Day  in  Camp.  I  couldn't  go  to  church  as  I 
wanted  to,  not  being  able  to  find  out  at  what  time  or  where 
it  was.' 

(The  following  refers  to  the  article  on  Hyderabad  from 
which  the  account  of  the  Festival  has  been  extracted. 
The  article  gives  a  very  good  account  of  Hyderabad,  but 
it  is  beyond  the  scope  of  this  Memoir.) 

'May  22. — I  had  a  letter  from  the  Editor  of  Wide 
World,  and  he  says  it  was  refused  because  the  photos, 
were  not  of  first-class  interest.  I  have  been  pretty  busy 
all  this  week  getting  up  an  R.A.  Concert  in  the  open 
air,  which  came  off  yesterday.  I  am  afraid  it  was  not 
very  good,  there  was  too  much  wind.  I  had  two  Nigger 
Troupes  in  it  from  start  to  finish,  and  was  "Corner"  man  in 
one  and  "  Massa  Johnson  "  in  the  last.  And  I  also  sang 
"  Fancy  Meeting  You."  I  hope  the  wedding  will  go  off 
well.  I  have  written  down  the  date  in  my  Diary.' 

'  May  28. — Time  is  going  by  and  I  have  plenty  to  do  in 
one  way  and  another  ;  so  much  that  I  shall  be  here  all  the 
year,  and  will  not  go  away  except  to  go  home.  J.  is  com- 
manding now  for  ten  days,  and  then  goes  on  two  months' 

1  Major  (now  Col.)  Cloete. 


LIEUT.  E.  A.  STEEL  AT  BOMBAY  ATHLETIC  MEETING,  1902. 


Facing  p.  i; 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  17 

leave,  shooting,  and  I  shall  be  here  with  the  Major,  which  I 
like.  I  am  having  a  very  good  time  really,  and  getting  to 
like  the  climate  in  a  way.  But  I  am  not  playing  football 
twice  a  week — in  fact,  my  doctor  says  it  is  not  right — but  I 
have  a  lot  to  do  with  the  men.  I  have  a  Reconnaissance 
Class  for  a  month,  and  I  am  generally  getting  up  a  concert 
or  something.' 


CHAPTER  III 

Festirities  at  Secunderabad,  1902— L  Battery  wins  Football  Cup- 
Bombay  Athletic  Meeting,  many  Successes — Secunderabad  Tourna- 
ment, best  Man-at- Arms. 

'June  19. — I  am  getting  up  a  show  in  the  theatre  amongst 
the  men  for  June  28,  and  am  also  responsible  for  the  Corona- 
tion week,  which  I  have  arranged  for  Secunderabad  society, 
and  also  trying  to  run  the  Fancy  Dress  Ball,  which  every 
one  wants  run  in  a  different  way.' 

PROGRAMME  OF  FIXTURES  FOR  23RD-28TH  JUNE 
Monday         WATBB  GYMKHANA  :  Boat  Club.         DANCE,  U.S.  Club. 

Tuesday         SEMI-ITNAL  POLO  :  R.A. '  At  Home.' 
4th  Hussars  Ground. 

Wednesday     SKITTLE  GYMKHANA,  Secunderabad.  CALICO  BALL,  Central 
Middlesex  Regt.  '  At  Home.'  Gymnasium. 


Thursday 
Friday 

Saturday 


FUTTEH  MAEDAN  GYMKHANA  RACES. 

FINAL  POLO  :  4th  Hussars  Ground.     FANCY  DKKSS  BALL. 
4th  Hussars  '  At  Home.'  U.S.  Club. 


AMERICAN  TENNIS  TOURNAMENT, 
U.S.  Club. 


R.A.  NIGGER  MIN- 
STREL ENTER- 
TAINMENT. 


*  July  20. — Still  very  busy,  in  fact  I  shall  be  quite  glad 
when  all  the  festivity  is  over.  We  had  our  Fancy  Dress 
Ball  last  night.  Then  I  went  down  to  the  station  to  see 
the  General's 1  and  Milman's  ponies  off.  They  have  left  for 
Ooty  this  morning. 

'  Our  Football  Tournament  comes  on  Sept.  1,  so  I  must 

1  Sir  G.   T.   Pretyman,    K.C.M.G.,    C.B.,    Major-General,    Colonel- 
Commandant  Royal  Artillery  (deceased). 
18 


A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL      Id 

take  that  up  now.  Last  year  we  went  to  Madras  and  were 
beaten  in  the  Final.  After  all,  I  am  having  a  good  time, 
what  with  polo,  driving  the  brake  and  tandem,  and  getting 
up  different  shows,  though  I  feel  I  am  wasting  my  time. 
The  Barrs  have  come  back  from  Ooty.  He  is  now  Sir 
David.  The  Viceroy  is  coming  down  to  Mysore  for  the 
coronation  of  the  Maharajah,  and  it  is  going  to  be  a  splendid 
show.  He  wants  to  have  his  proper  escort,  viz.  :  one 
Battery  R.H.A.  and  one  Regiment  of  Cavalry. 

'  There  's  a  dance  at  the  Club  this  Saturday.  The  Battery 
are  giving  a  dinner  beforehand,  Major  Cloete,  Capt. 
Greathead,  and  myself — Ramsden  has  not  come  back  yet.' 

*  Aug.  21. — One  certainly  likes  this  country  the  more  one 
stays,  but  it  takes  time  to  get  used  to  it.  Last  Saturday 
the  first  of  the  R.A.  Tournament  was  played.  We  played 
the  23rd  and  beat  them.  This  afternoon  we  played  the 
49th  and  the  Final  in  the  first  round.  The  Finals  are  to 
be  played  here  this  year.  Our  match  had  to  be  stopped  on 
account  of  the  rain,  when  the  score  was  even.  This  should 
reach  you  in  time  for  John's  birthday,  so  please  wish  him 
very  many  happy  returns  of  it  for  me.  How  nice  to  be  at 
home  for  it ! ' 

'  Sept.  8. — Just  a  line  to  tell  you  we  have  won  the  Cup, 
but  we  had  to  play  the  55th  twice  for  it. 

'  Jocelyn  has  gone  for  three  weeks'  leave  to  Ooty.  I  don't 
know  what  he  '11  do  there.  He  falls  in  love  with  every 
girl  that  comes  here,  so  I  don't  know  what  will  be  the  result 
of  his  Ooty  trip.  Very  light-hearted  is  J.  He  has  got  his 
jungle  fever  on  again  and  has  gone  there  to  try  and  get  rid 
of  it.' 

'  Sept.  21. — I  was  awfully  glad  to  hear  John  has  got  some- 
thing good.  I  have  been  on  regimental  duty  all  this  week, 
and  so  have  not  left  the  place  all  the  week.  I  have  the  men 
out  in  the  afternoon  after  stables.  We  are  still  practising 
Tug-of-War  for  the  Assault -at -Arms.  The  Bombay  Athletic 
Meeting  comes  off  Oct.  27.  I  may  go  and  compete  in  the 
Hurdles,  Quarter  Mile,  and  Long  Jump.' 

'  Oct.  6. — The  Assault-at-Arms  has  been  on  all  this  week. 


20  A  MEMOIR  OF 

I  am  sending  you  an  Indian  Sporting  Times  which  contains 
photo,  of  my  Team.  I  am  trying  to  get  fit  for  Bombay, 
but  it 's  very  hard  trying  to  play  football  and  train  for 
running,  as  a  kick  might  knock  you  out  at  any  moment.' 

'  Oct.  23. — Monday  week  the  Assault -at -Arms  starts,  and 
I  have  been  trying  to  train  for  that.  I  want  to  get  Medal 
for  best  man-at-arms  very  badly  ;  shall  be  very  glad  when 
it 's  all  over  and  I  can  settle  down.  There  is  plenty  on  hi 
the  Battery,  of  course,  too.  I  am  going  to  sing  in  a  concert 
at  the  Hyderabad  Contingent  to-morrow  night.' 

'  Oct.  30. — I  managed  to  go  to  Bombay  on  Saturday 
morning.  I  thought  I  had  left  it  too  late,  but  I  managed 
to  work  off  the  tram  journey  and  arrive  on  Sunday  morning. 
I  had  to  put  the  men  through  a  laying  test  on  Friday 
afternoon  which  the  Major  wanted  me  to  stop  for,  also  a 
concert  on  Friday  evening  at  the  Hyderabad  Contingent  at 
home,  at  which  I  said  I  would  sing,  so  I  didn't  start  so  soon 
as  I  intended.  Of  course,  as  you  know,  I  have  never  done 
much  in  the  way  of  running,  except  the  Hurdles,  which  I 
have  made  a  speciality  of,  though  it 's  2|  years  since  I  have 
done  them.  I  was  never  better  than  3rd  in  the  Quarter  Mile, 
though,  as  you  know,  I  won  a  good  Quarter  Mile  at  Camberley 
once.  However,  I  always  thought  I  ought  to  be  able  to  run 
a  quarter  of  a  mile,  so  I  entered  for  these  two  events.  It 
is  an  open  meeting  for  all  India  and  any  one  can  enter.  I 
should  have  looked  stupid  if  I  had  come  all  the  way  to 
Bombay  without  doing  anything,  especially  as  every  one 
knew  I  was  going  ;  so  it  was  with  anything  but  confidence 
that  I  started  off  on  Saturday  morning. 

'  I  arrived  on  Sunday  morning,  looked  about  for  an  hotel, 
changed  into  running  clothes  and  went  on  my  bicycle  to 
the  ground.  Luckily  for  me,  a  tram  journey  does  me  no 
harm .  I  tried  the  hurdles ,  which  were  beautiful,  and  a  lovely 
field  of  turf — got  my  stride  and  start,  etc. — had  a  good 
look  at  the  Quarter-Mile  Course  and  returned  to  breakfast. 
Of  course,  at  that  time — 9  A.M. — no  one  is  out  taking 
exercise,  so  I  had  the  ground  to  myself.  At  3.30  the  Sports 
began,  and  the  Hurdles  were  3rd  Race.  I  lined  up,  fairly 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  21 

confident  of  not  being  far  behind.  As  the  pistol  went  off 
I  got  a  good  start  and  got  going  at  once,  and  was  never 
touched  by  any  one.  My  time  was  16  seconds.  I  was 
surprised,  though  I  knew  I  must  have  done  it  pretty  quickly. 
After  that  I  felt  satisfied  that  I  should  win  the  Quarter  Mile 
too,  which  was  nearly  last.  So  I  didn't  enjoy  the  Sports  a 
bit  while  waiting  ;  I  had  been  told  the  winner  of  the  Quarter 
Mile  was  an  R.A.M.C.  man  who  was  supposed  to  be  good.  I 
had  a  bad  place  at  the  outside,  and  as  there  was  a  corner 
just  after  the  start  which  I  wanted  to  reach  first  or  second 
I  thought  I  was  out  of  it.  However,  I  remained  second  half 
the  way  round,  and  won  fairly  easily  in  14f  seconds — the 
best  I  have  ever  done  it  in.  I  could  have  won  the  Long 
Jump  too ;  but  as  it  came  just  before  the  Quarter  Mile  I 
didn't  go  for  it.  Now  came  a  great  fix.  I  was  going  to  leave 
on  Monday  night,  so  as  to  be  playing  for  the  Battery  on 
Wednesday.  Secondly,  there  was  a  dance  on  Tuesday  for 
which  I  had  booked  my  whole  programme.  On  the  other 
hand,  I  had  been  asked  to  stop  one  day  more,  so  as  to  go  in 
for  the  100  yds.  and  Half  Mile,  which  they  all  told  me  I 
would  win.  I  didn't  think  so,  as  they  are  not  my  races,  but 
I  particularly  wanted  to  stop  to  see  Captain  Angelo  and  a 
number  of  friends  I  had  met,  so  I  stopped  on.  On  the 
Tuesday  I  won  the  100  yds.  Race  and  also  the  Half  Mile, 
and  when  I  had  done  I  felt  rather  a  beast  for  not  letting 
any  one  else  win.  I  got  six  Cups  altogether — one  for  each 
race  and  two  large  Challenge  Cups  which  I  keep  for  a  year.' 

'  Nov.  12. — It  has  taken  a  long  time  to  tell  you  that  I  went 
to  Bombay  and  won  four  races.  Our  Goal-keeper  is  still 
with  fever  in  hospital,  but  I  want  to  see  them  through  the 
Tournament  and  get  them  another  Cup  and  Medal,  then  I 
shall  settle  down  to  work.  I  feel  as  if  I  had  had  a  month's 
leave. 

'  I  told  you  we  stood  three  to  two  for  the  best  man-at- 
arms.  Last  Friday  morning  it  was  Sword  versus  Sword 
mounted,  and  after  a  good  fight  I  won.  That  made 
us  three-all,  and  I  had  Tent-Pegging  and  Jumping  to  do. 
I  didn't  win  the  Tent-Pegging,  and  on  Saturday  my  last 


22      A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 

chance  came.  I  rode  Nero  of  J.'s,  but  he  is  no  good  for 
Riding-School  Jumping,  as  he  jumps  too  big,  so  I  didn't 
win  that  either,  and  this  was  the  last  event.  Then  a  Com- 
mittee Meeting  was  held  in  which  they  told  me  the  state  of 
affairs  and  asked  how  we  would  like  to  fight  it  out.  Well, 
we  couldn't  come  to  any  agreement,  so  I  said  I  would  leave 
it  to  the  Committee  ;  so  after  a  bit  I  was  informed  we  were 
to  fight  it  out  at  once,  as  it  was  the  last  day  and  the  prizes 
had  to  be  given  away.  Bayonet  dismounted,  the  lance 
mounted.  I  of  course  had  the  lance ;  now  this  was  an 
event  he  had  won  hi  the  first  round,  so  that  it  either  meant 
showing  the  white  flag  or  being  beaten  before  the  whole 
crowd.  Being  the  Final  there  was  a  great  assembly.  We 
were  going  to  do  a  galloping  drive.  There  was  a  Gymnastic 
Display  and  other  show  events  to  finish  up  with.  This  all 
took  place  on  the  Middlesex  Football  Ground.  We  entered 
the  arena  and  it  didn't  last  long,  for  I  went  for  him 
and  knocked  him  out  with  three  points  running  and  so 
was  declared  winner  and  consequently  best  man-at-arms. 
Every  one  was  very  pleased,  except  of  course  a  few ;  but, 
after  all,  it  wasn't  a  fair  test  on  paper.' 

*  Nov.  20. — Miss  Stephens'  wedding  to-day  to  Major 
Conran.  Major  Cloete,  Ramsden,  and  I  drove  her  back.  I 
am  sending  you  a  photo  this  week,  they  put  it  in  the  Indian 
Sporting  Times.  I  go  on  December  8  to  Bolarum  for  the 
Practice  Camp  on  the  22nd.  Our  new  Colonel  is  to  be 
Col.  Philpotts,  who  arrives  about  December  1.  We  haven't 
had  a  Colonel  now  since  March.' 


CHAPTER  IV 

Leave  to  England — Military  Tournament — Sports  at  Aldershot 
— Presentation  to  King — Range-finding  Model — Return  to  Secun- 
derabad — Autumn  Manoeuvres — Bombay  Athletic  Meeting — Foot- 
ball Accident — Ordered  Home — King  Edward  vii.  Hospital — 
Scotland — Fit  for  General  Service. 

1903 

'  Jan.  17. — I  am  very  down  in  my  luck  again  ;  one  of  my 
best  friends  here,  Cameron,  who  only  just  came  out  I.M.S., 
three  months'  service,  has  just  gone  to  Somaliland  ;  it 's  very 
sickening  seeing  all  one's  friends  go  off  on  Active  Service 
and  not  getting  a  chance  oneself.' 

By  February  12  the  Inspections  were  over,  but  the 
time  passed  furiously.  The  Burlesque,  of  which  mention 
has  been  made,  came  to  an  end  on  March  8,  and  wound  up 
with  a  dance  at  12th  Middlesex  Lines,  then  Battery  Sports 
and  a  Football  Match  with  the  Middlesex  in  the 
Secunderabad  Tournament,  followed  by  Lincoln  Sports 
on  March  9  in  which  he  won  the  Officers'  Race,  and  he  left 
for  Bombay  and  sailed  in  the  Eubattino  on  April  15. 

A  retrospect  of  his  life  and  occupation  since  his  arrival  in 
India,  1901,  might  well  have  given  him  cause  for  satisfaction. 
He  had  occupied  his  short  leave  in  1901  by  a  trip  to  Southern 
India  and  thence  to  Kashmir  ;  returning  to  Trimulgherry, 
he  had  coached  his  Battery  Team  at  football  and  led 
them  into  the  Final  for  the  Cup,  and  though  beaten  in 
the  Final  at  Madras,  it  was  matter  for  congratulation  that 
his  team  had  done  so  well.  He  had  been  commended  at 
the  Manoeuvres  in  February  1902  for  the  handling  of  his 
Section.  On  February  20  he  had  made  his  mark  in  the 
Assault-at-Arms.  During  May,  June,  and  July  he  was 
in  the  thick  of  several  social  events,  getting  up  minstrels, 


24  A  MEMOIR  OF 

a  nigger  troupe,  a  fancy-dress  ball,  and  again  in  August 
coaching  up  his  team  for  the  Football  Tournament,  which 
this  time  he  led  to  victory,  winning  the  Cup  on  Sep- 
tember 11.  On  October  27  he  had  carried  all  before 
him  at  the  Bombay  Athletic  Meeting,  winning  six  prizes, 
two  of  which  were  Challenge  Cups,  and  later  at  the 
Secunderabad  Assault-at-Arms  he  was  '  best  man-at-arms.' 

In  short,  he  had  been  more  than  fairly  successful  in  every- 
thing he  had  undertaken,  he  had  made  many  friends  and 
was  under  a  C.O.  for  whom  he  entertained  an  affectionate 
regard.  In  all  his  letters  home  telling  of  these  events 
(and  he  never  missed  a  mail)  there  was  no  suspicion  of 
vainglory  or  boasting ;  the  one  note  throughout  the 
correspondence  was  the  pleasure  that  he  hoped  this  recital 
would  give  to  us  at  home,  and  especially  to  his  brother  and 
sister ;  but  there  is  a  note  of  sadness  in  his  last  letter  home 
in  which  he  wrote  :  '  I  am  leaving  this  country  without  any 
regret ;  it  has  taught  me  a  lot,  I  'm  twice  what  I  was  before, 
but  at  great  cost ;  it  is  a  snare  and  delusion.'  This  seems 
inconsistent  with  the  summary  just  made  out  and  requires 
explanation. 

He  certainly  had  more  than  his  share  of  bad  luck  in  the 
loss  of  his  horses,  his  failure  to  pass  his  exam,  in  Hindu- 
stani, and  his  anxiety  as  to  his  future,  which  crops  up  all 
through  the  correspondence,  but  at  that  age  these  were 
comparatively  minor  matters  and  might  well  have  been 
considered  as  dust  in  the  balance  compared  with  the  amount 
of  work  and  play  that  his  untiring  energy  had  placed  to  his 
credit. 

The  summer  of  1903  passed  quickly  ;  the  Military  Tourna- 
ment was  coming  on  at  Olympia,  and,  fresh  from  his  success 
at  Secunderabad,  he  entered  for  most  of  the  events,  but 
here  he  found  himself  in  better  company — the  pick  of 
the  British  Services — and  though  he  worked  his  way  up  to 
some  of  the  semi-finals  he  did  not  win  any  event.  Later 
on  he  entered  for  the  Aldershot  Athletic  Sports  in  August, 
and  here  he  was  more  successful  with  fencing  and  sabres, 
but  in  his  own  speciality — hurdles — in  which  he  had  never 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  25 

been  beaten  since   his   schooldays,  he  won  his    heat,  but 
was  just  beaten  in  the  Final  owing  to  want  of  condition. 

In  September  1903  Lt.  Steel  started  on  his  return  journey 
to  India. 

'  S.S.  Orotava. — We  haven't  had  a  bad  time,  though  the 
train  journey  was  pretty  bad.  But  having  Macredy  and 
Newman  *  made  all  the  difference.  We  had  rather  fun  at 
Marseilles.' 

'  Sept.  25. — Arrived  at  Colombo.  Have  had  a  splendid 
time.  The  Firmingers2  met  me  and  took  me  out  to  their 
beautiful  place.  I  have  been  with  them  since  Monday 
at  Welikadi.' 

Lt.  Steel  arrived  at  Trimulgherry,  October  1,  after  a  long 
and  tedious  journey.  On  October  20  he  went  to  Bombay 
to  the  Races  and  Sports.  It  will  be  remembered  that  he 
had  in  the  previous  year  come  off  with  flying  colours  and 
two  Challenge  Cups  which  he  had  either  to  give  up  or  contest, 
and  though  he  did  not  expect  to  do  so  well  he  felt  bound 
to  go.  Considering  the  circumstances  he  did  remarkably 
well,  but  he  may  tell  his  own  tale. 

'  Oct.  29. — I  have  just  arrived  back  from  Bombay,  and 
though  I  didn't  do  as  well  as  last  year  I  am  fairly  satisfied. 
I  only  won  the  Quarter  and  Half  Mile  and  ought  to  have 
won  the  Hurdles,  but  the  Starter's  pistol  went  off  before 
I  had  even  got  down,  so  I  never  even  started,  and  I  was 
beaten  in  the  100  yds.' 

During  his  stay  in  England  in  the  summer  of  1903  he 
deposited  in  the  War  Office  a  working  model  of  a  range- 
finder  to  which  frequent  reference  is  made  in  subsequent 
correspondence.  On  his  way  out  he  wrote  :  '  I  hope  you 
have  been  able  to  manage  something  about  the  description 

1  These  were  two  gentlemen,  actors  in  a  play  called  Potash  and  Perl- 
mutter,  which  had  a  long  run  in  New  York  and  alao  in  London,  and  Mr. 
Steel  said  it  was  the  best  play  he  had  ever  seen. 

*  Major  Firminger,  an  officer  serring  under  the  Colonial  Department, 
at  that  time  in  charge  of  the  Jail.  Mrs.  Firminger  (nte  Ravenshaw)  was 
a  relation. 


26  A  MEMOIR  OF 

of  the  two  instruments  waiting  to  be  inspected.'  It  seems 
that  some  further  description  was  called  for,  and  on  October 
15,  1903,  he  wrote  :  '  My  inventions  do  not  want  any  draw- 
ings as  I  have  had  a  model  made  instead.'  However,  it 
seems  that  Major  Headlam,  D.S.O.,  required  some  further 
drawing,  and  on  November  19  Lt.  Steel  wrote  :  *  I  send 
home  a  drawing  as  well ;  I  hope  to  have  it  out  here  by 
February,  as  General  Hepburn  wants  me  to  come  and  work 
it  at  Bangalore  for  General  Parsons  to  see.'  In  April  1904 
he  wrote  :  '  The  instruments  arrived  safely,  though  the 
War  Office  have  not  done  anything  about  it  beyond  sending 
their  thanks  :  the  new  pattern  instrument  is  apparently 
to  be  exactly  similar  to  mine.  I  use  them  out  here,  and 
General  Hepburn  was  very  pleased  with  them  and  they 
were  most  successful.' 

'  Nov.  15. — I  have  had  a  very  nice  letter  from  General  Hay 
telling  me  my  name  is  down  for  K.A.R.  I  want  to  know 
if  I  ought  to  apply  here  through  my  C.O.  at  once.  The 
Battery  should  come  any  time  from  November  next,  and  the 
following  February — I  wonder  where  I  shall  be  then.  We 
go  out  for  Manoeuvres  on  January  11.  The  Major  is  an 
Umpire,  so  it 's  splendid  for  J.  and  myself,  we  each  have 
a  separate  command.' 

*  Dec.  10. — The  Assault-at-Arms  is  over,  but  I  had  to 
confine  myself  mostly  to  judging.  What  with  having 
just  come  back  from  Camp  and  having  to  use  our  own 
horses  I  couldn't  win  anything.  Both  my  Major  and  J. 
are  laid  up  for  a  few  days.  Ramsden  is  away  and  Dupres 
has  left  to  join  the  Staff  College. 

'  We  gave  a  very  good  dance  last  Wednesday.  Xmas 
here  will  come  and  go  as  if  nothing  had  happened.' 

'  Dec.  24. — I  am  working  pretty  hard  now  at  Hindustani, 
and  have  not  been  out  anywhere  for  three  weeks.  J. 
has  gone  out  for  a  shoot,  but  the  Major's  wife  is  ill  now, 
so  he  can't  go.' 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  27 


1904 

'Jan.  1. — I  have  been  awfully  busy  this  week — some- 
thing on  every  day.  I  have  also  The  Girl  from  Kay's  on 
my  hands.  I  wish  I  had  seen  it  a  few  more  times.  Wasn't 
it  nice  of  Mr.  Edwardes  ?  Any  one  else  would  have  made 
us  pay  £20  for  it.  We  go  out  to  Manoeuvres  next  Monday 
— at  least  I  do  with  my  section,  all  alone.' 

'  Jan.  28. — I  got  back  from  Manoeuvres  last  Saturday, 
having  been  out  exactly  a  fortnight.  You  will  be  glad  to 
hear  I  have  passed  my  Hindustani  Exam.,  I  heard  about 
it  while  I  was  away.  The  Barrs  are  leaving  here  for  England, 
April  2.  Our  General,  Pretyman,  goes  to  command  the 
Madras  Presidency.' 

'  Feb.  4. — I  have,  been  out  a  good  bit  this  week.  I  have 
been  amusing  the  parties  with  patter  nonsense  and  comic 
songs  when  it's  too  dark  for  tennis.  .  .  .  The  regatta  comes 
off  next  week.  I  am  rowing  in  the  double  sculls  with 
Allan  Ross.' 

'  Feb.  18. — The  regatta  is  over.  We  were  beaten  by  a 
length.' 

The  Football  Tournament  in  March  was  the  only  serious 
thing  he  had  to  look  forward  to,  and  now  the  blow  came 
that  not  only  dashed  all  his  hopes  but  threatened  to  end 
his  mortal  career. 

On  March  10  he  wrote  :  '  A  busy  week  with  the  Foot- 
ball Team.  You  will  be  glad  to  hear  that  "  L"  is  left  in 
for  the  Final  against  Middlesex  and  I  shall  have  to  play 
up  for  all  I  am  worth.'  In  the  match  he  got  a  kick  on  the 
knee  about  twenty  minutes  after  the  start  and  a  severe 
blow  on  the  thigh  which  nearly  knocked  him  out,  and 
caused  them  to  lose  the  match.  It  was  no  time  for  giving  in. 
J.  and  Ramsden  were  going  off  on  leave,  the  Major's  wife 
was  ill  and  going  home,  so  he  was  practically  alone.  A 
touch  of  fever  laid  him  up,  and  in  April  he  had  to  go  on  the 
sick  list,  where  he  was  kept  for  the  first  fortnight  of  April 
having  his  knee  blistered,  and  he  returned  to  duty  with  his 


28  A  MEMOIR  OF 

knee  somewhat  improved  but  with  his  leg  so  stiff  that  he 
could  not  bear  it.  Still,  he  struggled  on,  though,  as  he  wrote, 
having  to  ride  with  a  straight  leg.  Fortunately  it  was  his 
right  leg,  so  he  did  not  require  to  use  it  for  mounting. 

There  is  something  pathetic  in  the  lonely  figure  struck 
down  at  the  moment  of  victory,  indomitably  struggling 
to  do  his  duty  in  the  face  of  such  odds.  There  are  many, 
no  doubt,  who  regard  football  as  a  rough  game  and  unfit 
for  decent  folk,  and  would  even  say  that  it  was  all  his  own 
fault.  But  there  is  much  to  be  said,  on  the  other  hand,  for 
a  young  soldier  who  takes  an  interest  in  his  men  and  can 
influence  them  and  set  them  an  example  as  a  leader ;  it  is 
true  that  in  a  recently  quoted  letter  he  remarked,  when 
in  lower  spirits  than  usual,  that  he  thought  they  were  not 
very  grateful  for  all  the  trouble  and  expense  he  was  going 
to  about  it,  but  after  all,  who  thinks  of  or  expects  gratitude  ? 
'  Where  are  the  nine  ?  '  is  a  question  that  has  been  re- 
peated through  the  ages,  and  it  is  perhaps  more  apparent 
than  real,  for  I  feel  sure  that  no  survivor  of  that  team, 
if  such  there  be,  could  read  this  chapter  without  emotion. 

He  came  off  the  sick  list  on  April  21  ;  however,  by 
the  end  of  April  he  could  carry  on  no  longer,  and  had  to 
go  to  the  Station  Hospital,  and  after  much  consultation 
the  doctors  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  injury  to  his 
thigh  was  beyond  their  ken. 

At  this  stage  Major  Cloete,  seeing  the  incapacity  of  those 
in  medical  charge  of  him  either  to  diagnose  the  injury  or  to 
suggest  any  remedy,  took  the  matter  in  his  own  hands 
and  insisted  on  Lt.  Steel  being  sent  home  at  once,  and  a 
passage  was  taken  for  him  on  the  Assaye  on  May  24  ; 
but  for  the  interest  taken  in  his  case  by  Major  Cloete  and 
his  opportune  interference  the  result  might  have  been 
much  more  serious. 

Leaving  Bombay  May  24  he  arrived  at  Southampton 
June  14  after  a  very  pleasant  voyage  and  with  his  leg  feeling 
very  much  better. 

On  his  arrival  he  was  taken  to  9  Grosvenor  Gardens 
and  placed  under  the  care  of  Sister  Agnes.  And  here  let 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  29 

me  pay  a  humble  tribute  to  this  noble  woman,  the  founder 
of  the  King  Edward  vn.  Hospital  for  Officers,  who  has 
devoted  her  life  and  fortune  to  the  care  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  both  Services,  and  for  whom  no  honour  that  any 
earthly  power  could  bestow  would  be  an  adequate  reward. 
Here  his  injury,  an  enlargement  of  the  thigh  bone,  was 
seriously  examined  and  watched  by  several  of  the  most 
distinguished  surgeons  in  London,  who  were  at  that  time 
giving  their  aid  gratuitously  to  Sister  Agnes.1  Several 
examinations  under  X-rays  were  made  to  assist  in  the 
diagnosis,  but  without  any  decision  being  arrived  at.  The 
discussion,  revealed  later  by  Sister  Agnes,  took  the  form  of 
a  suggestion  to  amputate  his  leg.  This  was  fortunately 
negatived  by  a  decision  of  the  majority,  and  he  was  advised 
to  go  away  into  the  country  and  take  as  much  walking 
exercise  as  he  could  without  excessive  fatigue. 

Accordingly,  he  went  to  Scotland  and  stayed  during 
August  with  his  cousin,  Kenneth  Angelo,  who  had  a  beautiful 
place  at  Cullarchy,  near  Fort  Augustus,  where  he  had  some 
shooting  and  deer-stalking  and  met  Sir  W.  Grantham, 
Sir  Forrest  Fulton,  and  other  interesting  people.  Perhaps 
the  only  thing  he  '  missed  '  was  the  absence  of  music. 

On  his  return  from  Scotland  he  paid  a  visit  to  the  Irwins 
at  Lynehow,  and  later  to  his  uncle,  Colonel  Westmorland, 
at  Yanwath  near  Penrith. 

At  the  end  of  August  he  was  summoned  to  appear  before 
a  Medical  Board,  and  with  this  remarkable  result,  that  his 
examination  disclosed  no  trace  of  the  injury  for  which  he  had 
barely  escaped  the  surgeon's  knife,  and  he  was  pronounced 
sound  in  wind  and  limb. 

Before  leaving  home  in  September  1903  he  put  his  name 

1  In  the  Memoirs  of  Edward,  8th  Earl  of  Sandwich  :  '  During  the  Boer 
War  my  friends  Frances  and  Agnes  Keyser  turned  their  house  in  Grosvenor 
Crescent  into  a  hospital  for  sick  and  wounded  officers,  and  invited  me  to 
assist  them  in  their  work.  Their  success  was  complete.  So  devotedly 
attached  to  her  work  was  Agnes  that  she  assumed  the  name  of  '  Sister 
Agnes,'  and  later  on  founded  the  hospital  called  Edward  vu.  in  Grosvenor 
Gardens,  in  which,  as  Matron,  she  devoted  her  life,  and  which  continues 
to  this  day.' 


30  A  MEMOIR  OF 

down  for  service  under  the  Colonial  Department.  The 
reason  for  this  has  been  foreshadowed  in  some  of  the 
letters  already  quoted,  and  they  may  be  conveniently 
summarised.  First,  he  had  come  to  the  conclusion  that 
his  eyesight  was  not  good  enough  for  him  to  remain  hi  H.A., 
and,  moreover,  he  was  anxious  to  see  service,  and  he  felt 
satisfied  that  he  could  not  expect  to  do  this  if  he  remained, 
as  they  were  kept  hi  India  principally  for  show  work  and 
for  exercising  with  other  arms .  Nearly  all  his  contemporaries 
had  seen  service,  and  he  felt,  as  it  were,  out  of  it ;  again, 
the  life  he  wished  to  lead  in  the  H.A.  was  (he  was  beginning 
to  discover)  more  expensive  than  he  could  afford.  He  was 
in  no  sense  extravagant,  had  no  expensive  tastes  or  habits, 
never  played  at  cards  for  stakes,  but  the  perpetual  gaieties 
of  a  large  Indian  station — and  H.A.  is  always  at  a  large 
station — taking  about  his  football  team  to  play  whenever 
it  became  necessary  if  they  were  to  distinguish  themselves, 
or  even  maintain  the  position  that  he  had  helped  them  to, 
was  expensive  and  might  lead  him  into  debt.  He  had 
thought  over  and  discussed  various  alternatives,  as  we  have 
seen. 

Entry  into  the  Staff  Corps  (for  which  he  was  qualifying 
himself  by  studying  for  the  exam,  in  Hindustani)  and 
the  various  openings  resulting  therefrom  had  all  been 
considered,  but  these  occupations  required  permanent 
service  in  India,  and  for  this  he  could  not  make  up  his 
mind  so  far  to  come  to  a  decision.  Service  under  the 
Colonial  Department,  though  it  held  out  no  such  hope 
of  preferment  or  pension  as  permanent  Indian  service, 
did  not  necessitate  the  severance  of  the  link  with  home 
and  all  it  meant  to  him,  and  it  was  in  this  frame  of  mind 
that  he  left  home  in  September  1903.  Knowing  how  proud 
he  was  of  his  Battery,  which  he  thought  the  best  in  India, 
it  is  not  difficult  to  understand  the  reluctance  with  which 
he  came  to  this  conclusion,  especially  as  the  impression 
prevailed  at  that  time  that  they  would  return  home  on  the 
expiry  of  their  term  of  service,  i.e.  any  time  between 
November  1904  and  the  following  February. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  31 

It  will  be  seen  later  on  that  this  hope  was  dashed  to  the 
ground  by  an  order  that  they  were  to  remain  in  India, 
but  this  was  not  then  known,  and  his  ambition  was  to  return 
home  with  the  Battery  before  making  the  final  plunge 
which  not  only  severed  him  from  that  arm  of  the  Service 
but  possibly  decided  his  future  career ;  and  it  was  there- 
fore after  much  consideration  that  he  decided  to  sever  his 
connection  with  the  Horse  Artillery  and  applied  to  the 
Colonial  Department  to  be  employed  in  Africa  when  a 
convenient  opportunity  should  arise.  This  opportunity 
now  presented  itself,  and  he  accepted  the  offer  of  service. 


CHAPTER  V 

Seconded  for  Service  under  Colonial  Office — Departure  for  Nigeria 
— Staff  Officer  under  Major  Trenchard— 1905,  Trip  to  Lokoja— Eket 
— Return  to  Calabar — Cross  River — Further  Expedition — Leave  to 
England. 

THE  Gazette  seconding  him  for  service  under  the  Colonial 
Office  was  dated  October  21,  but  he  had  in  the  meantime 
made  preparations  for  his  departure,  and  leaving  Liverpool 
on  the  8th  arrived  at  Calabar  October  28  on  the  British  and 
African  S.  N.  Co.  s.s.  Sokoto.  '  The  passengers,'  he  writes, 
*  are  a  very  down-hearted  lot,  and  talk  of  the  East  Coast  in 
bated  breath,  and  are  sure  each  tour  is  their  last.'  He  had 
intended  ever  since  his  return  from  India  to  publish  a 
'  Primer '  for  officers  or  others  learning  Hindustani ;  he  had 
been  struck  with  the  inefficiency  of  existing  books  for  that 
purpose  while  himself  trying  to  overcome  the  difficulties 
of  the  language,  and  he  had  made  voluminous  notes 
both  in  Hindustani  and  Persian  with  that  object,  and 
thinking  to  work  this  up  on  the  voyage  to  Calabar,  but 
unfortunately  he  could  only  find  the  Persian  notebook 
in  his  baggage,  and  the  other  with  the  Hindustani  notes, 
which  he  had  left  behind,  was  mislaid  and  never  recovered 
(see  p.  37). 

Lt.  Steel's  arrival  at  Calabar  is  thus  chronicled  by 
himself  : — 

'  THE  BARRACKS,  CALABAR, 
'  November  1,  1904. 

'  DEAREST  MOTHER  AND  FATHER, — I  arrived  here  last 
Friday,  the  28th,  so  the  journey  took  us  exactly  20  days. 
It  was  horrid  weather  from  Lagos  to  Forcados,  Bonny,  and 
Calabar,  very  wet  and  misty  ;  but  as  soon  as  we  got  away 
from  the  Niger  Delta  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cross  River  it 

H 


A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL      33 

became  tropical  again.  The  approach  to  Calabar  is  very 
pretty,  it  is  some  miles  up  the  Cross  River — a  fine  big  stream 
— and  the  steamers  go  right  up.  The  country  is  densely 
wooded  on  both  sides  and  luxuriant  with  vegetation.  As 
to  Calabar  itself,  I  am  charmed  with  it.  Of  course,  there 
aren't  the  festivities  of  an  Indian  station,  because  in  the 
first  place  the  space  is  so  limited,  and  there  are  no  ladies, 
except  the  hospital  nurses,  and  of  course  no  horse-flesh. 
All  the  European  community  is  on  a  good-sized  hill  with 
plateau,  and  lovely  and  open.  It  is  well  laid  out,  with  good 
roads  and  drains  and  everything  nice  and  green,  and  every 
one  is  near  each  other,  not  like  Secunderabad.  I  suppose 
after  a  bit  one  is  bored  by  the  monotony  of  the  life,  if  you 
don't  have  any  fighting  to  relieve  it.  But  so  far  I  've  been 
too  busy  to  think  of  anything.  It  is  quite  healthy  if  you 
know  how  to  take  care  of  yourself,  and  no  insect  life  hardly. 
One  of  the  Europeans  in  a  "  factory  "  (shop)  here  goes 
home  in  the  Aro  with  "  Blackwater "  to-morrow,  but 
I  don't  know  how  he  got  it.  We  are  very  short-handed 
indeed.  Mair,  the  O.C.,  R.A.,  is  away  on  leave  (home) 
and  Hamilton  is  C.R.A.  now,  and  I  'm  next.  He  goes  off 
this  afternoon  on  a  "  Column."  I  have  had  some  splendid 
tennis  here,  and  that 's  all.  It 's  dark  at  6  P.M.,  and 
from  6  to  7  we  meet  in  the  different  Messes  for  "drinks" 
and  "  buck,"  and  at  7  P.M.  change  for  dinner  at  7.30, 
which  is  nice,  as  one  can  get  to  bed  early.  It  is  much 
more  civilised  here  than  I  thought,  though  of  course  the 
Native  is  far  behind  the  Native  of  India  in  every  way. 
A  "  Babu  "  clerk  from  India  would  be  invaluable,  and  I 
must  say  the  soldier  of  India  is  a  different  class  of  article 
altogether.  At  Bonny,  I  think  I  told  you,  we  just  missed 
"  Carlton,"  who  had  gone  up  the  Niger  Delta  with  a  column 
to  punish  some  tribe.  A  telegram  came  yesterday  to  say 
he  'd  had  a  "  fight,"  and  amongst  other  casualties  had  lost  a 
white  Sergeant,  killed,  which  is  rather  a  serious  matter, 
and  he  wanted  another  gun  sent  up,  so  Hamilton  has  had  to 
go  off  at  a  day's  notice  with  his  detachment  and  reinforce- 
ments to  him  instead  of  going  off  next  week  with  Major 

C 


34  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Trenchard's  column,  which  is  going  to  have  a  big  task.  The 
difficulty  now  is  that  there  's  hardly  any  one  left  here, 
except  two  guns  and  myself  and  Gibbon,  R.A.,  and  a 
"depot"  (Infantry)  which  I  am  to  take  over  next  week 
as  every  one  else  is  going  with  Major  Trenchard  (next 
week).  I  have  got  a  "  hint "  that  I  may  have  to  go  with 
Major  T.  as  Staff  Officer  to  his  column,  if  it  is  not  cancelled, 
and  take  a  gun  as  well,  which  would  be  all  right ;  but  it 's 
not  at  all  certain  yet.  In  a  day  or  two  I  shall  know,  and  if 
I  go,  it  will  be  long  before  next  mail  day. 

4 1  have  been  living  rather  Bush  fashion.  There  are 
no  quarters  for  me  and  so  I  use  all  my  camp  kit.  The 
Mess  here  is  rather  scanty,  and  we  have  only  two  meals, 
luncheon  at  11  A.M.  and  dinner  at  7.30  P.M.,  and  at  any  other 
time  you  can't  get  anything  except  drinks,  so  you  have  to 
arrange  for  your  own  breakfast  and  tea. 

'  One  column  with  Major  Moorhouse  (commanding)  on 
its  way  to  "  Asaba  "  (Niger  River)  is  going  to  "  Abushi  " 
and  working  right  across  to  Akataka  on  the  Cross  River. 
(This  is  quite  an  unknown  part  and  they  should  have  some 
good  fighting.)  Carlton  has  gone  with  his  company  to  Dega- 
ma  (Niger  Delta),  and  is  clearing  the  country  between  that 
and  Omoku  to  the  north ;  and  Major  Trenchard's  column 
goes  to  "  Ikpa  "  on  the  Cross  River  (near  here)  and  on  to 
"  Aka,"  the  centre  of  "  Juju  "  worship,  and  then  will  work 
up  north  and  try  and  meet  Major  Moorhouse.  This  is  a 
terrible  wild  country,  and  forty  miles  from  here  cannibals 
live  in  peace.  I  am  very  glad  I  brought  a  bicycle  here.' 

The  surmise  was  correct,  and  he  was  appointed  Staff 
Officer  to  Major  Trenchard,  and  on  November  26  started 
on  the  expedition  foreshadowed  in  the  foregoing  letter. 

'  December  10, 1904. 

'  I  have  been  lucky  enough  to  drop  into  this  billet  as 
Artillery  Officer  and  Staff  Officer  to  Major  Trenchard 
Commanding  No.  2  Column,  and  we  leave  the  day  after 
to-morrow  and  don't  get  back  till  April.' 


EDWAED  ANTHONY  STEEL  36 

•  CAMP  10  M.  S.W.  ITU,  December  26,  1904. 

'  This  morning  I  was  off  at  3  A.M.  on  a  reconnaissance 
with  a  column  of  my  own  and  got  back  at  2  P.M.  We  all 
move  off  to-morrow  for  a  five-days'  show  without  camping.  I 
got  to  within  3  m.  of  Aka  this  morning,  which  is  our  destina- 
tion. We  have  only  had  one  man  killed  so  far  and  one 
Sergeant  wounded.  I  am  very  fit ;  being  Senior  Subaltern 
I  get  3  Sections  and  a  Mission.  I  think  I  ought  to  get 
through,  but  of  course  in  the  Bush  you  never  know  who  is 
going  to  get  it  next.' 

The  operation  known  as  the  Ibibiokwa  Patrol  had  for 
its  object  the  establishment  of  law  and  order  in  a  district 
not  hitherto  dealt  with,  and  the  surrender  of  arms,  the 
suppression  of  human  sacrifice  and  illicit  trade.  Consider- 
able opposition  was  met  with  during  January  and  February, 
but  much  useful  work  was  done  and  a  large  portion  of 
hitherto  unknown  country  mapped.  The  arrangements 
were  somewhat  modified  owing  to  the  murder  of  Dr.  Stewart 
and  subsequent  general  rising  in  the  district  where  it 
occurred.  The  force  returned  to  Calabar  in  March  1903, 
and  arrangements  were  planned  for  completing  the  work  in 
the  following  season. 

1905 

'  CALABAB,  March  9,  1906. 

'  .  .  .  Back  at  Calabar  safe  and  sound  again.  We 
arrived  on  Tuesday  last  in  the  Jackdaw.  No  more  column 
news  to  what  you  heard  in  the  last.  We  marched  into 
Ikotchpene  from  Ndiakata,  left  A.  C.  at  Ikotchpene,  sent 
"  G  "  Co.  up  to  Bendi,  and  marched  to  Itu,  where  the  Jackdaw 
picked  us  up  and  brought  us  here.  Calabar  looked  very 
pretty.  It 's  a  lovely  spot  really.  I  am  out  at  the  New 
Barracks  you  remember  the  Colonel  was  telling  you  about ; 
about  a  mile  back  from  Calabar  on  high  ground.  Only 
the  white  N.C.O.'s  quarters  are  ready  so  far,  which  the 
Officers  occupy.  All  the  Gunners  are  out  here  and  Depot, 


36  A  MEMOIR  OF 

and  we  are  entirely  employed  on  clearing  the  ground — 
parade  ground,  cricket  and  tennis  grounds,  etc.  There  is 
a  small  railway  that  brings  everything  here  from  Calabar ; 
and  they  will  be  the  finest  Barracks  in  the  world  ;  beautiful 
native  huts  too,  and  polo  ground.  A  best  pony  from  N. 
Nigeria  costs  £12  and  you  get  2s.  6d.  a  day  for  keeping  him. 
In  India  the  same  pony  costs  700  Us.,  and  you  don't  get 
anything  for  keeping  him  and  only  Is.  a  day  for  your  charger. 
It  will  be  a  year  before  they  are  finished.  I  am  directing 
everything  here  for  the  Colonel,  who  comes  out  most  days. 
Mair,  our  Captain,  is  out,  so  I  'm  no  longer  Captain,  and 
Vickery  is  out.  He  and  Gibbon  go  off  the  day  after  to- 
morrow on  another  expedition  (or  patrol  rather)  north  of 
Afikpo  for  two  months.  I  forgot  to  tell  you  we  had  a  white 
Colour-Sergeant  and  two  men  wounded  two  days  before  we 
left  Ikatekpene.  Mair  lives  at  the  Prison,  which  he  is  running 
temporarily.  ...  I  am  very  fit,  and  think  it  was  the  best 
thing  I  ever  did  to  come  out  here.  .  .  .' 

'  CALABAB,  March  21,  1905. 

'  .  .  .  I  am  back  in  the  old  Barracks  now,  and  go  out  to 
the  New  Barracks  twice  a  day,  as  on  account  of  more  N.C.O.'s 
coming  there  wasn't  room  there.  The  Gunners  H  Co. 
and  Depot  men  are  all  out  there  and  do  fatigues,  clearing 
the  bush,  etc.,  and  levelling.  At  present  I  'm  very  busy 
superintending  the  making  of  the  terraces  and  gardens  in 
front  of  the  Mess.  The  Mess  is  nearly  finished  and  two 
Bungalows  and  the  N.C.O.'s  quarters  and  soldiers'  huts, 
but  we  Officers  shan't  go  out  till  there  is  room  for  us.  It 
will  be  very  fine  indeed.  There  have  been  a  tremendous 
lot  of  us  here  lately  and  dining  in  Mess.  Last  Saturday 
we  said  "  Good-bye  "  to  another  column  for  the  Cross  River, 
where  there  is  more  trouble.  Major  Moorhouse's  and 
Capt.  Horsley's  column  return  next  week,  and  so  we  shall 
be  full  up  again.  Last  Saturday  we  played  cricket,  the 
Force  against  the  World,  to  try  and  avenge  a  former  defeat. 
They  made  145  and  we  had  2£  hours  to  beat  them  and 
made  it. 


EDWAKD  ANTHONY  STEEL  37 

'  Major  Trenchard  is  very  busy  putting  everything 
straight.  He  runs  this  place,  and  I  get  on  very  well  with  him 
and  also  the  Colonel.  .  .  . 

'  The  Amalgamation  scheme  has  been  decided  on  between 
S.  Nigeria  and  Lagos,  but  no  details.  Our  Artillery  has 
been  cut  down  to  one  Battery  of  six  B.L.  guns  instead 
of  two  Batteries  each  of  four  guns,  one  Battery  being 
B.L.  and  the  other  R.M.L.  The  latter  have  been  sent 
to  the  Governor's  house  as  ornaments  and  two  more  B.L. 
guns  ordered  from  home.  At  present  it  is  not  decided 
whether  the  whole  Battery  will  stop  hi  Calabar,  or  a  section 
at  Lagos  or  Asaba.  No  one  wants  to  go  to  Lagos,  you 
don't  come  out  here  to  spend  more  than  your  pay. 

'  Captain  Mair 1  arrived  last  mail.  A  very  nice  fellow. 
I  should  like  to  get  Jocelyn  out  here  instead  of  sticking  with 
L.  I  see  they  come  home  for  certain  now  this  Christmas. 
...  I  shall  try  and  stop  out  here  till  next  winter's  "  opera- 
tions "  and  come  home  April  next.  If  all  goes  well  I  may 
come  out  for  a  second  time.  I  shall  look  forward  to  coming 
back  to  it  again  now  more  than  before,  now  that  prospects 
seem  brighter. 

'  The  only  place  I  can  locate  that  Hindustani  book  of 
mine  is  with  young  Brandon.  I  wonder  if  he  took  it.  I 
suppose  he  is  back  in  India  now '  (see  p.  32). 

« April  20,  1905. 

'  I  am  sorry  I  did  not  bring  all  my  books,  as  I  require 
them  to  work  up  for  my  exam.,  for  which  the  Colonel 
wants  me  to  go  up  at  Lokoja,  but  it  can't  be  helped. 

'  We  are  in  the  midst  of  the  Rifle  meeting — fearful  panic. 
Even  the  billiard  table  is  being  slept  on,  there  is  such  a 
crowd.  The  next  boat,  however,  sees  a  great  clearance, 
thank  goodness,  and  when  I  come  back  from  Lokoja  it 
will  be  peaceful  again  and  one  will  be  able  to  get  some  food 
at  meals.' 

May  6,  1905. — En  route  to  Lokoja  to  pass  his  examina- 
tion referred  to  in  letter  of  April  20. 

1  Now  Colonel  G.  Mair,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  B.A.,  commanding  the  Nigeria 
Regiment. 


38  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  It  seems  quite  strange  being  on  board  ship  and  not 
going  home.  I  am  getting  off  at  Forcados  to-morrow 
and  get  into  a  river  boat  for  Asaba  and  then  to  Lokoja. 
It  will  be  sad  saying  "  Good-bye  "  to  the  others  who  are 
going  home  in  this  boat  (among  them  Trenchard  and 
Hamilton).  However,  it  is  a  change  after  Calabar.  The 
Colonel  and  Horsley  his  adjutant  are  coming  up  with  me 
as  far  as  Asaba  inspecting.  So  we  are  quite  a  cheery 
party. 

* ...  is  coming  home  on  this  boat.  I  don't  suppose  he  's 
got  a  good  word  to  say  about  any  of  his  senior  officers. 
Major  T.  is  only  disliked  by  the  worst  as  he  makes  them 
work.  I  don't  know  what  Calabar  would  do  without  him, 
for  he  keeps  everything  up  to  the  top  standard  ;  on  a 
column  after  three  months'  overtime  every  one  is  inclined 
to  be  irritable,  but  he  's  the  best  we  have  got  out  here. 
I  only  hope  he  comes  back. 

'  We  had  a  good  week  of  festivities  at  Calabar  and  ended 
up  with  a  Smoker  and  Torch -light  Tattoo.  Two  civilians, 
Bed  well  and  Orpen,  won  the  lawn  tennis.  The  boat  is 
beginning  to  roll  horribly.' 

He  arrived  at  Lokoja  May  6,  passed  his  exam,  on  May  29, 
and  returned  to  Calabar. 

'  CALABAR,  June  14, 1905. 

'  Quite  a  change  after  Lokoja  this  place,  something 
different  every  afternoon.  I  was  disappointed  with  Lokoja. 
I  have  been  offered  a  political  job  in  charge  of  the  "  Eket  " 
district.  You  see  Eket  on  the  map  I  sent  you,  and  the 
district  goes  up  to  Aka  and  is  bounded  by  the  Calabar  and 
Kwalbo  Rivers.  I  have  accepted  it  for  a  short  time,  as 
there  's  not  much  going  on  here,  as  it  may  do  me  good  for 
future  events  perhaps.  It  will  be  interesting  visiting  some 
of  the  old  places  again — Afaha,  Offiong,  and  those  other 
places  I  have  mentioned — though  I  hope  they  won't  bear 
any  ill-will  against  me.  You  remember  we  had  to  settle 
a  good  bit  of  the  country  this  year.' 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  39 

'  EKET,  July  25,  1905. 

'  I  have  just  heard  the  terribly  sad  news  of  Jocelyn's  1 
death.  I  can  hardly  realise  it.  I  don't  know  what  to  say 
to  poor  Aunt  Flo.  I  have  had  quite  a  good  time  the  last 
fortnight  travelling  about  the  District,  but  have  no  time 
now  to  tell  you  all  the  episodes.  It  is  very  nice  being  free 
as  it  were  to  do  as  one  likes.  I  am  off  again  to-morrow 
down  the  Kwalbo  River  to  the  mouth,  where  there  is  a  creek 
that  is  supposed  to  run  to  the  Calabar  River  inland,  and  I 
am  going  to  see  how  far  I  can  get,  as  there  is  a  great  scheme 
for  opening  up  water  communication  that  way  with  Eket  or 
Calabar.' 

'  EKET,  August  21, 1905. 

'  I  return  to  Calabar  this  week,  as  my  relief  arrives  the 
day  after  to-morrow.  I  have  had  too  much  to  do  here, 
or  rather  have  done  too  much,  for  I  needn't  have  done 
anything  but  sit  tight  if  I  liked.  I  have  now  about  ten 
reports  to  write  as  a  result  of  my  labours.' 

'  CALABAB,  September  9,  1905. 

'  I  got  back  last  week.  I  was  not  sorry  to  reach  Calabar 
again,  I  have  had  very  hard  work  at  Eket.' 

'  September  20,  1906. 

'  Trenchard  and  others  arrived  last  boat.  He  is  in  great 
form,  and  at  last  something  is  being  done.  He  has  asked 
me  to  stay  out  here  and  come  as  his  Staff  Officer  on  the 
next  operations,  which  begin  in  November.  He  will  be 
in  Supreme  Command  with  four  or  five  other  columns 
under  him,  so  instead  of  leaving  here  next  month  when 
my  year  's  up  I  am  going  to  stay  till  April  or  May  next, 
supposing  the  doctors  allow  it,  which  is  almost  certain.' 

'  CROSS  RIVEE,  September  30,  1906. 
'  Came  out  here  in  the  Jackdaw  and  remained  for  gun 

1  Jocelyn  Mellor  (see  p.  8)  died  June  7,  1905,  after  being  severely 
mauled  by  a  wounded  tiger.  He  had  just  been  promoted  Captain  and 
appointed  to  113th  Battery  R.F.A.  This  was  his  last  shikar  trip  pre- 
paratory to  his  proceeding  to  his  station. 


40  A  MEMOIR  OF 

practice  till  October  18.    Only  Mair  and  I  with  the  Battery. 
Vickery  is  doing  Intelligence  Officer.' 

'  AITKPO,  CROSS  RIVER, 
'  September  30,  1905. 

*  We  have  been  here  three  days  now,  which  have  been 
spent  in  clearing  the  grass  hi  places  for  targets,  etc.  We 
took  two  days  getting  up  hi  the  Jackdaw,  putting  up  at  Itu 
for  the  first  night,  where  you  will  remember  we  landed  with 
the  expedition.  After  that  the  river  gets  very  pretty, 
being  more  open,  and  trees  alongside  instead  of  dense 
mangrove.  This  place  is  4|  miles  in  from  Endibo  beach 
and  "  up  "  the  whole  way.  Afikpo  station  is  right  up  on  a 
hill,  with  precipices  on  three  sides  which  look  over  beautiful 
green  plains  for  miles,  and  perfect  climate.' 

'  CAI^ABAR,  November  2,  1905. 

'  All  our  arrangements  stand  at  present  and  we  start 
off  November  13  from  here.  We  have  just  sent  reinforce- 
ments round  to  the  Niger  as  the  Kwali  country  is  "  up,"  and 
three  Officers  have  just  been  badly  wounded  there.  It  was 
in  Renter's  telegram  about  ten  days  ago.  The  H.M.S. 
Dwarf  has  been  in,  and  we  've  had  a  series  of  matches  and 
festivities  for  them.' 

The  next  four  months  were  passed  with  the  column. 
(Despatches  twice  and  medal  with  two  clasps.) 

His  letters  during  this  period  with  the  column  were  of 
exceptional  interest  to  his  family  and  friends,  but  they 
are  similar  hi  detail  to  that  described  in  the  previous  ex- 
pedition and  would  seem  like  repetition  to  the  general 
reader  ;  they  have  been  absorbed  into  the  history  of  the 
period  and  hi  that  way  generally  described,  and  as  to  the 
part  played  in  it  by  Lt.  Steel,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  quote 
the  dictum  of  Major  Trenchard,1  who,  writing  in  1919,  said  : 

1  Now  Air-Marshal  Sir  Hugh  Montague  Trenchard,  Bart.,  K.C.B., 
D.S.O.,  R.A.F.,  Chief  of  Air  Staff.  W.A.F.F.  1906-13,  European  War 
1914-18,  Commandant  Central  Flying  School  1914-18. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  41 

'  He  was  my  Staff  Officer  and  he  was  a  great  man  and  the 
most  energetic  I  have  ever  seen,  I  think,  and  he  was  really 
the  backbone  of  the  expedition  on  which  we  were  together.' 

1906 

'  Jan.  13. — The  Secretary  of  State  has  wired  out  to-day 
all  overdue  officers  are  to  come  home  at  once,  so  I  may 
have  to  go  at  any  time.' 

'  Jan.  22. — I  got  the  Colonel  to  let  Trenchard  have  me  for 
an  extra  fortnight.  We  have  not  caught  any  of  the 
murderers  yet.' 

Calabar. — On  February  22  he  wrote  :  '  I  arrived  here 
two  days  ago  with  the  remains  of  Dr.  Stewart  (see  p.  35), 
which  we  recovered,  and  one  or  two  of  the  culprits.  The 
funeral  took  place  yesterday  with  great  ceremony.' 


CHAPTER  VI 

Return  to  England — School  of  Musketry,  Hythe — Survey  Course  at 
Southampton — Return  to  Nigeria — Life  and  Work  at  Lagos — Black- 
water  Fever — Return  Home — Lecture  to  Royal  Geographical  Society 
—  Gazetted  Captain  —  Joins  68th  Battery,  R.F.A.,  Woolwich — 
Trawsfynnid  —  Gravesend  —  Lecture  at  Geographical  Institute, 
Newcastle — Christmas. 

IN  March  1906  Lt.  Steel  embarked  on  his  return  home  in 
s.s.  Nigeria,  and  on  arriving  at  Las  Palmas  encountered 
H.M.S.  Isis  in  which  his  elder  brother  was  First  Lieut. ;  he 
remained  with  him  a  week,  went  on  to  Madeira,  where 
he  took  the  next  boat  home,  arriving  in  the  middle  of 
April. 

After  a  rest  he  set  to  work  to  prepare  for  his  examination 
as  Major ;  he  also  went  through  a  course  of  Musketry  at 
Hythe,  where  he  obtained  a  certificate  in  July,  and  also 
a  course  of  instruction  in  the  *303  Maxim  machine-gun,  for 
which  he  obtained  a  certificate. 

In  August  1906  he  paid  another  visit  to  his  uncle,  Col. 
Westmorland,  at  Yanwath,  and  with  his  cousin,  Hilda  W. 
(now  Mrs.  C.  T.  Stockwell),  attended  the  L.T.  Tournament 
at  Carlisle,  August  27-30. 

In  October  and  November  he  attended  the  topographical 
course  of  instruction  with  the  Ordnance  Survey  at 
Southampton,  where  he  obtained  a  certificate  from  Col. 
Hellard,  B.E. 

1907 

On  January  12,  1907,  Lt.  Steel  started  in  the  s.s.  Aro  from 
Liverpool.  He  had  three  very  bad  days  of  seasickness, 
and  was  unable  to  land  at  Madeira  as  he  had  hoped.  Alto- 
gether, the  voyage  was  so  monotonous  that  it  left  no  impres- 
sions worthy  of  record. 

42 


A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL      43 

'  LAGOS,  February  4,  1907. 

'  I  was  ordered  off  here  on  arrival  at  Lagos  roads,  and 
shall  be  here  till  July,  when  I  shall  probably  rejoin  the 
gunners  at  Calabar.  I  was  rather  pleased  with  Lagos  on 
first  arrival,  but  ever  since  the  first  day  I,  in  common  with 
the  general  community,  have  not  felt  fit  a  single  day.  It  is 
a  most  depressing  place,  being  in  a  small  low  island,  most 
of  it  reclaimed  and  sinking  gradually  and  surrounded  by  a 
smelling  lagoon.  Having  sunk  such  a  lot  of  money  into 
it  and  built  a  railway  from  the  mainland  to  Ibadan  and  so 
on,  I  suppose  the  H.C.  felt  it  had  become  the  capital  of  the 
new  province.  It  is  more  like  an  Indian  native  town  in 
parts,  and  an  enormous  black  population  all  on  top  of  one 
another.  To  make  matters  worse,  there  is  no  water  supply, 
and  so  all  liquid  refreshment  has  to  be  imported  ;  a  good 
water  supply  would  cost  millions.  When  you  write  to 
John  you  might  tell  him  that  I  have  a  friend,  Max  Ritter,  on 
the  Isis  whom  he  might  keep  an  eye  on,  if  he  is  worth  it. 
I  have  got  here  without  breaking  or  missing  a  single  thing, 
rather  good  when  you  have  to  tranship  into  surf  boats  to 
the  branch  boat  at  Lagos  roads  and  then  cross  the  bar.  I 
don't  think  there  will  be  any  football  here.  I  don't  even 
feel  keen  on  it.  Whether  it's  the  food  or  the  climate,  I  've 
never  been  in  such  a  comatose  state  in  my  life,  though  there 
is  more  society  here,  and  a  grand  Marina  to  walk  along.* 

•  February  14,  1907. 

'  We  play  polo  twice  a  week  and  tennis  the  remainder. 
The  polo  is  a  godsend,  I  don't  know  what  we  would  do  in  a 
climate  like  this  without  it.  The  railway  people,  who  form 
a  colony  just  opposite  this  island,  are  giving  a  dance  to-night, 
to  which  I  am  going.  There  is  a  huge  colony  of  nondescript 
people,  French,  German,  and  Syrian  traders  and  their 
wives,  mostly  coloured.  We  have  a  rotten  Mess  here,  not 
a  patch  on  Calabar.  I  have  a  room  10'  x  15'  along  a  corridor 
where  all  boys  have  to  pass  to  get  to  other  rooms.  If 
Trenchard  had  been  here  such  a  house  would  never  have 
been  put  up,  but  every  one  else  is  too  slack  to  worry.' 


44  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  FORCE  MESS,  LAGOS,  S.  NIGERIA, 
'  February  25,  1907. 

'  I  am  very  busy,  and  the  climate  is  sweltering.  I  haven't 
really  slept  since  I  arrived.  You  lie  surrounded  by  mos- 
quito nets  in  a  sort  of  pool  of  perspiration,  until  from  sheer 
weakness  you  slide  into  a  state  of  lethargy  and  welcome  the 
dawn  to  get  up  and  have  a  bath. 

'  There  is  a  lot  to  be  done  here — tennis-court  to  make 
and  get  ready  for  the  annual  match  at  polo  with  Accra, 
who  come  April  2  to  play  us.  I  shall  be  playing.' 

'  LAGOS,  March  3,  1907. 

'  I  am  running  the  Mess,  and  the  accounts  and  Mess 
bills  take  some  time,  to  say  nothing  of  returns,  etc.  The 
Colonel  leaves  the  middle  of  this  month,  and  I  am  getting 
up  the  concert  part  for  a  farewell  smoker  and  torch-light 
tattoo  he  's  giving.' 

'LAGOS,  March  11,  1907. 

'  I  hardly  know  which  way  to  turn  for  work.  I  've  had  to 
get  off  for  this  mail  two  estimates  for  soda-water  factories — 
one  for  Calabar  and  one  for  here.  As  nothing  of  this  sort 
has  ever  been  done  here  before,  and  there  has  been  no  water, 
it  has  been  a  big  business,  especially  as  all  the  water  has 
to  be  filtered  and  boiled.  It  is  most  depressing  weather  for 
working,  but  plenty  of  exercise  is  the  thing.  On  Saturday 
we  played  the  first  football  match  ever  played  in  Lagos 
versus  the  Merchants,  whom  we  beat  rather  easily.  Need- 
less to  say,  I  had  to  arrange  everything.' 

•  LAGOS,  March  18,  1907. 

'  Dr.  Gordon  White,  who  was  on  the  first  Ibibio  expedi- 
tion with  Trenchard  and  me,  died  last  week  of  malarial 
meningitis  ;  he  was  a  good  fellow. 

'  The  Colonel  leaves  us  to-morrow,  and  I  have  had  several 
things  to  get  settled  up  with  him  before  he  goes.  Last 
Saturday  we  gave  a  smoker  and  torch-light  tattoo  as  a 
farewell.  The  former  took  me  all  my  time,  and  we  had 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  45 

electric  light  for  all  the  stages  and  illuminations,  and  as  I 
did  most  of  the  performance  as  well,  I  'm  glad  it 's  over. 

'  I  cabled  last  week  for  a  "  Consol "  mineral-water  machine, 
and  got  Calabar  "  on  duty  "  for  three  weeks  to  fix  it  up.  I 
shall  get  on  to  Trenc hard's  boat  here  and  go  with  him. 
Rather  nice  !  I  only  hope  I  haven't  forgotten  all  about 
the  machine  and  it  fails  !  The  "  Accra  "  people  arrive 
at  end  of  the  month,  Guggisberg 1  included,  to  play  us  polo, 
tennis,  golf,  and  cricket ;  so  I  shall  just  get  back  in  time, 
and  as  I  am  playing  it 's  rather  exciting.' 

'  M  arch  26,  1907. 

*  I  have  been  unfortunate  enough  to  get  a  smack  on  the 
head  with  a  polo  stick,  just  above  the  eyebrow,  and  so  I 
am  not  writing  much.  I  have  had  it  sticked,  and  it  will  be 
all  right  in  a  few  days.  In  the  meantime,  while  healing, 
it 's  somewhat  painful.  I  go  to  Calabar  this  day  fortnight, 
and  return  after  a  week's  stay  there.' 

'  FORCB  MESS,  LAGOS,  April  8,  1907. 

'  Since  last  week  I  have  had  the  busiest  time  of  my  life  ; 
with  the  '  Intelligence  '  Office,  which  I  am  running,  and  the 
Mess  and  the  new  tennis-court  and  soda-water  factory,  I've 
been  well  occupied,  with  the  latter  especially,  and  until 
we  get  a  new  well  fitted  up  with  a  pump  cistern,  and  main 
to  our  back  yard,  we  can't  cable  for  the  new  plant,  towards 
which  we  are  collecting  £200.  I  have  been  on  the  point 
of  cabling  several  times.  Last  Wednesday  I  thought  it 
settled  as  regards  water,  but  the  High  Commissioner  was 
up  at  Ibadan  for  the  races  there,  and  as  I  was  going  to 
Calabar  to-day  I  thought  I  'd  better  go  up  to  see  him,  so  I 
got  leave  and  on  Thursday  I  left  for  Iba  by  rail.  Saw  H.C. 
next  day  and  the  races,  came  down  "  special "  Sunday, 
yesterday,  everything  settled,  rushed  off  to  the  Public 
Works  this  morning  before  leaving  for  Calabar  to  see  if 
Pump  palaver  was  all  right,  and  found  they  hadn't  got  an 

1  Lt.-Colonel  F.  G.  Guggisberg,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  R.E.,  Governor  and 

Commander-in -Chief,  Gold  Coast. 


46  A  MEMOIR  OF 

elevator  pump,  only  a  "  hand  "  one,  and  so  we  couldn't 
pump  up  to  a  cistern  and  get  the  pressure.  This  will  prob- 
ably have  to  be  specially  indented  for,  and  so  waste  two 
months.  I  go  out  with  all  my  boxes  to  the  boat  with 
Trenchard,  thinking  the  new  machine  is  on  board  for 
Calabar,  find  it  is  not,  and  so  return  here  for  another  fort- 
night until  it  does  arrive. 

'  So  now  I  am  back  in  Lagos  again,  and  can  push  on  the 
mineral-water  factory  here,  and  will  go  to  Calabar  for  two 
weeks  next  fortnight,  and  so  I  go  on  working.  I  have  to 
get  everything  for  our  tennis-court,  too,  from  the  P.W.D., 
which  requires  a  lot  of  tact.  I  'm  pretty  fit,  but  it  is  very 
hot  still,  and  no  rest  at  night.  Ibadan  was  ripping  "  air," 
but  nothing  to  do. 

'  The  Accra  people  have  cried  off  the  polo,  much  to  our 
disgust,  and  so  there  is  no  excitement  to  look  forward  to.' 

'  FOBCB  MESS,  LAGOS,  April  15,  1907. 

4 1  am  very  busy  in  the  Mess  making  improvements,  and 
also  making  all  equipment  for  starting  heads  and  posts, 
lemon-cutting,  tent-pegging,  etc.' 

1  LAGOS,  April  22,  1907. 

'  I  have  just  come  down  from  "  Oshogbo,"  sixty-two  miles 
above  Ibadan,  where  I  went  last  Friday  to  the  opening 
ceremony  of  the  new  extension  of  the  railway  line,  which  is 
eventually  going  to  Kano  in  N.  Nigeria.  Major  Maclear 
and  I  went  up  to  Ibadan,  stopped  at  the  Mess  there  the 
night,  went  to  Oshogbo  the  next  day,  where  lunch  was 
served,  and  back  to  Ibadan  for  dinner.  Terrible  journey, 
and  I  was  very  disappointed  with  the  travelling  and  the 
country,  but  if  anything  it 's  thicker  than  round  here.  I 
hoped  it  would  be  open.' 

'  LAGOS,  April  29,  1907. 

'  I  don't  expect  I  shall  go  to  Calabar  yet  awhile.  There 
is  too  much  to  be  done  here.  We  had  the  Annual  Regatta 
last  Friday,  and  we  entered  a  boat  at  the  last  minute  in  the 
European  Fours,  and  after  a  desperate  race  we  got  second 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  47 

prize,  £5.  If  we  hadn't  had  an  old  sea-boat,  odd  oars,  etc., 
we  would  have  won.  Saturday  a  smoking  concert  at  the 
club,  at  which  I  gave  a  few  turns.  The  amount  of  work 
here  is  terrible.  Of  course  I  needn't  do  it,  but  I  do.  I 
shall  probably  go  to  Calabar  next  fortnight,  as  I  hear  the 
Calabar  machine  is  on  the  next  boat.  I  only  hope  it 's 
not  beyond  my  power  of  doing.' 

4  LAOOS,  May  27,  1907. 

'  The  Accra  polo  team  arrived  last  Thursday.  We 
played  them  on  Saturday  three  chukkers  and  got  two  goals 
to  their  one,  and  were  to  have  played  the  remaining  three 
chukkers  this  afternoon,  but  it  rained  incessantly  all  day, 
so  we  can't,  and  are  going  to  play  6  A.M.  to-morrow  morning 
if  possible,  as  they  have  to  leave  in  the  homeward  mail 
for  Accra  to-morrow  at  9  A.M.  Last  Friday  we  had  "  Empire 
Day"  here,  and  sports  for  7000  Lagos  school  children. 
I  had  2500  to  look  after,  and  we  got  through  a  programme 
of  about  ten  events. 

'  The  Mess  is  like  an  hotel  now  with  all  these  Accra 
guests.  It 's  too  much,  and  also  an  examination  for  pro- 
motion ;  fourteen  here  in  a  Mess  for  seven.  Trenchard  is  up 
from  Calabar  to  play  polo  for  us.  I  was  going  over  to 
Ebute  Meta  to  tennis  yesterday  (Sunday)  with  Trenchard, 
but  couldn't,  as  a  go  of  fever  came  on  which  kept  me  in  bed.' 

4  CALABAR,  June  23,  1907. 

*  I  had  a  rotten  trip  round.  We  had  a  rough  passage 
across  the  bar,  on  which  we  bumped  three  times,  and  were 
then  lifted  off  again  luckily  by  a  wave  which  continually 
broke  over  the  ship.  When  we  reached  the  roads,  there  was 
no  mail  steamer,  and  so  we  bobbed  about  in  a  cockle-shell 
boat  from  7  A.M.  till  2  P.M.,  and  I  really  thought  I  should 
"  bust."  I  think  eventually  I  must  have  collapsed,  for  I 
woke  up  and  found  the  mail  steamer  had  arrived.  We  lay 
about  100  yards  off,  and  this  has  to  be  done  in  surf  boats. 
You  had  to  make  a  jump  out  into  the  surf  boat  at  a  suitable 
moment,  for  it  was  bobbing  up  and  down  like  a  cork,  some- 
times above,  sometimes  below,  the  level  of  the  branch  boat 


48  A  MEMOIR  OF 

deck,  and  sometimes  away  from  it.  I  was  the  first  to  get 
in,  and  then  alongside  the  mail  steamer  it  was  awful,  and  it 
took  five  minutes  to  get  the  "  Mammie-chair  "  let  down  into 
the  surf  boat,  which  was  doing  about  20  feet  vertical  travel. 
It  rained  the  whole  way  to  here,  so  altogether  it  wasn't 
much  of  a  health  trip,  and  I  got  most  of  my  clothes  spoilt, 
too,  from  sea-water  getting  in  through  the  keyhole.  I 
think  the  machine  will  be  a  great  success.  I  am  only 
waiting  now  for  the  P.W.D.  to  join  up  a  couple  of  pipes  and 
I  shall  start.  It  is  a  great  improvement,  and  I  wonder 
people  haven't  been  poisoned  by  the  old  one.  I  hope  to 
get  back  to  Lagos  next  Saturday  to  carry  through  the  water 
supply  finally.  But  when  everything  was  fixed,  and  they 
were  going  to  start  putting  up  the  windmill  pump  and  tank 
and  main  from  the  race-course  well  to  our  Mess,  the  day 
before  I  started  from  here,  and  wanted  to  cable  home  for 
the  machine,  the  P.W.D.  suddenly  discovered  they  hadn't 
got  the  piping  to  carry  the  water.  They  promised  to  cable 
for  it,  but  whether  they  have  done  so  or  not  I  cannot  tell 
yet.  We  played  football  yesterday  v.  the  mail  steamer 
and  beat  them,  and  to-morrow  we  play  H.M.S.  Dwarf,  which 
has  just  arrived  here. 

'  PS. — I  have  managed  to  get  off  at  last.  I  suddenly  got 
the  machine  to  work,  the  new  syrup  arrangement  and  every- 
thing, and  so  they  let  me  go. 

'  I  have  had  a  busy  week  doing  Battery  Parades,  and 
every  day  till  6.30  in  the  factory.  I  got  a  cut  finger  from 
a  broken  bottle,  and  this,  I  think,  has  produced  a  "  Bubo  "  in 
my  throat,  which  makes  it  torture  to  swallow,  and  makes 
it  as  bad  as  being  seasick.  So  this  trip  won't  have  been 
much  pleasure.  We  want  a  bad  transhipment  at  Lagos 
to-morrow  only  to  complete  it. 

'  Mair  is  very  sick  at  my  being  wanted  in  Lagos,  and  I 
shall  have  to  return  for  gun  practice  in  six  weeks  up  at 
Afikpo.' 

4  LAGOS,  July  8,  1907. 

'  I  arrived  back  here  safely,  though  I  had  a  terrible  experi- 
ence, for  the  branch  boat,  an  old  tub,  was  suddenly  caught 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  49 

up  by  a  current  and  taken  slap  on  the  bar  4  P.M.,  just  as  we 
were  coming  in,  and  there  we  had  to  stop  with  waves  breaking 
over  till  high  water  10  P.M.,  when  we  got  off  and  anchored. 
About  150  passengers,  no  food,  drink,  etc.,  and  two  little 
boats  that  probably  have  never  been  launched.  I  thought 
she  would  break  up.  As  a  result  of  cold,  etc.,  my  sore 
throat  got  worse.  This  place  is  under  water  all  this  period. 
We  walk  straight  out  of  the  Mess  into  6"  of  water  all  round. 
Throat  got  ulcerated,  and  so  couldn't  eat  or  drink,  and  have 
had  to  have  it  daily  cauterised.  Getting  all  right  now. 
Plenty  of  work,  managed  to  raise  £250  for  M.W.  factory, 
and  to  have  our  own  distiller.  P.W.D.  have  forgotten  to 
estimate  for  piping,  and  there  's  none  in  the  country.  I 
shall  be  glad  to  cast  off  my  various  duties  next  Tuesday, 
when  I  leave  for  Calabar — Mess  caterer,  Mess  president, 
polo,  football,  etc.,  mineral-water  factory,  new  tennis- 
court,  besides  my  work.  I  shall  probably  return  here  in  a 
fortnight,  though,  and  be  found  some  job,  musketry  or 
something,  as  it  will  take  two  months  to  get  our  M.W. 
concern  going  here.  Moorhouse  has  got  an  extension,  so 
will  return  in  November.' 

'LAGOS,  July  15,  1907. 

'  I  have  had  a  bad  week  with  my  throat,  and  it  is  worse 
to-day  than  before,  so  I  can't  do  anything  much,  and  eating 
is  very  painful.  It's  impossible  to  get  well  in  this  place, 
and  we  are  surrounded  with  water.  Good  thing  the  house 
is  built  on  piles.  We  haven't  played  a  game  now  for  two 
months  owing  to  the  amount  of  water  lying  about.* 

His  last  letter  home  complaining  of  a  sore  throat  that  he 
could  not  get  rid  of  was  followed  by  a  telegram  from  Major 
Trenchard,  dated  August  30  : 

'  Son  out  of  danger  sailed  24th.' 

A  letter  dated  August  9,  which  arrived  about  the  same 
time,  stated  that  he  had  been  attacked  with  blackwater  fever 
when  starting  for  Calabar,  and  for  a  time  was  in  a  critical 
situation. 

D 


50  A  MEMOIR  OF 

During  the  voyage  home  he  recovered  his  health,  and 
was  allowed  a  period  of  leave  for  convalescence,  but  even 
had  he  wished  it,  he  would  not  have  been  allowed  to  return 


to  S.  Nigeria. 


1908 

In  March  1908  Lt.  Steel  read  a  paper  before  the  Royal 
Geographical  Society  on  '  Exploration  in  Southern  Nigeria  ' 
under  the  presidency  of  Sir  G.  Taubman  Goldie,  in  which 
he  described  the  proceedings  of  the  several  columns  with 
which  he  had  been  connected ;  the  general  characteristics  of 
the  country  between  the  Niger  and  Cross  Rivers,  illustrated 
with  lantern  slides  from  his  own  photographs ;  the  nature 
of  the  soil ;  and  the  customs  and  superstitions  of  the  various 
tribes  with  which  he  had  come  in  contact.  An  interesting 
discussion  followed,  in  which  Sir  Ralph  Moor,  who  had  been 
High  Commissioner  at  the  time,  Messrs.  Shelford,  Cotton, 
and  Parkinson  took  part  and  bore  witness  to  the  accuracy 
of  Lt.  Steel's  observation,  the  lucidity  of  his  description,  and 
the  interest  he  had  infused  into  a  subject  hitherto  little 
known. 

In  April  1908  Lt.  Steel  was  gazetted  Captain  and  posted 
to  the  68th  Battery  R.F.A.  at  Woolwich.  It  may  be  noted 
here  that  about  this  time  considerable  reductions  were 
being  made  in  the  Artillery  :  men  who  had  enlisted  for 
long  service  and  who  wished  to  re-enlist  were  not  allowed 
to  do  so  ;  consequently  the  country  was  flooded  with 
discharged  men  for  whom  no  employment  could  be  found. 
Societies  were  formed  in  many  places  to  remedy  this 
grievance,  but  it  was  difficult  to  cope  with,  and  great  distress 
was  caused  ;  and  to  the  surprise  of  those  who  knew  the  facts, 
Ministers  endeavoured  to  explain  in  Parliament  that  there 
had  been  no  reduction.  The  records  of  the  Soldiers'  and 
Sailors'  Help  Society  afford  ample  corroboration  of  this. 

Through  the  kindlness  of  Lady  Tritton  x  I  have  obtained 

1  Lady  Tritton,  wife  of  Sir  Seymour  Tritton,  K.B.E.,  who  has  devoted 
years  of  her  life  to  promoting  the  welfare  of  soldiers  and  sailors. 


51 

the  following  figures  as  to  the  number  of  cases  dealt  with 
by  this  Society  as  follows  : — 

1907  .    .    .    .  16888 

1908  ....  19297 

1909  ....  17951 

The  figures  are  vouched  for  by  Major  Tudor  Craig 
(Secretary). 

The  Battery  to  which  Captain  Steel  was  posted  was 
used  principally  as  a  training  Battery  for  the  short-service 
men  who  were  being  enlisted  to  fill  the  places  of  those  who 
had  been  discharged  under  the  aforesaid  regulations,  and 
it  was  in  this  way,  and  also  on  account  of  our  connection 
with  the  above-mentioned  Society,  that  we  became  cognisant 
of  these  facts. 

The  Major  was  on  leave  and  Captain  Steel  settled  himself 
in  the  Major's  quarters.  The  wave  of  economy,  of  which 
mention  has  been  made,  had  swept  over  the  barracks  at 
Woolwich,  and  they  were  in  a  condition  of  neglect  and 
disrepair. 

In  June  he  was  occupied  in  correcting  Survey  Papers 
for  prizes,  and  in  July  he  took  the  Battery  to  a  training 
camp  at  Trawsfynnid  1  in  North  Wales,  and  in  August  to 
Gravesend  for  field  training.  In  September  he  took  a 
short  leave,  and  in  October  he  was  invited  to  lecture  at  the 
Geographical  Institute  at  Newcastle,  where  he  met  with  a 
great  reception,  and  later  went  up  for  an  examination  to 
the  Ordnance  College,  Woolwich,  which  he  passed,  and  was 
directed  to  join  on  January  1,  1909. 

Writing  about  this  time,  December  1908  :  '  My  time 
is  scarcely  my  own  just  now  ;  last  night  we  had  our  winter 
ball,  which  takes  up  a  good  lot  of  every  one's  time.  Sketches 
and  Reconnaissance  Lectures  every  afternoon  and  the 
Franco -German  War  with  weekly  discussions  :  then  arrang- 
ing teams  and  ground  for  a  match  we  played  this  afternoon 

1  Letters  from  the  camp  at  Trawsfynnid  have  not  been  preserved ;  an 
excellent  description  of  it  is  given  by  Major  A.  Hamilton  Gibbs  in  his 
recent  work,  The  Grey  Wave,  p.  80. 


52      A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 

v.  London  United  Banks  whom  we  beat  4 — 0,  training  for 
the  Army  Cup.  We  play  the  2nd  Grenadier  Guards  in  the 
second  round  at  Walthamstow  on  December  26.  My  leg 
is  perfectly  all  right,  thanks  to  the  rest.' 

He  was  also  busy  with  a  Christmas  treat  at  the  Shrapnel 
Barracks  to  the  women  and  children  of  the  Battery  hi 
collaboration  with  the  wife  of  the  Major,  who  had  recently 
returned  from  leave.  The  entertainment  was  a  great 
success  owing  to  the  exertions  of  Mrs.  Short,  assisted  by 
Miss  Da  vies  ;  Captain  Steel ;  Q.M.S.  Mann  ;  Sergeant 
Sutton,  R.A. ;  Sergeant  Myhill,  R.E. ;  and  Sergeant 
Stringer,  R.A.M.C.  On  January  1  following  he  joined  the 
Ordnance  College. 


IjJ 

ss.rf.j.? 
wg  «-J  i 

«i'J^ 

..«  M^; 

ojo* 

|^d<g 

a^ 

•:Io^ 

<jv!.^ 

ql<=' 
Pijfc.j 

Is0:: 

^w.6« 

d,^!22 

o  u  s  .«-• 
?fc;S|l 

&T  S.o§  § 

£  <3o«"g 

§  ..d^5 
u  <s.ss 

gS?^' 

5   =<U3 
^  Id"-N 

Q  SP^":   . 

(^  S    ..p    . 

O 


CHAPTER  VII 

Joins  Ordnance  College — Lecture  at  United  Service  Institution — 
Brother's  Marriage — Aviation  Meeting,  Doncaster — Rejoins  68th 
Battery — Course  of  Economics,  Clare  Market — Certificate — Transfer 
to  17th  Battery,  Hilsea — Survey  Course,  Southampton. 

1909 

DUBING  the  session  at  the  Ordnance  College  (February  4) 
he  gave  a  lecture  at  the  United  Service  Institution,  White- 
hall, under  the  presidency  of  Col.  V.  G.  Kemball,  C.B., 
D.S.O.,  on  '  Exploration  in  Southern  Nigeria ' ;  and  in  due 
course  obtained  the  certificate  of  having  passed  the  Ordnance 
Course. 

A  photograph  of  the  officers  comprising  this,  the  Twelfth 
Ordnance  Course,  is  here  given,  with  their  names  inscribed 
thereon. 

Captain  Steel  commenced  work  at  the  College  on  January 
4,  1909.  He  was  recommended  for  '  0  '  certificate  and 
A.O.D.  at  the  conclusion  of  the  course. 

During  this  time  the  68th  Battery  moved  to  Aldershot. 

On  July  29  Capt.  Steel  was  best  man  to  his  elder  brother, 
Lt.  John  Miles  Steel,  R.N.,  on  his  marriage  with  Laura 
Kathless,  twin  daughter  of  the  late  W.  Sinclair-Thomson, 
M.D.,  and  Mrs.  Sinclair-Thomson  of  Heathcroft,  Black- 
water,  Hants,  at  St.  Andrew's,  Wells  St.,  London. 

It  would  appear  from  his  correspondence  that  he  turned 
his  attention  to  the  feasibility  of  establishing  a  corps  of 
aviation  in  the  British  Army. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  practical  aspect  of 
aviation  was  still  in  an  experimental  stage,  and  the  first 
important  gathering  was  convened  at  Doncaster,  I  think 
originally  by  Captain  Windham,  a  retired  officer  of  the  Navy, 
and  it  was  remarkable  at  the  time  for  two  reasons — first, 


56  A  MEMOIR  OF 

credit  and  obtained  a  certificate  to  that  effect  and  rejoined 
his  Battery.  Early  in  the  year  1911  he  was  offered  an 
appointment  in  the  New  Zealand  Service,  and  he  was  much 
inclined  to  accept  it,  but  at  the  last  moment  he  was  persuaded 
not  to  go  for  various  reasons,  and  another  officer  was  found 
who  was  willing  to  do  so. 

1911 

June. — Another  question  to  which  Capt.  Steel  had  been 
giving  some  attention  was  that  of  the  necessity  for  pro- 
viding some  sort  of  observation  platform  for  use  in  the 
field.  The  following  letter  from  the  Director  of  Artillery 
shows  the  result  of  these  deliberations,  and  one  cannot 
help  being  reminded  of  the  attitude  at  headquarters  generally 
towards  all  original  proposals  emanating  from  young 
officers,  and  also  the  fact  that  at  one  time  there  was  a  dis- 
position to  belittle  the  use  of  artillery  and  of  engineers  in 
war,  and  indeed  to  preach  the  doctrine  that  in  future  wars 
neither  arm  would  be  of  so  much  use  as  their  respective 
advocates  contemplated.  It  would  be  interesting  to  com- 
pare some  opinions  held  fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago  at  the 
War  Office  with  the  experience  of  this  recent  war. 

Extract  from  enclosure,  Q8th  Battery,  R.F.A., 
Capt.  E.  A.  Steel,  E.F.A. 

'  54/ABTILLEEY/4519  (A.2), 

'  W.O.,  LONDON,  June  17, 1911. 

'  With  reference  to  previous  correspondence  on  the  subject 
of  observation  platforms  for  use  in  the  field  I  am  informed 
that  the  Officers  named  in  the  margin  may  be  thanked  for 
the  trouble  they  have  taken.  It  is  not  proposed  to  take  any 
further  action  with  regard  to  their  proposals. 

'  (Sgd.)  C.  G.  HENSHAW, 
*  Colonel  for  Director  of  Artillery. 
'  To  G.  O.  C.-in-C.,  Aldershot.' 

In  July  1911  he  was  transferred  to  the  17th  Battery  at 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  67 

Hilsea,  and  in  August  attended  the  Survey  Course  at 
Southampton  to  fit  himself  for  a  post  on  the  Boundary 
Commission  then  in  prospect,  and  he  remained  there  until 
the  conclusion  of  the  course,  when  he  was  warned  that  his 
services  might  be  required  for  Boundary  work. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

Offered  Appointment  to  Anglo-Belgian  Boundary  Commission — 
Sails,  January  1912 — Work  in  Rhodesia — Leave,  November — 
Appointed  Chief  Commissioner — Work  on  Boundary. 

THE  boundary  between  Northern  Rhodesia  and  Southern 
Congo  was  defined  as  the  Zambezi-Congo  watershed  by 
the  Treaty  of  1885  ;  while  the  western  boundary  between 
Rhodesia  and  Portuguese  Angola  was  defined  by  the  Anglo  - 
Portuguese  Convention  of  1891,  which  was  later  modified 
by  the  King  of  Italy's  award  of  1905. 

The  Anglo-Belgian  Commission  for  the  survey  of  the 
Rhodesia -Congo  border  reached  Ndola  on  September  2, 

1911.  The  British  Commissioners  were  originally  Major 
R.  A.  Gillam,  R.E.,  in  command  ;    Capt.  Everest,  Welsh 
Regiment ;    Capt.  R.  Walker,  R.E. ;  Lt.  S.  Gore-Browne, 
R.FA. ;  and  Lt.  0.  E.  Wynne,  R.E.    The  Belgian  Com- 
missioners were  Major  Begraud,  in  command  until  April 
1912  ;    Capt.  Weber,  in  command  from  that  date ;    and 
Lts.   Le    Poivre,    Gendarme,    van    Bleyenberg,    Windart, 
Dormer,  and  Ermens. 

On  October  16  Capt.  Everest  was  killed  by  a  lion,  and 
Capt.  Steel  was  sent  out  to  replace  him,  arriving  early  hi 
1912. 

In  November  1911,  on  the  information  reaching  home  of 
Capt.  Everest's  death,  Capt.  Steel  had  been  warned  through 
the  officer  commanding  his  Battery  at  Hilsea  that  his  em- 
ployment with  the  Anglo -Belgian  Boundary  Commission 
had  been  approved  subject  to  medical  report  on  him,  and 
this  having  been  obtained,  he  made  preparations  for  his 
departure,  and  sailed  in  the  Armadale  Castle,  January  4, 

1912.  The  first  part  of  his  journey  was  stormy,  and  he  was 
unable  to  land  at  Madeira,  and  passengers  for  there  were 


58 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    ENGLISH     COMMISSION. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE     BELGIAN     COMMISSION. 


landed  with  difficulty.  Farther  south  the  weather  improved, 
and  the  last  ten  days  were  occupied  with  sports,  tourna- 
ments, fancy  dress  dances,  and  concerts,  etc. 

He  writes  :  '  I  met  some  very  nice  people  on  board — the 
Macfarlanes  among  others,  going  out  to  see  their  gunner  boy 
at  Pretoria.  I  have  been  at  a  table  with  Sir  Starr  Jameson  ; 
Sir  Charles  Metcalfe,  the  great  South  African  explorer ;  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willie  James,  who  are  going  on  a  pleasure  trip. 
Mrs.  Macfarlane  has  just  made  a  sketch  of  me  for  your 
benefit.  There  are  a  good  many  Belgians  on  board  going 
up  to  Katanga.  I  will  try  and  stay  a  few  days  at  Living- 
stone.' 

From  Livingstone  he  writes  :  '  After  a  long  tram  journey 
I  was  glad  to  have  a  rest.  This  place  is  like  Calabar,  always 
damp  from  the  spray  of  the  Zambezi  Falls  7  miles  away. 
We  had  a  fine  view  arriving  over  the  bridge.  I  am  staying 
the  night  with  the  Basuto  Police  Mess,  and  leave  to-morrow 
for  Bwana  Mkubwa  to  join  Major  Gillam. 

'  Bwana  Mkubwa  is  one  of  the  largest  copper  mines  hi 
Rhodesia,  and  was  worked  extensively  by  the  Arabs,  the 
deposit  being  of  the  same  nature  as  at  Katanga.  The 
present  workings  have  attained  a  depth  of  over  400  feet, 
and  yet  the  true  sulphide  zone  has  not  been  met  with,  the 
ore  being  still  all  malachite  or  carbonate  of  copper.  Seven 
miles  north-west  is  the  Government  station  of  Ndola,  where 
the  R.M.1  has  his  headquarters. 

'  I  have  been  here  three  days  conferring  with  Gore -Browne 
on  the  triangulation  scheme  before  he  goes  on  six  weeks' 
leave.  When  he  returns  we  will  have  to  go  westward,  while 
Major  G.  administers  from  Headquarters,  and  is  much 
occupied  with  correspondence  and  arranging  about  food 
and  carriers.' 

1912 

'  BWANA  MKUBWA,  February  6,  1912. 

'  I  shall  have  to  carry  on  alone  westwards  until  Gore- 
Browne  returns.  I  go  to-morrow  morning  to  join  the 

1  Resident  Magistrate. 


60  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Base  Camp  at  Kafulafuta,  28  miles  S.E.  by  S.  Walker  has 
been  to  see  me  here.  He  and  Wynne  leave  shortly  to  go 
north.  This  is  quite  the  poorest  country  I  have  ever  seen. 
No  food  and  no  inhabitants. 

'  I  walked  round  the  mine  the  first  day,  and  went  to  see 
the  manager,  Mr.  Cockburn,  who  has  a  brother  in  the  R.G.A. 
(studying  Japanese).  I  have  been  there  several  times  since. 
He  is  leaving  the  day  after  to-morrow.  The  only  work 
going  on  is  pumping  ;  they  are  marking  time  to  see  how 
the  Tanganyika  Concessions  are  faring  in  Katanga  with 
their  ore  before  doing  anything  here.' 

•KAVALLO,  BELGIAN  CONGO, 
'  February  12,  1912. 

'  Walker  and  Wynne  depart  to-morrow,  and  we  become 
two  separate  Commissions.  We  have  just  come  over  here 
for  a  reception  to  the  Belgian  Commissioners,  and  to-morrow 
I  go  off  observing.' 

'  KAFULAFUTA  CAMP,  February  20,  1912. 

'  It  has  rained  for  five  days,  and  so  I  returned  here  with 
little  results.  I  am  busy  taking  in  all  the  technical  details, 
and  getting  the  hang  of  the  work  done  so  far.' 

1  February  26,  1912. 

'  I  am  at  a  place  called  Lunga,  a  mountain  about  5  miles 
E.  of  railway  and  40  miles  S.  of  Bwana  Mkubwa.  It  is  one 
of  our  Trig,  points.  It  has  taken  me  some  days  to  make 
the  place  possible  for  a  theodolite,  and  I  am  going  to  start 

observing  to-morrow.' 

'  March  6,  1912. 

'  I  left  Kafulafuta  ten  days  ago  visiting  and  observing 
from  Trig,  points,  which  all  required  several  days'  work  to 
make  them  fit  to  observe  from,  and  I  am  gradually  on  my 
way  back  to  Bwana  Mkubwa  for  a  few  days,  I  hope,  with 
all  the  data  for  the  triangulation  up  to  the  Lini.' 

'  March  28,  1912. 

'  I  have  got  back  after  a  useless  trek  down  to  the  Kafue 
and  through  to  here  again,  70  miles,  in  the  search  for 


CAPT.  E.  A.  STEEL. 


Facing  /.  6<x 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  61 

hills,  but  it  is  quite  the  most  hopeless  country  I  have  ever 
seen,  you  can  see  nothing.  We  have  come  to  the  end  of 
hills  here  for  a  bit,  and  from  Kaloko  Hill  just  here,  our 
farthest  point,  you  can  see  nothing  but  a  vast  expanse  of 
monotonous  tree-tops  for  50  miles  or  so.  G.  B.  has  returned 
from  leave,  and  has  gone  off  to-day  to  Sabwe,  in  Belgian 
territory,  to  see  if  he  can  see  anything  from  there ;  on  the 
strength  of  his  report  I  shall  have  to  decide  what  to  do. 

'  I  had  to  come  back  here  to  get  the  plane-tablers  ready 
with  the  points  for  the  men  up  to  the  rail  line,  and  then  I 
shall  go  off  along  the  frontier,  and  we  shall  have  to  erect 
Eiffel  Towers  in  the  forest.  I  wrote  to  the  Belgians  the 
other  day  to  get  them  to  come  here  and  help  us  hi  this  next 
bit.  They  are  coming,  I  am  glad  to  say.' 

'  SAKANIA,  April  26,  1912. 

'  I  got  a  wire  from  Major  Gillam  saying  he  was  coming 
up  to  see  me  for  the  day.  The  train  arrived  here  6  A.M.,  so 
after  meeting  him  and  bringing  him  to  my  camp  here  and 
having  breakfast,  wash,  etc.,  we  started  off  to  walk  out 
to  the  "  tree  "  station  I  am  building  3  miles  out.  On  our 
return  we  had  lunch,  and  then  he  had  to  catch  the  mail 
train  down. 

'  On  the  Thursday  before  we  both  arrived  down  by  the 
same  train,  he  from  Tshinsenda  and  I  from  Mokambo.  We 
had  been  building  an  enormous  signal,  30  feet  high,  but 
owing  to  the  carriers  climbing  to  the  top  before  we  had 
braced  it  up  properly,  it  buckled  up.  However,  I  left  an 
N.C.O.  to  finish  it,  and  came  here  to  begin  this  "  piece  " 
of  the  show  at  a  spot  I  had  noted  on  one  of  my  previous 
journeys.  Our  difficulties  lie  in  the  fact  that  from 
"  Kaloko,"  a  large  hill  at  Bwana  Mkubwa,  one  can  see 
nothing  but  tree -tops  ;  and  the  key  to  the  situation  lies  in 
the  possibility  of  connecting  up  Kaloko  with  Mokambo  for 
a  start — 60  miles.  I  have  now  been  here  more  than  a  fort- 
night— twelve  days'  actual  work,  and  at  least  another  week, 
what  with  clearing  and  putting  on  a  top  to  the  station. 
The  platform  is  45  feet  high,  built  in  a  large  fork  of  a  tree, 


62  A  MEMOIR  OF 

one  of  the  three  arms  of  which  I  propose  using  to  fix  the 
theodolite  on.  The  rains  are  over,  and  there  is  a  short 
period  of  heat.  Every  one  has  been  ill :  Gore-Browne 
carried  into  Ndola  hi  a  hammock  with  bad  fever ;  Le 
Poivre,  one  of  the  Belgian  Commission,  ill  with  fever  for  a 
fortnight  now.  In  fact,  I  am  the  only  one  who  has  done 
any  work  at  all  the  last  three  weeks.  "  Begraud,"  the 
Major  of  the  Belgian  Commission,  has  been  recalled,  so  that 
they  have  been  at  a  standstill  for  a  month.  However, 
Le  Poivre  came  in  this  morning  to  borrow  my  map  to  copy, 
so  perhaps  they  're  going  to  make  a  start  soon.  Expensive 
place  Sakania.  Sometimes  an  enterprising  hotel  proprietor 
gets  up  a  cow  and  kills  and  charges  3  francs  50  for  a  pound 
of  meat ;  and  so  on.  A  bottle  of  beer,  value  4d.,  cannot 
be  had  under  2  francs  50.  I  have  not  been  over  fit  myself, 
partly  from  doing  too  much  and  also  as  we  cannot  get  any 
fresh  food.  I  can't  even  get  a  fowl,  simply  because  they  're 

not  in  the  country.' 

'  May  2,  1912. 

'  Major  Gillam  left  me  here  to-day  for  Tshinsenda  to  start 
our  new  headquarters,  and  I  shall  be  very  thankful  when  I 
have  settled  the  triangulation  that  far.  After  another  week 
of  work  and  clearing  I  may  say  I  've  finished  here,  and  then 
go  to  find  another  point  to  join  up  Tshinsenda  with  Kaloko 
at  Bwana  Mkubwa.  I  leave  here  8  A.M.  with  all  the 
carriers  and  get  back  about  6  P.M.  We  are  at  present  cut- 
ting through  a  whole  ridge  of  forest  to  see  another  point.' 

'  SAKANIA,  May  30,  1912. 

'As  you  see,  I  am  still  rather  defeated  by  this  area  of 
80  miles,  and  am  now  building  another  beacon  about  8| 
miles  out — 17  miles  a  day,  as  well  as  a  few  hours'  work 
there,  is  enough.  There  is  no  decent  water  there.' 

'  NDOLA,  June  6,  1912. 

'  I  went  off  to  Bwana  Mkubwa  by  a  goods  train  to  do  some 
observing  from  "  Kaloko,"  but  after  two  days  of  waiting 
from  sunrise  to  sunset  it  was  practically  impossible  to  see 
anything — so  Gore-Browne  is  going  off  with  a  helio  and  it 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  63 

will  be  slow  work,  as  one  of  us  will  have  to  work  the  helio 
for  the  other  from  practically  every  point.  I  went  up  to 
Ndola  to  call  on  the  new  magistrate  there  and  stayed  the 
night,  getting  on  at  the  siding  there  at  4  A.M.  for  here. 
These  Thursdays  and  Sundays  are  always  busy  days  here, 
the  train  running  from  the  south  6  A.M.,  also  the  one  from 
Elizabeth  ville  at  the  same  time  ;  the  south  tram  proceeds 
north  9  A.M. 

'  There  is  very  little  progress  to  report.  An  N.C.O. 
arrived  in  this  morning,  with  news  of  having  seen  nothing 
from  the  trees  on  the  route  I  sent  him,  although  practically 
surrounded  by  beacons.' 

'  SAKANIA,  July  3. 

'  I  have  just  arrived  back  here  after  a  detour  —  visiting 
Bwana  Mkubwa  again,  which  seemed  rather  a  retrograde 
move.  We  are  encountering  another  difficulty  now  — 
grass  -fire,  and  the  whole  country  under  a  kind  of  London 
fog  :  10  miles  is  about  the  limit  of  vision.  On  the  train 
here  I  found  the  Co.  Mine  Manager  of  Bwana  Mkubwa 
going  up  to  Elizabeth  ville  and  had  to  give  him  breakfast, 
and  then  had  to  see  Cpl.  Wilde,  R.E.,  who  had  returned 
here  the  night  previous.  I  had  sent  him  out  to  report  on 
a  certain  big  tree  about  10  miles  off  that  I  had  more  or  less 
fixed,  but  the  first  carrier  he  sent  up  on  rather  a  rotten 
rope  which  broke  with  him  about  50  feet  up  and  he  was 
killed,  so  they  came  back  having  done  nothing,  and  I  find 
a  state  of  mutiny  here.  I'll  have  to  go  myself  now,  and 
have  sent  the  Corporal  off  to  Kafue  on  a  tree-cutting  job.' 


July  17,  1912. 

'  Last  week  I  was  building  another  tree  station  9  miles 
from  Sakania,  and  then  the  N.C.O.  down  here  rushed  up 
to  me  one  day  to  say  he  didn't  know  what  to  do,  so  I  came 
down  here.  It  's  a  very  pretty  place  this  —  the  only  one 
I  Ve  seen  —  as  the  Kafue  runs  through  high  cliffs,  and  my 
tent  overlooks  it.  It  's  just  like  the  Rhine  —  but  the  tsetse 
flies  are  bad.  I  'm  very  fit  and  hope  to  shoot  some  meat 
here.  I  'm  going  to  look  on  this  week  as  my  seaside  holiday. 


64  A  MEMOIR  OF 

I  fancy  every  one  at  home  is  doing  the  same.  I  have  a 
canoe  made  and  am  having  it  "  tarred,"  and  in  the  evenings 
shall  do  some  paddling  and  sketching  on  the  river.  If  it 
wasn't  for  hippos  and  crocodiles  it  would  be  grand,  but 
the  natives  won't  go  near  it.  I  'm  sending  this  in  20  miles 
to  the  Belgian  station  of  Mokambo  to  catch  the  mail.' 

'  SAKANIA,  July  24,  1912. 

'  I  came  up  here  from  the  Lufua,  the  name  for  the  Upper 
Kafue,  last  Sunday,  and  return  to-morrow.  I  've  had 
a  lot  of  carriers  to  pay  off  and  a  lot  of  writing,  etc.  We 
found  another  small  hill  in  the  forest,  and  on  it  are  building 
the  biggest  tower  we  have  built  so  far.  I  have  left  an 
N.C.O.  to  go  on  with  it.  If  we  can  see  over  the  intervening 
ridge  from  the  top  we  shall  have  done  the  trick,  but  even 
then,  when  you  only  get  three  days  a  month  when  you  can 
see  over  20  miles,  you  never  know  how  you  will  be  kept 
observing.  I  have  made  a  very  nice  camp  on  the  Kafue 
where  it  runs  between  high  hills,  and  could  have  a  very 
pleasant  time  there  if  there  was  no  trouble  with  the  triangula- 
tion.  I  was  hoping  to  hear  last  mail  of  J.'s l  promotion. 
I  have  not  even  had  time  to  take  more  than  a  dozen  photos. 
I  shall  be  very  glad  to  get  to  Tshinsenda.  Then  I  hope 
not  much  more  than  a  week  there  will  suffice  for  the  calcula- 
tions, and  I  shall  push  out  and  make  a  camp  at  Makolo 
(Baya),  one  station  from  Elizabeth ville,  and  from  there 
work  right  across  the  Upper  Kafue.' 

'  September  5,  1912. 

'  Gillam  was  staying  with  me  last  week  at  my  camp  here 
near  Kilometre  55  on  the  railway,  the  only  place  with  some 
water  near,  where  I  am  building  another  huge  beacon  at 
Kilometre  49,  seeing  something  of  the  difficulties  and  nature 
of  the  work. 

'  He  's  not  very  fit,  I  'm  afraid.  We  have  just  heard 
the  Colonial  Office  are  paying  our  passages  home,  and  I 
shall  leave  with  Gillam,  December  4,  from  Cape  Town 
probably.' 

1  His  brother,  promoted  Commander  June  30,  1912. 


THE  UPPER  KAFUK  RIVER. 


KAXSAXSIH  MINE. 


Facing  f.  64. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  66 

'  November  26,  1912. 

'  A  place  called  "  Songe,"  a  mountain  about  5  miles 
east  of  the  railway  and  40  miles  south  of  Bwana  Mkubwa, 
one  of  our  tree  points  which  it  has  taken  me  some  days  to 
make  possible  for  a  theodolite .  I  am  going  to  start  observing 
to-morrow.' 

It  will  have  been  gathered  from  the  narrative,  so  far  in 
rather  unnecessary  detail,  that  the  difficulties  hitherto 
encountered  related  entirely  to  the  question  of  observation. 
The  portion  of  country  traversed  from  Bwana  Mkubwa 
to  Tshinsenda  had  been  a  most  trying  piece  of  work  to 
tackle,  and  members  of  both  sections  of  the  Commission 
were  tired  out  when  work  ceased  in  December. 

'  How  sick  one  was  '  (writes  Captain  Steel)  '  of  the  mono- 
tonous gently  undulating  forest  with  ridge  after  ridge  of 
the  same  height  and  never  a  view  obtainable  except  by 
climbing  the  highest  tree  after  much  preparation  and  forest 
clearing.' 

An  occasional  grass  -  fire  was  another  difficulty,  but 
although  the  country  was  sparsely  populated  they  had  not 
experienced  much  difficulty  about  getting  carriers,  and  as 
his  camps  at  Sakania,  Tshinsenda,  and  Makolo  (Baya)  were 
all  near  the  railway  their  food  and  communications  had  not 
given  them  any  serious  trouble. 

'  By  March  1912  the  triangulation  had  reached  the  railway, 
and  difficulties  now  began  in  earnest.  The  next  60  miles 
of  country  were  to  take  us  longer  than  the  last  150  miles, 
owing  to  the  absence  of  any  hills,  and  we  had  to  build  a 
series  of  six  beacons  in  order  to  get  through  this  forest  area 
to  Tshinsenda.  All  these  beacons  were  50  to  70  feet  in 
height,  whilst  an  immense  amount  of  clearing  had  to  be 
done  to  establish  intervisibility  all  round.  The  work  of 
the  Commission  was  much  hampered  during  the  next  hot 
weather  months  by  the  haze  that  pervades  the  whole 
country  until  the  rains  break  again,  which  is  sometimes  in 
September ;  but  in  this  particular  year  there  was  no  rain 
till  December.  Even  with  the  aid  of  a  heliograph,  which 


66  A  MEMOIR  OF 

we  always  had  to  use,  it  was  impossible  for  days  on  end  to 
see  more  than  10  miles.  Another  source  of  trouble  was 
bush-fires,  the  natives  setting  fire  to  the  grass  for  the  purpose 
of  concentrating  the  game  close  to  the  large  rivers.  The 
scarcity  of  water  is  also  a  difficulty,  but  only  on  the  Bhodesian 
side,  for  as  one  proceeds  along  the  watershed,  from  the 
railway  crossing  to  the  24th  meridian,  the  rise  to  the  water- 
shed from  the  Congo  side  is  abrupt,  and  the  whole  country 
appears  before  one  like  a  panorama,  whilst  on  the  Rhodesian 
side  nothing  can  be  seen  farther  than  the  next  ridge  of  tree- 
tops  only  a  few  miles  away.  During  these  hot  weather 
months  it  was  a  great  relief  when  work  took  us  down  to  the 
Kafue  River,  the  southern  limit  of  our  work  in  this  region, 
for  here  along  the  banks  of  this  beautiful  stream,  untouched 
as  yet  by  the  hand  of  man,  one  sees  Nature  at  its  best. 

*  At  Tshinsenda  a  base  was  measured  by  the  Belgian 
Commission  along  a  straight  stretch  of  the  railway  line, 
with  a  prolongation  into  the  forest  to  obtain  the  necessary 
length.' 

'  On  the  journey  down  we  met  Sir  J.  Hewett,  who  travelled 
down  with  us  from  the  Victoria  Falls  to  Maf eking.  He  had 
been  up  paying  a  visit.  We  had  some  "  bridge  "  in  the 
train,  in  which  a  travelling  missionary  joined  to  make  up 
the  "  four."  I  remember  Sir  John  saying  good-bye  to  me 
one  early  morning  in  Mafeking  station  while  I  was  hanging 
out  of  the  window  in  my  pyjamas.' 

1913 

During  the  recess,  as  Major  Gillam  was  advised  not  to 
return,  the  Colonial  Office  decided  to  appoint  Capt.  Steel 
with  rank  of  Major  to  be  Chief  Commissioner  of  the  Com- 
mission delimiting  the  frontier  between  N.  Rhodesia  and 
the  Belgian  Congo,  and  Lt.  E.  M.  Sealy,  R.E.,  was  appointed 
Assistant  Commissioner.  They  both  started  for  Cape  Town 

in  March. 

'  R.M .8.  Balmoral  Castle,  April  4,  1913. 

'  To-morrow  we  reach  Cape  Town,  and  very  glad  I  shall  be. 
We  had  a  very  nasty  trip  to  Madeira  and  I  as  usual  dis- 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  67 

appeared,  though  it  wasn't  till  after  dinner  on  the  Saturday 
night  this  time  !  It  was  very  cold,  and  then  for  a  few  days 
after  Madeira  I  have  been  hors  de  combat ;  however  we  then 
had  it  pretty  hot  and  I  'm  feeling  quite  myself  again.  It 's 
been  a  rotten  voyage.  Every  one  either  married  or  invalid. 

*  I  shall  stay  four  days  in  Cape  Town  arranging  matters 
connected  with  the  Commission  and  then  proceed  to  Living- 
stone, where  I  shall  stay  another  three  days,  and  then  to 
Sakania.' 

Before  the  recess  it  will  be  remembered  he  had  made  a 
camp  at  Makolo  (Baya),  one  station  from  Elizabethville, 
on  the  Katanga  Railway :  to  this  camp  he  returned  April 
28,  1913. 

'  I  have  now  been  here  one  week,  though  it  has  seemed 
like  a  couple  of  days,  and  we  are  getting  into  shape. 

'  There  is  a  fearful  amount  to  do.  I  don't  think  we 
have  forgotten  anything,  and  everything  is  going  smooth.' 

The  question  of  supplies,  it  has  already  been  observed,  had 
not  hitherto  presented  much  difficulty.  The  line  of  water- 
shed was  sufficiently  near  the  railway  as  far  as  Baya  to 
make  it  useful  for  their  purpose.  From  this  point  on  to 
Kansanshi  and  thence  to  Munyafunshi,  and  again  from 
Munyafunshi,  the  railway  and  boundary  line  diverged  and 
the  former  was  no  longer  of  assistance  to  them .  How  the 
difficulties  were  overcome  is  thus  explained  by  Major 
Steel  :— 

*  The  question  of  transport  was  the  most  serious  one 
that  presented  itself  on  resuming  work  at  the   beginning 
of   April  1913.    The  problem  was  this — how  to  maintain 
eight  white  men  and  four  hundred  black  men  in  a  practically 
uninhabited  and  foodless  country  for  fifteen  months,  the 
farthest  point  of   which  was  350  miles  or  a  twenty-eight 
days'  journey  from  our  rail-head  at  Baya.    As  a  native 
can  only  carry  a  total  load  of  twenty-eight  daily  rations, 
it  follows  that  he  cannot  be  sent  farther  than  a  fourteen 
days'  journey,  in  which   case   he  will  have  consumed   all 


68  A  MEMOIR  OF 

the  flour  he  started  with,  as  he  requires  the  remaining 
fourteen  rations  to  feed  himself  coming  back.  As  the 
first  half  of  this  country  was  tsetse  fly  area,  any  form  of 
animal  transport  was  also  out  of  the  question.  There 
remained  but  one  solution,  the  use  of  traction  engines, 
which  were  fortunately  found  available  at  Kansanshi  Mine. 
A  traction  road  existed  from  here  to  Baya,  as  this  is  the 
normal  route  by  which  supplies  arrive  and  copper  is  ex- 
ported. The  next  difficulty  was  that  as  one  proceeds 
west  along  the  watershed  the  hard  red  soil  disappears 
and  the  surface  consists  of  a  layer  of  soft  sand,  over  which 
traction  engines  cannot  go.  Fortunately  on  the  watershed 
we  leave  the  fly  area  at  some  160  miles  from  Baya.  A 
suitable  place  was  found  here  for  our  big  base  camp  on 
the  headwaters  of  the  Munyafunshi  River,  an  affluent  of 
the  Lualaba.  Here  the  traction  engines  could  arrive, 
and  it  would  be  possible  from  this  point  onwards  to  use 
ox  transport.  With  the  help  of  the  Anglo -Portuguese 
Boundary  Commission,  who  were  starting  work  on  the 
24th  meridian,  a  road  was  made  through  the  forest  to 
this  point,  and  by  September  our  total  requirements  for 
fifteen  months  had  been  transported  from  Baya,  some 
twenty  thousand  loads,  before  the  first  rains  began  and 
rendered  traction  transport  useless. 

'  With  ox  transport  in  view  for  the  second  half  of  our 
work,  two  bullock  waggons  had  also  been  transported 
from  Bulawayo  to  Munyafunshi  with  the  necessary  harness. 
Some  years  ago,  when  the  railway  from  Lobito  Bay  to 
Katanga  looked  like  arriving  soon,  an  Englishman,  Mr. 
Owen,  had  driven  up  a  herd  of  cattle  from  Barotse  Land, 
and  taken  up  a  farm  on  the  Lunga  River  near  Sakabinda, 
having  in  view  the  demand  that  would  arise  for  cattle.  For 
some  five  years  he  had  lived  a  lonely  existence — the  only 
white  farmer  in  the  district.  This  man  now  came  to  our 
assistance,  and  the  oxen  were  quickly  trained  for  draught, 
though  not  without  some  anxiety,  as  an  untrained  team  of 
twenty-four  oxen  can  tie  themselves  into  some  knots  in 
an  African  forest.  Altogether  seven  food  depots  were 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  69 

formed  along  the  watershed,  and  so  well  had  everything 
gone  that  when  work  ceased  on  the  24th  meridian  the 
following  May  only  half  a  dozen  loads  of  meal  remained 
at  the  Mwinilunga  depot.' 

'  BAYA,  May  13,  1913. 

'  Everybody  is  out  at  work,  and  we  've  made  good  use  of 
the  month  of  clear  weather  after  the  rains  for  observing. 
I  am  off  to  Elizabeth ville  to-morrow  for  four  days— on 
official  visits  to  Governor  and  Belgian  Commission.' 

There  was  no  mail  bag  made  up  for  Baya,  so  he  had  to 
give  his  address  as  below  and  arrange  to  get  his  mail  by 
carrier. 

'  BAYA,  POSTE  SAKANIA,  June  4,  1913. 

*  We  are  gradually  getting  a  move  on.  A  traction 
engine  and  three  waggons  went  off  to  start  our  Depot  at 
Kansanshi,  and  now  I  'm  only  concerned  with  being  able 
to  get  the  meal  I  've  ordered  in  various  parts  of  Africa 
up  in  time  for  the  next.  The  mines  are  beginning  to  do 
some  work  and  are  just  getting  a  new  smelting  outfit, 
which  will  require  all  their  engines  for  some  time.  All 
my  staff  are  working  well. 

'  Weber  and  Ermens  come  down  to-morrow  from  E'ville, 
and  I  've  been  busy  with  Sealy  getting  all  the  calculations 
ready.  We  have  to  fix  our  positions  of  all  the  boundary 
posts  between  here  and  Bwana  Mkubwa.' 

'  BAYA,  SAKANIA,  June  10,  1913. 

'  Sealy  left  for  Johannesburg  to  see  an  ear  specialist 
and  I  don't  know  when  he  '11  come  back.  G.  B.  is  on  ahead 
doing  good  work,  but  the  Administration  have  again  failed 
me  with  food  ;  so  I  may  not  be  able  to  fill  the  traction 
train  I  managed  to  get  for  next  week  to  Kansanshi.' 

'  BAYA,  POSTE  SAKANIA,  CONOO  via  CAPE  TOWN, 
« June  16,  1913. 

'  Bremner  the  Escort  Officer  goes  off  to-morrow  to  the 
Munyafunshi  River  to  make  a  camp.  My  next  headquarters 
is  Traction  Head,  so  that  limits  us.  It 's  out  of  "  fly  " 


70  A  MEMOIR  OF 

country  I  'm  told,  so  Mr.  Owen  can  come  with  his  oxen 
and  take  it  farther  on.  At  least,  I  've  told  Bremner  to 
collect  his  oxen  and  put  them  on  to  pulling  trees  to  train 
them.  Then  I  '11  order  some  waggons.  I  hear  from 
Kansanshi  there  's  no  chance  of  his  getting  his  surety  of 
£250  there,  but  if  I  can  get  hold  of  his  oxen,  I  '11  probably 
risk  buying  the  waggons.  .  .  .' 

The  Commissioner  was  endeavouring  to  get  Mr.  Owen  to 
furnish  some  security. 

'  BAYA,  POSTE  SAKANIA,  June  23, 1913. 

'  Things  are  looking  better.  Friend  Owen  has  found 
some  one  to  back  him  for  £250,  so  I  've  ordered  the  waggons 
from  Livingstone.  Sealy  has  arrived  and  leaves  in  two 
days  for  the  front.  Gore -Browne  reports  plenty  of  hills, 
and  the  traction  engines  are  working  and  meal  is  arriving 
from  the  south.  Weber  arrived  here  suddenly  to  meet 
Windart,  a  mapper  of  theirs,  who  is  beginning  round  here 
and  has  spent  all  to-day  copying  all  our  maps,  angles, 
everything  that  has  taken  us  the  last  two  months  to  do  ! ' 

'  BAYA,  POSTE  SAKANIA,  July  1,  1913. 

'  The  last  two  days  have  been  spent  in  loading  up  the 
three  trucks  of  each  of  the  two  traction  trains  that  suddenly 
came  in  for  us.  Our  new  camp  on  the  Munyafunshi  Railway 
is  reported  by  Bremner  and  G.  B.  to  be  a  great  success. 
G.  B.  has  finished  a  triangulation  as  far  as  that.  Sealy  is 
observing  round  Kansanshi,  I  hope  to  join  him  as  soon  as  I 
can  get  the  account  for  June  quarter  in  and  all  the  meal  for 
the  next  twelve  months  and  the  two  N.C.O.'s  who  are 
behind.  .  .  .  Other  gangs  are  making  a  road  for  the  traction 
engine  to  our  camp  on  Munyafunshi,  or  making  a  road  for 
Mr.  Owen  to  bring  his  cattle  and  our  waggons  along  from 
that  camp  to  the  24th  meridian.' 

'  August  18,  1913. 

*  I  have  finally  decided  to  leave  here  September  1,  when 
some  carriers  will  arrive,  and  all  the  remainder  of  the  camp 
will  go  on  to  one  of  the  waggons  of  the  traction  engines 
after  the  nature  of  a  travelling  circus  as  far  as  Kansanshi. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  71 

After  that  we  travel  light.  I  shall  have  to  stay  a  day  or 
two  there  and  then  set  out  for  Munyafunshi :  doing  some 
observing  at  one  or  two  hills  en  route.  I  am  just  waiting 
to  hear  that  Mr.  Owen  has  started  on  his  trip  forward  from 
Munyafunshi,  but  I  haven't  heard  yet.  On  him  depend 
our  fortunes  to  a  great  extent.  The  air  is  as  thick  as  pea 
soup  now,  and  it  is  very  hard  to  see.' 

'  KANSANSHI,  September  15,  1913. 

'  I  have  just  got  off  at  last  after  some  trouble  with  traction 
engine  people  who  tried  to  leave  me  in  the  lurch.  Weber 
came  on  here  to  see  me  from  Musofi.  Longitude  of  Munya- 
funshi camp  is  25°  25'  East  of  Greenwich  and  just  in  the 
Congo.' 

'  MUNYAFUNSHI  CAMP,  October  10,  1913. 

'  I  have  moved  here  at  last  and  very  glad  too,  190  miles 
from  Baya  !  and  this  is  half  way.  I  had  to  stay  some 
days  at  Kansanshi,  as  our  store  had  to  be  rebuilt.  Much 
business  with  the  Mine  people  and  District  Commissioner 
our  Agent.  It  was  rather  a  trying  journey,  as  it 's  the  hot 
season  now,  and  the  traction  road  to  Kansanshi  a  foot  thick 
in  dust  all  the  way — almost  impossible  to  walk.  After 
Kansanshi  nothing  but  water-holes  to  drink  from.  This  is 
going  to  be  a  nice  camp.  It  was  well  chosen  and  everything 
is  working  excellently.  Everybody  has  had  a  hard  time 
and  we  shall  have  a  week's  rest  here,  getting  the  camps  ready 
for  the  rains.  At  the  time  of  writing  there  is  more  grass 
being  put  on  the  roof,  and  the  "  plasterers  "  are  in,  throwing 
mud  at  the  walls.  Nothing  has  been  left  behind  and  nothing 
forgotten.  Owen's  two  waggons  are  on  their  return  journey 
from  the  24th  meridian,  going  very  slowly,  but  our  food 
supply  is  assured,  which  is  a  great  thing.  He  himself  has 
dysentery  as  well  as  the  mine  manager  at  Kansanshi.  We 
have  our  own  postal  service  to  here — six  days  from  Baya.' 

'  MUNYAFUNSHI  RIVER,  October  12,  1913. 

'  I  am  at  present  alone  here,  Gore-Browne,  Sealy,  and 
Bremner  all  out  doing  various  jobs.  I  expect  very  soon  to 


72  A  MEMOIR  OF 

be  able  to  see  my  way  through  as  regards  triangulation  via 
the  South,  where  I  sent  one  of  the  Corporals  to  report.  If 
BO,  I  shall  only  stay  here  long  enough  to  finish  off  September 
quarter  accounts,  get  the  three  N.C.O.'s  equipped  for 
another  three  months,  and  then  go  off  to  Mwinilunga  —  a 
Government  post  just  made  on  the  Lunga  River  (Lat. 
11°  43',  Long.  24°  26'),  where  I  shall  make  my  headquarters. 
We  've  still  a  nasty  bit  from  Mwinilunga  to  the  Corner. 
I  have  a  good  bit  of  correspondence  here,  and  six  months 
of  accounts  to  collect,  several  sick  carriers  to  attend  to, 
and  as  soon  as  I  settle  down  to  do  something  a  native  or 
two  rolls  hi  with  a  basket  of  flour,  so  I  have  to  go  to  the 
store  and  weigh  it  out  and  give  out  whatever  is  wanted, 
white  cloth,  blue  cloth,  salt,  or  money.  As  regards  J.'s 
Copper  all  I  can  say  is  that  the  Mines  Bwana  Mkubwa  and 
Kansanshi  are  in  the  hands  of  first-class  managers  out  here 
and  are  hard  at  work.  The  thing  is  the  transport  and 
labour  difficulty,  and  until  the  Lobito  Bay  line  is  finished 
I  can't  see  any  prospects.  The  Kansanshi,  I  should  say, 
is  the  best.  It  's  practically  owned  by  the  Tanganyika 
Concessions  Limited.' 


October  17,  1913. 

'  We  are  just  making  our  final  preparations  for  our  dash 
to  Mwinilunga  —  but  this  weather  nothing  can  be  done  as 
it  's  impossible  to  see  with  the  haze  and  smoke  of  bush- 
fires.  We  had  some  rain,  but  it  only  made  the  whole 
country  like  a  Turkish  bath  —  thicker  than  ever.  However, 
the  rains  will  be  here  in  a  month  and  everything  must  be 
prepared  —  houses  re-thatched,  ditches  dug,  and  stores 
repaired,  and  meal  carried  so  as  not  to  get  wet.  The  Belgians 
are  nowhere.' 

'  MTTNYAFTJNSHI,  November  13,  1913. 

*  I  have  just  put  the  two  new  N.C.O.'s  on  to  their  new 
bits  —  their  last  section  each  —  and  I  await  the  third  to- 
morrow. 

'  We  may  pay  a  dividend  in  the  end.' 


73 


'  MuNYAjrtmsm,  November  21,  1913. 

'  I  am  still  waiting  here  for  the  doctor  to  arrive  from 
Kansanshi.  I  have  to  make  everything  absolutely  fool- 
proof before  leaving,  so  that  not  a  single  carrier  can  go 
astray,  and  there  's  a  lot  of  sickness.  All  three  N.C.O.'s 
are  on  their  last  section,  but  at  present  as  we  have  been 
able  to  give  them  no  fixed  points  they  can  only  make 
traverses  all  over  their  area  and  fit  them  in  afterwards. 
The  last  year  has  gone  quick  enough,  but  not  a  day's  pleasure 
in  it.  I  don't  think  we  have  quite  broken  the  back  of  it 
yet.  The  last  bit  is  the  worst.  I  feel  an  old  man ! l  We 
shall  get  no  more  meat.  The  grass  is  growing  up  in  the 
forests  and  it  is  impossible  to  see  anything.  We  've  had  a 
lot  of  rain  already,  and  it  will  continue  now  incessantly  till 
April.  If  I  can  only  join  up  our  triangulation  with  the 
base  the  "  A  "  Portuguese  Commission  cut  at  Mwinilunga 
(Lat.  11°  45'  00*,  Long.  24°  25'  00"),  which  will  be  my  head- 
quarters, I  shall  feel  easier. 

'  The  news  of  the  arrival  of  two  Boundary  Commissions 
in  their  country  was  too  much  for  the  wild  Balunda,  who 
migrated  wholesale,  and  our  difficulties  were  thereby 
much  increased.  However,  when  they  heard  we  were  only 
there  to  fix  their  boundaries  and  make  life  more  secure  for 
them,  they  soon  began  to  return  and  rebuild  their  villages 
and  grow  food,  though  it  was  some  time  before  they  could 
be  prevailed  upon  to  believe  that  people  who  were  always 
climbing  trees  and  building  houses  in  the  air,  as  they  termed 
our  beacons,  could  be  up  to  any  good.  At  Mwinilunga  Mr. 
Pound,  the  Native  Commissioner,  had  made  his  headquarters, 
an  altogether  suitable  site  on  the  high  banks  upon  the 
Lunga  River  and  free  from  tsetse  fly.  The  river  here  is 
80  yards  wide  and  15  feet  deep  ;  we  had  to  build  a  bridge 

1  I  find  a  letter  from  Col.  Hedley,  B.E.  (now  Sir  Coote  Hedley,  K.B.E., 
C.B.,  C.M.G.):  'Dec.  23. — Yours  from  Mwinilunga  just  received.  Your 
letter  ia  a  record  of  a  struggle  against  great  difficulties,  but  I  think  you  are 
in  a  fair  way  to  overcome  them  and  that  the  end  is  now  in  view.  In  future 
years  you  will  look  back  with  pleasure  on  your  present  arduous  work.' 


74  A  MEMOIR  OF 

as  the  only  canoe  had  been  washed  away.  Near  here  the 
British  Section  of  the  Anglo-Portuguese  Boundary  Com- 
mission had  measured  a  base  and  triangulated  to  the  24th 
meridian.  To  this  we  joined  up,  thereby  fixing  the  boundary 
pillar  where  the  24th  meridian  touched  the  watershed.' 

'  MWINILTJNGA,  December  19,  1913. 

' .  .  .  Have  just  returned  from  a  fortnight's  trip  50  miles 
S.E.  near  the  Kabompo  River  trying  to  join  up  the  tri- 
angulation  which  one  of  my  N.C.O.'s  had  taken  as  far  as 
25"  00'  and  Lat.  12"  15'  and  then  came  to  a  sudden  stop  ! 
owing  to  being  able  to  see  nothing  but  ridge  after  ridge. 
In  fact,  a  piece  of  the  Sakania  country  again  which  took 
us  six  months  to  do  40  miles.  Consequently  I  left  Sealy  to 
do  the  observing  work  at  a  hill  30  miles  W.  of  Kansanshi 
as  soon  as  he  was  able  to  leave  Munyafunshi,  where  he  's 
been  sick  some  two  months,  and  rushed  in  here  to  tackle 
this  50  miles  necessary  to  join  up  with  commencement  of  the 
A.P.B.C.  work  at  Mwinilunga  here. 

'  Everything  has  gone  so  well — carriers — the  ox  transport 
— N.C.O.'s.  Most  trying  work  this  climbing  trees  in  the 
forest — until  you  find  the  right  one — and  the  building  of  a 
theodolite  station  hi  it  can't  be  left  to  any  one  but  myself. 
Fortunately  I  have  an  excellent  N.C.O.  who  can  do  anything 
he  has  to  do,  but  one  has  to  be  on  the  spot  to  say  "  what 
next."  I  have  to  gradually  work  up  to  fix  a  point  on  the 
watershed  of  Mwinilunga  in  connection  with  the  last  fixed 
point,  i.e.  Sakabinda.  I  am  practically  running  the  Belgian 
show,  too,  with  carriers  and  meal  all  along  the  line.  I  haven't 
tasted  a  bit  of  meat  for  over  six  weeks  now,  and  am  not 
likely  to,  owing  to  these  wild  Balunda  having  only  just 
returned  to  their  homes  after  their  flight  into  Congo  and 
Portuguese  territory.  They  haven't  a  fowl  hardly,  and 
have  come  down  to  selling  their  children.  They  live  on 
wild  honey  and  roots  and  fruits  in  the  forest.  The  Bulawayo 
fowls,  of  which  I  have  twenty-five  here — worth  about  £3 
apiece  I  should  think  here — have  saved  me,  but  they  don't 
lay  much — four  or  five  eggs  a  day — and  if  any  visitors 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  75 

are  about,  it 's  hardly  enough  for  three  of  us  to  live  on ! 
Our  mail  service  is  working  excellently — ten  days  for  the 
250  miles  up  here.  It 's  run  in  six  sections  from  Baya,  and 
I  don't  know  if  the  runners  will  stick  it.  It  is  a  fine  day 
to-day,  and  it  makes  everything  bright  after  the  continual 
rain  for  the  last  month.  We  are  still  several  inches  behind- 
hand, so  may  expect  more  than  daily  rain  for  the  next  three 
months.  I  keep  very  fit  and  don't  look  like  giving  in  at 
present.' 

1914 

'  CAMP  S.  OF  MWINILUNQA,  January  13,  1914. 
'  Arrived  here  last  night.  In  about  ten  days  I  shall  be 
able  to  breathe  freely  and  the  end  will  be  hi  sight  for  the 
first  time.  Wilde  and  myself  have  just  got  through  with 
the  triangulation,  and  it  now,  I  hope,  only  means  "  cutting  " 
through  the  forest  a  bit.  At  present  we  have  only  connected 
up  from  a  tree -top  to  use  for  a  theodolite,  but  by  judicious 
clearing  and  making  a  place  for  the  instrument  about 
40  feet  high  we  shall  get  through.  To-day  we  have  had 
100  carriers  only  making  one  avenue  through  a  ridge  some 
3  miles  in  front  of  us  which  shut  out  the  view  to  one  point, 
and  we  have  some  five  points  around  us  to  connect  up. 
Sealy  is  out  again  I  believe.' 

'  NR.  MWINILUNOA,  February  16,  1914. 

'  In  five  weeks  we  shall  have  finished  the  map  on  the  24th 
meridian,  and  then  begin  the  gradual  retirement  to  Baya. 

'  If  everything  goes  well  I  expect  to  leave  Cape  Town 
30th  May,  which  will  mean  exactly  fourteen  months  in  the 
country,  while  the  rate  of  work  will,  I  fancy,  work  out 
nearly  to  a  record.' 

•  March  3,  1914. 

'  Not  much  news  except  that  the  Belgians  are  almost 
stationary.  I  am  giving  them  more  carriers  to  enable  me 
to  get  the  frontier  decided  before  I  leave.  Then  they  can 
stay  as  long  as  they  like.  They  are  drawing  such  fat  pay 
that  they  don't  like  being  hurried  ! 


76  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  I  am  sending  this  via  Mwinihmga-Kasempa  mail  road 
for  a  change.  It  will  probably  arrive  the  same  time  as 
next  week's  letter  by  our  Express  Service.  It  has  rained 
more  than  ever  the  last  week.' 

'  MWHOLUNOA,  March  9,  1914. 

'  Not  much  news.  Mostly  calculations  and  rain.  The 
Lunga  R.  became  impassable,  the  canoe  washed  away, 
and  communication  stopped,  and  Weber,  who  had  been 
observing  the  other  side,  could  not  come,  which  has  delayed 
our  work.  We  have  to  agree  on  a  mean  value  for  here,  and 
are  waiting  for  the  Belgian  result.  I  shall  then  make  a 
trip  N.W.  to  the  corner  and  mark  the  spot  where  the  24th 
meridian  crosses  the  watershed.  Then  return  here,  pack 
off  the  various  "  whites,"  and  start  the  accounts  for  the 
last  six  months.  Rather  a  business  !  I  shall  then  retire 
via  Munyafunshi,  Kansanshi,  etc.,  clearing  out  what  is  left 
in  the  way  of  stores,  etc.,  at  each  spot.  And  there  is  the 
whole  map  to  agree  upon  and  draw  before  I  leave  and  sign. 

4  Fifty  miles  N.W.  of  Mwinilunga  is  the  mission  station 
of  Kalene  Hill,  where  Dr.  Fisher  has  chosen  an  altogether 
beautiful  and  healthy  site  on  the  north  end  of  a  ridge 
which  rises  sharp  out  of  the  plain  and  runs  S.W.  into 
Portuguese  territory,  forming  the  divide  between  the 
Luisabo  and  Zambezi  Rivers.  Surrounded  here  by  a 
collection  of  peaceful  and  prosperous  villages  that  nestle 
on  the  precipitous  hill-side  of  the  mission  station,  Dr. 
Fisher,  ably  seconded  by  his  family  and  a  few  other  fellow- 
workers,  undertakes  to  cure  both  body  and  soul  in  this 
heathen  land,  where  he  has  spent  upwards  of  thirty  years. 
In  the  midst  of  quite  a  little  British  Colony  a  few  happy 
days  were  spent  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  the  Belgian  and 
Portuguese  Commissions  on  the  24th  meridian.' 

'  KAMBOSHI,  April  23,  1914. 

'  I  have  just  returned  from  the  Belgian  camp  on  the 
24th  meridian,  and  after  fixing  up  everything  here  have 
been  busy  getting  Wilde  and  Sealy  off  across  Rhodesia. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  77 

I  was  leaving  here  to-day  for  Munyafunshi  and  Kansanshi 
when  suddenly  the  three  Portuguese  officers  arrived  here ; 
they  had  come  up  very  quick  from  Baya,  and  the  carriers 
had  met  them  in  good  time  and  everything  gone  splendid. 
Not  finding  that  I  had  arrived  there,  at  Munyafunshi,  they 
came  on  here,  and  everything  is  being  fixed  up  most  satis- 
factorily.' 

4  SAKANIA,  May  31,  1914. 

'  Yours  of  8th  May  just  arrived  to-day,  and  I  leave  here 
this  evening  by  the  mail  train  for  the  south.  I  shall  have  a 
week  to  spend  at  Livingstone.  I  have  been  looking  forward 
for  ever  so  long  to  a  summer  at  home  on  leave.' 


CHAPTER  IX 

Arrives  in  England,  July  1914 — Reports  at  War  Office — Ordered  on 
Service — Leaves  Southampton,  August  27 — Havre — St.  Nazaire — 
Le  Mans — Ordered  to  join  4th  Division,  35th  Battery — Jury — In 
action  to  crossing  the  Aisne — Ordered  to  North,  Oct.  7 — March, 
Villers-Cotterets  to  Compiegne — Train  to  Hazebrouck,  Oct.  12 — In 
action — Bailleul — Chateau  de  Nieppe — Promoted  Major. 

1914 

LEAVING  Cape  Town  in  June,  Capt.  Steel  arrived  in 
London  on  July  7,  reported  his  arrival  at  the  Colonial 
Office,  and  almost  before  he  had  time  to  look  round 
the  strain  of  threatening  war  came  upon  us.  In  the  re- 
moteness of  the  Congo  -  Zambezi  watershed  Capt.  Steel 
had  been  absorbed  in  his  work  and  had  not  been  able  to 
keep  himself  fully  instructed  in  world  politics,  and  the 
imminence  of  war  came  on  him  as  a  surprise,  perhaps  too 
as  a  disappointment,  because  he  had  undoubtedly  looked 
forward  to  a  summer  holiday  in  England.  When  war  broke 
out  he  reported  himself  to  the  War  Office  :  he  was  too  late 
to  form  part  of  the  Expeditionary  Force  as  the  Batteries 
were  all  filled  up ;  he  was,  however,  directed  to  hold 
himself  in  readiness,  and  on  August  20  received  a  telegram 
directing  him  to  duty  with  Royal  Artillery  drafts  proceeding 
to  Southampton  as  reinforcement  to  the  Expeditionary 
Force,  and  on  the  27th  he  embarked  for  the  Continent. 

Writing  on  September  18  from  '  Advanced  base ' :  '  We 
have  had  a  very  unpleasant  time,  herded  about  like  sheep, 
and  also  a  three  days'  voyage  hi  a  cattle -boat  that  nearly 
gave  us  all  typhoid.  I  have  had  a  sore  throat  myself 
ever  since  the  night  I  slept  on  the  Turcoman  from  South- 
ampton and  got  wet  through.  It  has  been  raining  most 
days  since  we  arrived  here,  and  as  we  have  only  a  field 
to  bivouac  in  it  is  pretty  unpleasant.  Expect  to  go  up  to 

78 


A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL      79 

the  Front  at  any  time.  It 's  a  question  of  transport  and 
horses.  For  some  absurd  reason  we  are  not  allowed  to  see 
any  English  papers.  There  is  no  doubt  some  very  fine 
things  have  been  done  by  various  Regiments,  some  having 
been  practically  wiped  out,  and  if  due  notice  is  not  allowed 
to  be  taken  of  it  in  the  Press  it 's  bound  to  have  an  effect 
on  recruiting  as  well  as  on  the  forces  in  the  field.  A  few 
Regiments  have  got  a  good  bit  to  get  back  from  the  Germans 
if  we  can  believe  any  of  the  stories.  I  am  afraid  there  is 
not  much  left  of  my  old  L  Battery.1  I  wonder  if  the  story 
has  ever  got  published  in  England  ? ' 

The  '  three  days'  voyage  in  a  cattle -boat '  mentioned 
above  requires  explanation  that  at  the  time  was  not  forth- 
coming. At  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  the 
British  base  was  Havre  and  the  advanced  base  Amiens,  but 
when  Amiens  was  threatened,  it  was  decided  to  remove 
the  advanced  base  to  Le  Mans  and  the  British  base  from 
Havre  to  St.  Nazaire.  Capt.  Steel  with  drafts  of  men  and 
horses  arrived  at  Havre  while  this  movement  was  in  progress 
the  last  week  in  August,  and  after  a  day  or  two  at  Havre 
he  re-embarked  and  was  conveyed  to  St.  Nazaire,  where  he 
arrived  in  the  first  week  in  September.  This  accounts  for 
the  cattle-boat  and  for  the  delay. 

'  Sept.  26. — I  have  now  finished  wandering  about  doing 
duty  with  various  detachments,  etc.,  and  leave  to-morrow 
to  join  a  Battery  of  the  4th  Division,  which  will  be  my  home 
in  future.  It  is  my  old  "  crowd "  from  Woolwich  and 
contains  my  old  Brigade.  I  think,  however,  "  Short "  is 
the  only  one  I  know  who  was  with  me  at  Woolwich.  It 
consists  of  the  39th,  88th,  and  68th  Batteries.  But  of 
course  there  are  many  others  I  may  go  to  in  this  Division.' 

This  is  what  happened.  He  joined,  September  28,  the 
35th  Battery,  37th  Brigade,  R.F.A.,  of  which  this  was  the 
order  of  battle,  August  1914  (see  Diary) : — 

1  The  disaster  to  L  Battery  and  the  heroic  conduct  of  the  officers  and 
men  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  incidents  of  the  war.  (R.  A.  War 
Commemoration  Book,  pp.  9,  10.  Bell  &  Sons.) 


80  A  MEMOIR  OF 

37TH  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  4TH  DIVISION 

Lt.-Col. — C.  Battiscombe. 

Adjutant — Capt.  R.  C.  Dodgson. 

Orderly  Officer— Li.  R.  B.  Stoney. 

Battery.         Major.  Capt.  Lta. 

31st.    D.  H.  Gill.  M.  Hartland-Mahon.  A.  G.  Bates. 

G.  P.  Simpson. 

G.H.Johnstone. 
35th.    H.  A.  Koebel.       E.  A.  Wallinger.         M.  A.  Phillips. 

K.  M.  Agnew. 

L.  Browning. 
55th.    G.  N.  Cartwright.  J.  R.  Colville.  P.  H.  Ferguson. 

A.  G.  Hess. 

S.  H.  Doake. 

At  the  Aisne  in  September  Capt.  Wallinger  and  Lt. 
Browning  were  wounded.  The  former  was  disabled,  and 
was  succeeded  by  Capt.  Steel. 

On  January  1,  1915,  the  Batteries  were  commanded  by 
Majors  Hartland-Mahon,  Steel,  and  Colville  ;  the  Captains 
were  Phillips,  Agnew,  etc. 

The  '  Old  Crowd,'  viz.  the  14th  and  37th  Brigades,  whom 
we  had  known  at  Woolwich  when  Capt.  Steel  was  in  the 
68th  Battery  in  1908-9,  had  all  disappeared  except  Major 
Short,  and  he  was  killed  in  action  in  June  1917 — Lt.-Col. 
and  C.M.G. 

DIARY  OF  35TH  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  AUGUST  18,  1914, 

TO  SEPTEMBER  19,  1914 
1914 

Aug.  18.  Battery  left  Woolwich  and  marched  to  Dollis  Hill, 
Hendon,  where  4th  Division  was  concentrated. 
„     18-21.  Dollis  Hill. 
„     22.  By  train  to  Southampton. 
„     23.  Disembarked  Boulogne. 
„     24.  By  train  to  Fresnoy  Le  Grand. 
„     25.  Marched  to  Viesly. 

During  evening  retired  to  Ligny. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  81 

Aug.  26.  (Battle  of    Le  Cateau.)      In  action  all  day  in 
positions   near   Ligny.      Retired   at    night    to 
Vendhuile. 
„     27.  Retirement  continued  in  afternoon  and  during 

night  27/28th. 

„     28.  To  Voyenne  and  Muriancourt. 
„     29.  Retirement  continued  to  Noyon  and  Carlepont. 
,,30.  „  „  Chateau  de  Cheuve. 

,,31.  „  „  Pierrefonds,      Verberie, 

and  Nery. 

Sept.    1.  Retirement  continued  to  Barren. 
,,       2.  ,,  „  Dammartin. 

„       3.  „  „  Lagny  and  Jossigny. 

„       4.  „  „  Chateau  Ferrieres. 

„       5.  „  „  Brie  Comte  Robert. 

End  of  retirement. 

During  Battle  of  Le  Cateau  Battery  had  following 

casualties  : — 
August  26 — 

No.  70917  Gunner  Cruttenden,  killed. 
„    60967  Sergeant  Harkness,  wounded. 
,,    68119  Driver  Sargent,  wounded. 
„    68105  Driver  Francis,  wounded. 

And  during  retirement : — 
September  2 — 

No.  67087  Bomb.  Turner,  wounded. 
„    32710  Bomb.  Richards,  wounded. 

„       6.  Battery  closing  with   flank -guard  advanced  to 

Voulangis. 

„       7.  Advance  continued  to  Maisoncelles. 
„    8-9.  Battle  of  the  Marne.     Battery  was  in  action  at 

Jouarre. 

„     10.  Advance  continued  to  Dhuisy. 
„     11.  „          „  Norvy. 

„     12.  „          „  Ecuiry. 

Battery  formed  part  of  advanced -guard  to  4th 

Division  on  ll-12th. 
F 


82  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Sept.  13.  Beginning  of  Battle  of :  the  Aisne.  Battery  crossed 
to  north  bank  of  river  during  afternoon  and 
came  into  action  at  Buoy  le  Long. 

Night,  13/14.  Withdrawn  to  just  north  of  Aisne  near  Venizel. 
Sept.  14.  In  action  all  day  Venizel.    Capt.  E.  A.  Wallinger 

wounded. 
„      15.  Battery  withdrawn  south  of  river  and  came  into 

action  near  Jury. 
„     15-Oct.  1.  In  action  at  Jury. 
„     17.  Lt.  L.  Browning  wounded. 
„     19.  2nd  Lt.  H.  W.  Deacon  joined. 

Capt.  Steel  joined  the  Battery  on  Sept.  28. 

CAPTAIN  STEEL'S  ITINERARY,  1914 

Aug.  27.  Left  Southampton  5.30  P.M. 
„     28.  Landed    at    Havre.    Billeted    with    M.    Pierre 

Morgand,  185  Boulevard  Strassbourg. 

Sept.    2.  Left  on  s.s.  Turcoman  (cattle-boat)  for  St.  Nazaire. 
„       4.  Arrived  St.  Nazaire.     Disembarked  after  one  of 

the  most  disgusting  voyages. 
„       6.  Billeted   in   a   small   pub.   near    station.      Day 

occupied  loading  trains  for  the  Front,  reinforce- 
ments for  Infantry. 
„       8.  Sent  off  Cavalry  reinforcements.    Dined  at  Bre- 

tagne. 

„       9.  Left  St.  Nazaire. 

„     10.  Arrived  Le  Mans,  marched  out  to  Le  Pau  camp. 
„     11.  Took  over  Q.M.  of  camp. 

„     20 .  Went  to  Marre  to  round  up  stores ,  harness ,  and  guns . 
„     21.  Went  to  Fourcages,  riding.      Orders  for  D.  W. 

Osborne,  G.  R.  Russell  to   26th   Brigade,    1st 

Division. 

„     25.  Received  orders  to  join  4th  Division. 
„     26.  Left  Le  Mans  10  P.M. 
„     28.  Arrived     Neuilly.      Rode     out     to     Div.     H.Q. 

Returned  to  Villemontoire  to  pick  up  baggage 

and  waggon,  and  reached  35th  Battery  H.Q. 

at  9  P.M.  at  Jury. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  83 

Sept.  29.  All  day  in  position.     Efforts  mainly  directed  on 

the  village  of  Chivres. 

Oct.  2.  Left  Jury  11.30  P.M.  and  crossed  Venizel  Bridge 
1.30  to  take  up  an  advanced  position  near  Bucy 
le  Long. 

„  3.  Got  into  Billet  at  4.30  Venizel.  Left  at  8  A.M. 
for  the  gun  positions.  Spent  most  of  the  day 
reconnoitring  for  an  advanced  observation  post 
which  was  found  eventually  in  the  tall  trees  by 
which  the  Somerset  L.I.  had  their  trenches. 

,,  4.  Shelled  German  trenches  N.E.  of  Caffres.  New 
Observation  Station  finished  60  feet  high  in 
tree  1000  yards  from  German  trenches.  Divine 
service  held  in  next  field  for  those  not  required 
for  the  service  of  the  guns. 

,,  5.  Spent  all  day  assisting  the  attack  of  Infantry  on 
Braisne.  Good  effect  obtained  from  our  Obser- 
vation Station.  Many  Germans  were  seen  during 
the  day,  their  position  being  strongly  held  by 
rows  of  trenches. 

,,  6.  Bad  weather,  almost  impossible  to  see  anything 
all  day.  No  firing  except  a  certain  amount  of 
sniping  by  the  Infantry.  In  the  evening  we 
crossed  the  Aisne. 

„  7.  In  action  till  4  P.M.  when  orders  came  to  move. 
Left  Venizel  7  P.M.  and  reached  Septmonts 
9  P.M.,  where  we  bivouacked  in  the  open  and 
passed  an  unpleasant  night. 

„  8.  Hard  frost  in  the  morning.  Left  Septmonts  1  P.M. 
Marched  to  Chacrise,  arriving  4  P.M.  and  were 
billeted  in  a  farm  belonging  to  M.  Dubois. 

,,       9.  Spent  the  day  at  Chacrise  and  had  a  good  rest. 
Left  at  9  P.M.  and  marched  all  through  the  night. 
„     10.  Arrived  4  A.M.  at  Villers-Cotterets  and  bivouacked 
in  a  field  outside,  very  damp  and  unpleasant. 
Left  at  2  P.M.  for  Morienval,  arriving  5  P.M. 
„     11.  Left  Morienval  at  8  A.M. and  marched  to  Compiegne . 
Spent  the  day  in  making  arrangements  for  entrain- 
ing.  Left  at  9.30  P.M.   Very  cold  night  in  train. 


84  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Oct.  12.  Passed  through  Abbeville,  Boulogne,  Calais,  during 
the  day,  arriving  Hazebrouck  3.30  P.M.  Billeted 
by  7.30  about  2  miles  out. 

„  13.  Left  7  A.M.,  took  up  a  position  at  midday  to  sup- 
port our  Infantry  attack  on  Fontainehoek  and 
Meteren.  The  position  was  taken  by  the  12th 
Infantry  Brigade.  Billeted  in  a  farm  at  Fon- 
tainehoek. 

„  14.  All  day  advance  on  Bailleul ;  reached  8  A.M.  The 
Germans  had  left  the  night  before.  The  people 
were  glad  to  see  us,  and  gave  all  they  had. 

„  15.  Got  billets  in  a  Maison  de  Charite  which  the  Nuns 
had  prepared  for  a  hospital ;  the  day  was  one  of 
ever-changing  orders  to  move  and  wait.  The  in- 
habitants appeared  in  the  streets  for  the  first  time 
for  15  days,  the  period  of  German  occupation. 

„      16.  Remained  hi  Bailleul  all  day. 

„  17.  Left  Bailleul,  and  took  up  a  position  in  the  grounds 
of  the  Chateau  de  Nieppe,  a  beautiful  mansion 
which  the  Germans  had  left  in  a  most  disgusting 
state .  The  gardener  received  us  with  open  arms . 

„  18.  Left  Nieppe  to  take  up  position  near  Le  Bizet.  In 
action  all  day.  Observation  Station  in  Le  Bizet 
Church ;  supported  Infantry  attack  on  Le 
Touquet  and  Verlinghein.  The  enemy  held  the 
railway  line  strongly.  Slept  close  by  in  an 
estaminet. 

„  19.  All  day  in  action,  a  few  miles  farther  on  ;  very 
slow  progress  was  made,  the  enemy  occupying 
entrenched  positions  in  Le  Touquet  and  Verling- 
hein. Many  casualties  ;  Verlinghein  practically 
unrecognisable . 

„      20.  Supported  Infantry  attack  all  day.     Slow  progress. 

„  21.  The  enemy  began  attacking  before  daybreak,  and 
succeeded  in  reaching  our  advanced  positions, 
which  were  taken.  Severe  fighting  round  Le 
Gheer.  Later  in  the  day  Somerset  L.I.  re- 
occupied  the  trenches. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  85 

Oct.    22.  Le  Bizet  all  day  in  action. 

„  23.  Left  Le  Bizet  for  Wytschaete  to  join  the  2nd  Cav. 
Div.  under  Gen.  Gough.  Owing  to  difficulty  of 
observation  could  not  fire  till  the  evening.  Ob- 
servation by  aeroplane  on  a  German  battery  too 
active  near  Oestervende. 

„  24.  Left  Oestervende  11  A.M.,  returned  to  Le  Bizet, 
took  up  position  as  before,  our  waggon  line  more 
in  rear. 

„      25.  In  action  all  day. 

„      26.  In  action  all  day.     Received  some  attention  from 
the  German  Heavy  Battery  in  the  afternoon, 
which  got  our  range  nicely. 
Buried  B.  Macdonald  in  the  Convent  Le  Bizet. 

„  27.  In  the  morning  moved  to  new  position  behind  the 
Monastery  grounds. 

„      28.  A  quiet  day. 

„      29.  A  quiet  day.     Enemy  attacked  in  the  evening. 

„  30.  Action  continued  till  2  P.M.,  the  Germans  retir- 
ing very  quickly. 

„      31.  In  action  all  day  Le  Touquet. 

Nov.  1.  Spent  the  day  in  the  Observing  Station,  a  house 
at  Le  Touquet,  which  was  shelled  all  day,  the 
occupants  remaining  in  the  cellar. 

„  2.  Left  1.30  for  Pt.  63,  arriving  about  4  P.M.,  and  in 
position  by  daybreak. 

„        3.  Promoted  Major. 

„  4-8.  Continuously  supporting  the  Infantry  attacks  on 
Messines.  Many  Batteries  were  massed  behind 
Pt.  63.  It  was  touched  every  day  by  German 
shell  of  every  description. 

„  8.  Sent  off  by  Gen.  Milne  to  the  Infantry  with  a 
section.  Spent  afternoon  and  evening  in  the 
Worcester  trenches,  and  blew  up  several  houses 
occupied  by  Germans. 

„  9.  After  searching  every  tree  in  front  of  Ploegsteert 
Wood,  I  eventually  spotted  a  mined  house  just 
behind  E.  Lanes,  trenches  as  being  the  only 


86  A  MEMOIR  OF 

possible  place  to  see  from.  Completed  prepara- 
tions during  the  night  for  observing  the  following 
day. 

Nov.  10.  Spent  all  day  observing,  and  in  the  evening  a  night 
attack  was  made  which  was  unsuccessful.  Got 
some  rest  after  26  hours  continuously  in  the 
firing-line. 

,,  11.  Made  reconnaissance  of  German  position  from  a  new 
loop-hole  higher  up  than  previously.  During 
the  night  Germans  had  blown  away  half  the 
house. 

„      12-13.  The  same. 

„  14.  After  observing  all  day  for  the  Heavy  Battery  I 
received  orders  to  join  the  Battery  after  having 
spent  an  exciting  week.  Every  day  a  further 
piece  of  my  Observing  Station  was  blown  away 
and  the  telephonic  wire  cut  by  shrapnel,  so  that 
there  was  only  just  enough  cover  left  to  observe 
from. 

„  15.  Very  bad  day,  snow,  wind,  and  rain.  Eventually 
a  shell  hit  the  chateau  we  lived  in,  and  started 
a  fire  which  we  were  unable  to  put  out ;  we  had 
to  make  a  hurried  retirement,  saving  what  we 
could. 

„  16.  The  chateau  still  burning.  All  had  fallen  in,  and 
gunpits  full  of  water. 

„  20.  Left  Pt.  63  at  3.30  for  Nieppe  ;  replaced  by  31st 
Battery. 

„      25.  Major  Koebel  went  on  leave. 

„      30.  Left  Nieppe  to  take  up  position  on  Pt.  63  after 

refitting. 
Dec.     1 .  Major  Koebel  returned  President  of  a  Court-Martial. 

„        5.  Col.  Vallentin  came  and  chose  positions. 

„        6.  Hawkesley  came  in  afternoon. 

„  7.  Chose  positions.  Rained  all  day.  Received  letter 
to  begin  work  in  preparation  of  gun  positions. 

„      19.  Attack  on  Le  Gheer. 

„      21.  Left  2.30  for  England. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  87 

*  Oct.  I,  35th  Battery  R.F.A. — I  have  now  joined  this 
Battery  of  the  4th  Division — the  Division  should  not  be 
mentioned  in  the  address,  only  the  Battery — and  you 
will  see  from  the  papers  what  we  are  doing  and  where 
we  are  nightly.  We  are  still  bombarding  the  German 
position  across  the  river — which  is  a  very  strong  one. 
My  old  Battery  and  Brigade  from  Deep  Cut  are  along- 
side us — the  68th — and  Short  had  a  rather  hot  time 
the  other  day,  though  only  one  subaltern  was  hit.  The 
Captain  and  one  subaltern  of  this  Battery  too  were  badly 
injured.' 

'  Oct.  6,  On  the,  Aisne  :  Soissons. — Just  at  present  we 
have  been  in  rather  a  tight  place,  as  the  enemy,  being 
hemmed  in,  gradually  made  some  desperate  attacks  on 
our  trenches  at  night  and  got  in.  At  one  time  they 
could  not  have  been  more  than  1000  yards  from  our 
guns,  but  we  shelled  them  out  again ;  one  or  two  Infantry 
fellows  came  running  through  fairly  scared  out,  saying  the 
Germans  were  after  them,  but  we  soon  blew  them  out  of 
the  Battery  up  to  the  trenches  again.  Things  are  easier 
to -day.' 

'  Oct.  22. — The  last  three  days  the  4th  Division  has  had 
some  severe  fighting,  and  casualties  have  been  carried  past 
the  Battery  all  day  long ;  the  Germans  have  made  many 
attacks  upon  us,  and  yesterday  we  expected  to  have  them 
making  a  charge  on  the  Battery  ;  but  they've  given  that  up 
now.  In  fact,  their  men  won't  do  it.  Our  own  Infantry 
are  first  class.  The  particular  Brigade  we  are  supporting 
have  had  six  days  in  the  trenches,  without  a  wash  or  hot 
meal,  firing  and  being  fired  at  incessantly,  and  they  can't 
stand  that.  It 's  too  much.  To-day  they  have  been  relieved, 
and  we  have  been  brought  back  about  1000  yds.  and  are 
resting  in  a  damp  field.  Hope  to  get  a  wash — all  over — 
later  on,  but  one  never  knows  when  the  mysterious  Staff 
are  going  to  send  one  somewhere  else.  Some  Regiments 
are  very  nearly  all  reservists  now,  but  their  excellent 
system  of  training  soon  polishes  up  the  ignorant,  and  the 
"shikar"  spirit  which  is  inculcated  in  their  attack  methods 


88  A  MEMOIR  OF 

is  a  fine  sight.  Unfortunately  it 's  very  difficult  country — 
flat  and  intersected  with  innumerable  farms,  hedges,  villages, 
very  suitable  for  defence.  Yesterday  the  whole  attack 
was  held  up  by  a  single  fortified  block  of  cottages,  and  the 
Seaforths  were  held  up.  We  saw  this,  and  after  the  fourth 
Lyddite  shell,  which  made  the  whole  thatched  roof  slip 
bodily  down  and  hide  up  all  the  loop-holes,  besides  knocking 
several  walls  down,  a  white  flag  appeared.  Our  men  have 
learnt  to  take  no  notice  of  this  however.  The  next  shell 
made  another  white  flag  go  up.  After  giving  them  a  few 
minutes  to  see  if  they  were  going  to  walk  out  and  surrender, 
which  probably  also  meant  a  bullet,  we  sent  a  sixth  shell. 
This  was  too  much.  The  whole  of  the  defenders  rushed  out 
with  arms  up  in  the  air  and  without  fire-arms  into  the 
Seaforths'  trenches.  An  almost  unique  sight  I  should  think, 
and  one  which  shows  the  despondent  spirit  of  the  enemy. 
I  fancy  a  good  many  more  who  could  surrender  decently 
would  like  to  do  so.  The  Seaforths  took  many  prisoners 
that  day,  and  gained  much  ground,  and  the  4th  Division 
received  the  congratulations  of  General  French  for  their 
fine  fighting  spirit,  etc.  This  was  brought  about  by  a  few 
well-placed  shells  by  the  35th  Battery  R.F.A.  which  enabled 
the  Seaforths  to  get  round  in  rear.  They  would  probably 
alone  have  never  got  over  the  ground  without  fearful 
casualties.  Everywhere  the  Germans  have  left  a  track  of 
misery,  hatred,  and  famine.  They  seem  to  have  done 
nothing  in  these  parts  but  rob  and  steal  and  live  on  the 
people — when  we  come  along  they  just  retire  until  cornered. 
In  one  town  the  Germans  left  in  the  morning  and  we 
arrived  late  at  night.  Two  Germans  had  hidden  under  a 
haystack  in  the  field  we  came  into  action  in.  Their  legs 
were  seen  sticking  out ;  when  pulled  out,  one  of  them  said, 
"  I  've  come  from  London — damn  War  !  " 

'  The  next  morning  the  inhabitants  crept  out  of  their 
houses  for  the  first  time  for  fifteen  days — the  first  time 
they  had  smiled,  fed,  taken  their  clothes  off,  or  washed. 
This  is  a  poor  part,  and  people  have  to  go  out  to  fetch 
water,  food,  etc.,  daily.  The  roads  were  crowded  with 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  89 

refugees  returning  to  the  homes  they  had  left — some  to 
find  smoking  ruins,  others  a  bare  cupboard  ;  but  all  thought 
of  nothing  but  the  one  fact — "  Les  Anglais  sont  arrives." 
For  us  they  could  not  do  too  much — those  who  had  any  house 
left  to  offer  placed  all  at  our  disposal.  "  Pour  des  gens 
comme  vous,  on  fait  tout  ce  qu'on  peut"  was  the  common 
cry.  German  orders  to  the  troops,  found  in  the  field,  say 
that  the  troops  cannot  depend  on  supplies  from  Germany, 
and  they  must  live  on  the  country.  They  have  done  so — 
cleared  every  caf6  of  all  its  wines,  cigars,  spirits ;  shops  of 
all  their  groceries  and  food -stuffs ;  whilst  every  chateau 
and  house  bears  undeniable  signs  of  wanton  destruction. 
What  they  couldn't  take  away  they  broke — even  to  mirrors 
and  expensive  china.  This  is  not  exceptional,  but  the 
general  rule,  and  seems  to  have  been  done  for  no  reason 
at  all,  except  out  of  spite  at  not  being  able  to  reach  Paris. 
The  inhabitants  have  been  left  with  nothing  but  the  apples 
on  the  trees,  walnuts,  and  potatoes,  and  one  hears  not  a 
grumble,  unless  one  asks  them  :  "  C'est  la  guerre  !  "  The 
Germans  here  have  met  with  no  opposition  and  have  had 
no  fighting.  They  pushed  as  far  as  St.  Omer  and  retired  to 
Armentieres  when  we  came  along.  They  have  simply  been 
here  living  on  the  country  so  as  to  economise  in  supplies. 
They  will  have  to  fight  now,  as  we  shall  worry  their  communi- 
cations if  they  let  us  get  any  farther.  We  were  glad  to  get 
away  from  the  Battle  of  the  Aisne,  and  it 's  better  the 
British  Army  being  on  its  own.  We  were  in  the  middle 
there,  and  co-operation  with  the  French  attacks  never 
came  off  successfully.  We  had  a  trying  march  round  to 
Compiegne  ;  all  marching  had  to  be  done  at  night,  owing  to 
aeroplanes,  as  the  march  of  the  whole  British  Army  to  a 
flank  was  rather  a  dangerous  operation,  as  well  as  each 
unit's  replacement  by  a  French  unit  in  the  firing  -line. 
From  Compiegne  we  entrained  via  Abbeville  and  Calais  to 
Hazebrouck  owing  to  bridges  being  cut  in  the  direct  line. 
It  is  quite  impossible  to  sleep  at  night  owing  to  the  rifles 
and  cannon,  and  the  sky  so  lit  up  by  burning  villages  and 
homes.  Some  people  prefer  to  stay  in  their  homes — perhaps 


90  A  MEMOIR  OF 

they  have  nowhere  to  go  to.  But  it 's  a  terrible  thing  to 
see  women  and  children  rushing  out  of  their  houses  when  a 
shell  explodes  in  them.  Nobody  likes  shelling  a  church 
either,  but  in  these  parts  it 's  the  only  place  one  can  see 
from.' 

SPECIAL  ORDER  OF  THE  DAY 

BY  FIELD-MARSHAL  SIR  JOHN  FRENCH,  G.C.B.,  G.C.V.O., 
K.C.M.G.,  Commander -in-Chief,  British  Army  in  the  Field 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTEKS, 
October  16,  1914. 

1.  Having  for  25  days  successfully  held  the  line  of  the  river 
Aisne,  between  Soissons  and  Villiers,  against  the  most  desperate 
endeavours  of  the   enemy  to  break  through,  that  memorable 
battle  has  now  been  brought  to  a  conclusion,  so  far  as  the 
British  Forces  are  concerned,  by  the  operation  which  has  once 
more  placed  us  on  the  left  flank  of  the  Allied  Armies. 

2.  At  the  close  of  this  important  phase  of  the    campaign 
I  wish  again  to  express  my  heart-felt  appreciation  of  the  ser- 
vices performed  throughout  this  trying  period  by  the  officers, 
non-commissioned  officers,  and  men  of  the  British  Field  Forces 
in  France. 

3.  Throughout  nearly  the  whole  of  that  25  days  a  most 
powerful  and  continuous  fire  of  artillery  from  guns  of  a  calibre 
never   used  before  in  field  operations  covered  and  supported 
desperate  infantry  attacks  made  in  the  greatest  strength  and 
directed  at  all  hours  of  the  day  and  night  on  your  position. 

Although  you  were  thus  denied  adequate  rest  and  suffered 
great  losses,  hi  no  one  case  did  the  enemy  attain  the  slightest 
success,  but  was  in  variably  thrown  back  with  immense  loss. 

4.  The  powerful  endurance  of  the  troops  was  further  greatly 
taxed  by  the  cold  and  wet  weather  which  prevailed  during  the 
greater  part  of  the  time. 

5.  Paragraph  2  of  the  Special  Order  of  the  Day,  August  22, 
ran  as  follows  : — 

'  All  the  regiments  comprising  the  Expeditionary  Foroe  bear 
on  their  colours  emblems  and  names  which  constantly  remind 
them  of  glorious  victories  achieved  by  them  in  the  past.  I 
have  the  most  complete  confidence  that  those  regiments,  as  they 
stand  to-day  in  close  proximity  to  the  enemy,  will  not  only 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  91 

uphold  the  magnificent  traditions  of  former  days,  but  will  add 
fresh  laurels  to  their  standards.' 

I  cannot  convey  what  I  feel  with  regard  to  the  conduct  of  the 
troops  under  my  command  better  than  by  expressing  my  con- 
viction that  they  have  justified  that  confidence  well  and  nobly. 

6.  That  confidence  is  everywhere  endorsed  by  their  fellow- 
countrymen,  and  whatever  may  be  before  the  British  Army  in 
France,  I  am  sure  they  will  continue  to  follow  the  same  glorious 
path  till  final  and  complete  victory  is  attained. 

(Sd.)  J.  D.  P.  FRENCH, 

Commander-in-Chief, 
The  British  Army  in  the  Field. 

'  One  of  the  biggest  feats  was  the  transfer  of  the  entire 
British  Army  stationed  at  Braisne,  between  Soissons  and 
Rheims — more  than  200,000  of  them — to  St.  Omer,  a  dis- 
tance of  about  70  miles,  which  was  accomplished  within  three 
days.' 1 

This  last  paragraph  refers  to  the  move  northwards  men- 
tioned in  E.'s  letter ;  not  exactly  true  as  regards  the 
Artillery,  which  could  not  be  moved  so  easily.  It  took 
them  five  days. 

'  Oct.  26,  B5th  Battery  R.F.A.  (Extract  of  Letter.)— I 
have  just  returned  from  burying  a  bombardier  of  ours, 
killed  this  morning  during  a  little  attention  we  received 
from  a  "  Jack  Johnson  "  Battery.  Yesterday  they  put  a 
Heavy  Battery  alongside  us  out  of  action,  blowing  up  an 
ammunition  waggon,  and  to-day  they  found  us.  The  first 
shell,  a  6-inch — pretty  useful — cut  the  telephone  wire  to  the 
Battery  Commander  observing  in  front,  and  so  rendered  us 
useless  temporarily.  Everybody  crept  into  their  holes 
alongside  the  guns,  except  a  bombardier  operator  who  went 
out  to  mend  the  wire  and  was  unfortunately  hit  by  a  large 
fragment. 

*  There  is  no  doubt,  I  think,  that  this  is  the  work  of  spies. 
The  Heavy  Battery  always  gets  found,  and  no  one  likes 
being  near  them.' 

'  Oct.  28. — Everything  is  going  on  satisfactorily  I  think. 
1  Army  and  Navy  Journal,  U.S.A. 


92      A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 

The  Germans  have  given  up  attacking  us.  The  morning 
after  that  attack  on  us  there  were  400  dead  picked  up  by  us, 
not  much  more  than  2500  yds.  from  our  position.  I  am  not 
having  too  bad  a  time.  Only  long  hours,  and  no  certainty 
of  rest  even  at  night,  and  always  up  at  4.30.' 

'  Oct.  31,  35th  Battery.  (Probably  south  of  the  Lys.)— 
Enclosed  a  little  summary  of  information  passed  round 
to  us,  dated  Oct.  24. 

'  The  position  of  the  3rd  Corps  is  unchanged. 

'  An  attack  was  made  on  us  yesterday,  but  did  not  succeed 
(the  4th  Division  belongs  to  the  3rd  Corps).  On  advancing 
here  we  come  into  an  area  devastated  by  the  Germans,  and 
it  won't  be  pleasant  until  we  reach  the  frontier.  The 
villages  in  front  of  our  position  and  occupied  by  the  Germans 
present  a  terrible  picture,  and  I  fancy  most  of  the  inhabi- 
tants must  have  perished. 

'  I  am  very  fit  myself,  and  don't  seem  to  feel  the  cold  or 
wet.' 


CHAPTER  X 

Messines  —  Neuve  Chapelle  —  Haig's  Order,  March  9  —  Affair  of 
Neuve  Chapelle— Reasons  of  Failure — Attack  on  Aubers  Bidge — 
Festubert  —  Wounded  —  Reasons  of  Failure  —  June  Festivities — 
Instruction  at  School  of  Gunnery,  Aire — Comments  on  Operations 
of  Year — Opinions  of  other  Officers. 

'  Nov.  6. — Since  my  last  we  have  been  detached  north- 
wards on  some  special  mission,  and  have  been  pretty  busy 
every  day,  and  too  many  panic  orders  all  through  the  night 
to  get  much  repose.  The  Germans  have  been  making  des- 
perate attempts  to  get  through  somewhere,  and  apparently 
have  failed  all  along.  Very  difficult  country  all  this — 
something  like  Essex — very  cut  up  with  hedges,  farms, 
roads,  etc.,  and  hard  to  see.  Everybody  creeps  about  and 
digs  holes  to  avoid  the  shells  which  fly  about  most  of  the  day. 
At  present  I  am  writing  in  a  very  fine  "  chateau."  It  has 
been  somewhat  knocked  about  by  shell-fire,  as  it  is  visible 
from  the  German  position  across  the  little  river  which 
separates  us.  As  a  rule  we  don't  get  "  chateaux,"  as  the 
General  Staff  usually  occupy  them.  This  one  they  got 
shelled  out  of,  fortunately,  so  we  are  comfortable.  Our 
Battery  is  in  action  just  down  by  the  orchard,  and  we  come 
up  here  for  dinner  and  leave  it  at  breakfast — 5  A.M.  The 
road  joining  the  house  to  the  Battery  is  under  fire  at  odd 
intervals.  Last  night  at  dinner-time  a  shrapnel  took  away 
most  of  the  remaining  windows  on  one  side.  It 's  very  nice 
to  sit  down  at  a  table  and  have  nice  plates  and  cups  and 
glasses  to  feed  out  of,  and  wine  to  drink,  and  really  we  are 
very  comfortable  ;  and  now  the  milk,  butter,  and  chocolate 
have  arrived  we  are  doing  ourselves  well.  I  have  fetched 
two  mattresses  down  from  the  bedrooms,  which  aren't  safe, 
to  the  lowest  floor,  and  could  sleep  like  anything  if  it  wasn't 
for  the  interruptions  through  the  night.  We  haven't  made 


H 


94  A  MEMOIR  OF 

much  progress  the  last  two  weeks  here — as  we  are  only  hold- 
ing on  very  thinly — but  there  has  been  much  slaughter 
done,  and  attacks  and  counter-attacks  every  day.  Some 
villages  round  here  present  a  terrible  appearance.  I  wonder 
what  the  Mr.  Brown  of  the  "  Englishman's  "  type  would 
say  if  he  could  get  a  taste  of  war  at  his  front  door.  In  this 
chateau  here,  with  its  stock  of  domestic  animals,  model  farm, 
workmen's  cottages,  summer-houses,  lodges,  everything 
that  money  can  buy,  one  can  see  how  the  one  idea  of  the 
people  has  been  to  get  away  and  be  safe.  They  don't  seem 
to  mind  the  loss  of  everything  as  long  as  they  can  get  away 
and  stay  with  some  one  else — their  friends.  The  poorer 
people,  of  course,  who  have  no  friends  to  go  to,  as  they  say, 
hold  up  their  hands  and  say,  "  Que  voulez-vous  ?  "  when 
asked  why  they  stop,  and  so  we  meet  them  hi  places  with 
all  their  windows  broken,  the  upper  storey  of  their  house 
blown  away,  and  with  shells  flying  round  through  the  day, 
huddled  up  together  in  the  "  Cave  "  or  cellars  of  their  home, 
just  calmly  waiting  till  the  evening  to  go  up  and  get  their 
food  cooked.  And  all  this  they  count  as  nothing  compared 
to  the  return  of  the  Germans.  Gladly  would  they  live  like 
rats  in  their  cellars  as  long  as  we  stop  with  them,  using 
what 's  left  of  their  upper  storeys  for  observation  stations, 
and  their  kitchens  for  cooking — anything,  so  long  as  the 
Germans  don't  return.  Such  was  the  daily  scene  at  Le 
Touquet — a  village  which  has  been  the  scene  of  severe  fight- 
ing, but  which  we  have  never  been  able  yet  to  completely 
occupy — the  Germans  still  occupy  the  outside  edge.  Here 
in  this  chateau  (which  of  course  hasn't  been  visited  by 
Germans,  as  nothing  inside  is  broken  and  there  is  some 
wine  left,  and  which  is  just  about  on  the  line  where  the 
British  and  German  Forces  met)  everything  seems  to  have 
been  left  just  as  in  peace  time — the  fowls  and  chicks  run- 
ning about  expecting  some  one  to  feed  them,  which  never 
happens,  beautiful  dogs  in  kennels  pining  for  food  which 
never  arrives,  while  the  cattle  were  still  tied  up  in  the  farm 
we  use  as  an  observation  station.  A  shell  came  in  and 
killed  two,  and  the  remainder  have  wandered  off  to  look 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  96 

after  themselves.  In  the  chateau  here  everything  seems 
to  show  the  people  had  never  thought  of  the  Germans  reach- 
ing this  part,  and  then  they  probably  heard  they  were  ap- 
proaching, and  fled  without  waiting  to  see  to  anything — 
even  locking  the  door  of  their  wine-cellar.  The  children's 
toys  in  the  nursery  are  still  left  out  as  if  they  had  just  been 
playing  with  them.' 

'  Nov.  23. — It  is  just  three  weeks  ago  since  we  left  for 
northward.  I  have  just  got  back  for  a  few  days  out  of  the 
firing-line  to  re-fit,  re-equip,  wash,  and  overhaul  everything, 
only  just  in  time  as  far  as  I  am  concerned,  for  I  had  de- 
veloped a  cold  that  got  worse  and  worse,  and  on  arrival 
here  I  went  to  bed  for  one  day,  and  to-day  am  up,  but  not 
out,  sore  throat,  etc.  It  will  be  a  few  days  before  I  am 
much  use  again.  I  was  most  fearfully  fit,  and  then  the 
chateau  I  think  I  told  you  of  was  our  home — the  basement 
part  of  it — was  at  last  struck  by  German  shells.  They  have 
been  all  round  it  for  several  weeks,  for  the  upper  part  from 
the  first  storey  upwards  is  clearly  visible  from  the  German 
position  near  Messines.  It  was  a  wretched  day,  snow  and 
wind,  and  I  had  come  in  to  get  some  food,  when  we  felt 
several  shells  strike  the  upper  part  or  tower.  We  thought 
nothing  of  it  until  a  telephone  message  from  the  Battery 
said  smoke  and  flames  were  issuing  from  the  top.  We 
rushed  up  with  pots  and  pails  of  water  to  try  and  put  it 
out,  but  with  a  gale  blowing  and  the  woodwork  well  alight 
we  hadn't  a  chance ;  it  was  a  case  of  "  sauve  qui  peut."  After 
we  had  got  all  our  things  out  into  the  rain,  including  mat- 
tresses, blankets,  etc.,  I  tried  to  get  out  as  much  of  the 
owner's  belongings  as  possible  on  to  the  lawn — valuable 
furniture,  pottery,  piano,  etc. — during  which  process  I  went 
through  many  shades  of  temperature.  It  was  well  after 
dark  when  I  had  finished,  and  we  prepared  to  instal  our- 
selves in  the  Lodge  for  the  night.  After  some  dinner  I 
returned  with  a  party  to  see  if  the  fire  was  enough  subdued 
to  put  the  things  in  for  the  night,  fearing  they  might  be 
looted.  Our  living  room  hi  the  basement,  which  had  iron 
girders  for  the  roof,  seemed  likely  to  withstand  everything, 


96  A  MEMOIR  OF 

so  we  put  the  furniture,  piano,  etc.,  all  in  there  for  the  night. 
In  the  morning  we  found  the  iron  girders  and  all  had  fallen 
in  and  destroyed  everything.  All  this  was  Messines  way. 
We  have  now  been  relieved  there  and  come  down  south 
again  to  where  we  were  before,  but  I  had  to  lay  up  for  a  day 
or  so,  with  a  go  of  Flu  and  sore  throat,  etc.,  as  a  result,  and 
I  am  just  getting  over  it.  It  has  been  terribly  cold  the  last 
week,  the  whole  country  is  ice.  I  may  be  able,  if  all  goes 
well,  to  run  across  for  a  few  days  later  on.  I  can't  say  at 
all  if  I  shall  be  leaving  this  Battery,  so  go  on  sending  things 
as  before.  I  can  let  you  know  at  once  if  I  move.  Whilst 
on  this  last  trip  north  my  old  Colonel,  who  was  a  Major  at 
Ewshot  in  1900  with  me,  selected  me  for  a  special  job  that 
wanted  doing  urgently.  I  had  to  work  within  200  yards  of 
the  German  trenches,  and  I  was  at  it  a  week,  being  missed 
by  yards  only  most  of  the  day  by  shells,  etc.,  and  as  a  result 
have  heard  from  the  General  R.A.  that  he  has  sent  up  my 
name  to  the  Divisional  for  "  Distinguished  service  in  the 
field."  Of  course,  this  doesn't  mean  that  I  shall  necessarily 
get  anything,  but  it 's  a  start.' 

Capt.  Steel  had  been  promoted  in  October,  but  he  did  not 
hear  of  it  till  later.  He  got  10  days'  leave,  and  came  home 
in  December,  and  meanwhile  his  former  Commander  left 
the  Battery  (Major,  now  Lt.-jCol.,  Koebel). 

ORDER  OF  THE  DAY 
35TH  BATTERY 

The  G.O.C.  wishes  to  congratulate  the  4th  Division  most 
heartily  on  the  tactical  skill  and  fine  fighting  spirit  shown  by 
all  ranks  in  to-day's  successful  operations.  The  news  all  round 
is  excellent,  and  as  the  Indian  troops  are  expected  to  arrive  in 
line  within  the  next  few  days,  there  should  be  every  chance 
of  a  successful  termination  to  the  present  situation.  He  feels 
sure  that  the  4th  Division  will  continue  to-morrow  the  good 
work  they  have  done  to-day. 

A.  A.  MONTGOMERY, 

Lt.-CoL,  General  Staff,  4th  Dimsion. 
NIEPPE,  20/10/14. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  97 

'  35-ra  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  4ra  DIVISION, 
'  December  31,  1914. 

'  I  got  back  last  night  about  11  P.M.  I  don't  like  the 
journey  from  Boulogne  to  here  over  cobbled  roads  for  ten 
hours  a  bit.  I  am  now  definitely  in  command  of  this 
Battery,  so  this  is  my  home  for  some  time  to  come.  I  only 
wish  that  I  had  known  before  leaving,  as  I  should  have 
arranged  for  lots  of  things.  I  think  I  did  nearly  everything 
I  wanted  to,  and  forgot  nothing.' 


1915 

'  Jan.  18. — Just  a  line  by  one  of  my  Sergeants  coming 
home  on  leave.  Would  you  please  try  and  get  for  me  a 
black  tin  Despatch  Box,  just  like  that  of  mine  at  home  with 
the  stamps  in  it — not  the  deeper  one  that  came  back  from 
Havre,  but  the  new  one  I  left  with  you  when  I  went  to  the 
Congo.  I  want  one  to  keep  confidential  papers  in,  and  we 
have  nothing  in  the  Battery.' 

'  Jan.  21. — Would  you  send  me  by  Parcel  Post  my  Pierrot 
Costume  complete,  dark  blue  trousers,  jacket,  skull  cap,  and 
Pierrot  cap,  and  also  professor's  hat  and  cloak,  which  should 
be  in  my  cardboard  hat-box.  Then  could  you  take  my 
banjo  1  to  Harrod's  to  see  it  is  all  right,  extra  strings  to  be 

1  The  banjo  has  quite  a  little  history  of  its  own  that  may  as  well  be  told 
here  : — 

The  precise  instructions  given  by  Major  Steel  were  not  carried  out  because 
on  account  of  submarines  the  boat  and  specified  train  were  delayed,  and  it 
became  necessary  to  try  and  get  it  delivered  to  some  returning  N.C.O.  from 
home.  Our  cook,  Miss  Hamlin,  whose  brother  was  serving  with  R.E.,  and  who 
was  interested  in  the  adventure,  made  several  attempts  to  catch  a  returning 
N.C.O.  at  Victoria,  but  for  various  reasons  they  all  failed,  and  it  was  con- 
signed, carefully  packed,  to  the  Shipping  Agency  as  it  was  too  heavy  for 
parcel  post.  In  April  it  was  still  undelivered,  and  the  exact  date  of  its 
arrival  has  not  been  recorded  owing  to  the  transfer  of  the  Battery  from 
the  4th  Division.  It  had  gone  to  that  Division,  and  in  May  was  discovered 
and  reached  its  destination  in  June.  When  Major  Steel  returned  in 
September  15  he  brought  it  with  him  ;  he  did  not  take  it  out  again  in  the 
spring  of  1916  ;  in  July  he  wrote  and  asked  to  have  it  sent  out  through  the 
M.F.O.,  Southampton.  After  he  was  wounded  in  September  1916  on 
the  Somme  the  Battery  was  suddenly  moved  away,  and,  along  with  other 
of  his  property  which  was  never  heard  of  again,  the  banjo  disappeared, 

Q 


98  A  MEMOIR  OF 

put  in,  and  put  in  a  box,  and  taken  by  special  messenger  to 
Victoria  Station,  S.E.  &  C.R.,  to  catch  the  8.30  A.M.  boat  train 
to  Folkestone  on  the  morning  of  28th  January,  and  it  must 
be  handed  over  by  this  messenger  to  Sergeant  Cummings 
or  Dyer  or  Ridgers  to  bring  to  me.  Lastly,  some  banjo 
music  which  is  in  the  top  of  my  large  tin  box  (uniform). 

*  The  R.A.  Divisional  Follies  are  being  started,  and  when 
each  Battery  retires  for  its  fortnightly  rest,  entertainments 
will  be  given. ' 

'  Jan.  30. — The  music  and  Fancy  Dress  arrived  this  even- 
ing. My  best  thanks  for  all  your  trouble.' 

'  Feb.  14. — The  horses  and  waggon  line  are  all  back  there 
now,  and  we  take  it  in  turns  to  be  with  them.  Only  I  have 
been  very  busy  preparing  Observing  Stations  for  our  new 
position  here.  The  "  Divisional  Follies  "  have  started,  and 
have  been  giving  two  performances  a  night  in  a  Cinema 
Theatre  not  very  far  back  from  the  firing-line,  and  have 
been  a  great  boon  to  the  men  when  relieved  from  their  turn 
in  the  trenches. 

'  I  saw  Sealy  had  been  wounded.     I  hope  not  badly.1 

and  it  was  not  till  1917  it  was  discovered  by  his  cousin,  Major  Clive 
Mellor,  R.E.,  at  Bethune  and  sent  home. 

Major  Steel  did  not  take  it  to  Mespot,  as  things  seemed  uncertain 
(September  1918),  and  meantime  the  banjo  had  rested  packed  at  the 
Pall  Mall  Forwarding  Agency,  Carlton  Street,  and  to  the  manager  Major 
Steel  (now  Lt.-Col.)  wrote  asking  to  have  it  sent  to  Basra.  Meanwhile 
his  plans  were  altered,  and  when  in  January  he  was  under  orders  for 
Vladivostok  he  cabled  to  send  the  banjo  thither,  but  it  had  already  been 
despatched  in  consequence  of  his  directions  to  the  Shipping  Agency  at 
Avonmouth  for  Basra.  However,  a  Government  agency  such  as  it  was  did 
not  move  in  a  great  hurry,  and  by  means  of  the  telegraph  the  manager 
of  the  aforesaid  agency  managed  to  get  its  destination  transferred  to 
Vladivostok. 

When  Lt.-Col.  Steel  arrived  at  Vladivostok,  and  was  wandering  about 
the  wharves  waiting  for  a  train  to  convey  him  to  Omsk,  he  spied  lus 
banjo  being  unloaded  from  the  Carmarthen  with  a  quantity  of  guns  and 
Artillery  stores  for  the  B.M.M.  and  he  rescued  it  and  took  it  off  with  him, 
and  in  the  wilds  of  Siberia  it  was  a  constant  companion  till  his  death,  when 
it  was  carefully  packed  by  Major  Cameron  and  forwarded  to  his  mother. 

1  Lt.  E.  M.  Sealy,  R.E.,  who  was  with  him  on  the  Rhodesia-Congo  B.C., 
a  very  promising  officer  and  general  favourite,  was  seriously  wounded  early 
in  the  war,  came  home  and  apparently  recovered,  but  later  his  wound 
broke  out  and  caused  his  death. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  99 

As  regards  the  Burberry  Tent,  I  am  expecting  it  to  be  in- 
valuable later  on  ;  in  fact,  as  soon  as  we  start  moving  I 
must  order  a  mattress  for  it.  The  weather  here  is  very  bad 
again,  and  I  think  I  am  developing  rheumatics.  Continual 
wet  feet.  We  are  very  busy  preparing  for  the  spring  now. 
I  hope  we  shall  get  a  move  on,  or  that  the  Germans  will. 
Both  sides  seem  quite  happy  facing  each  other.' 

'  Feb.  28. — Since  my  last  we  have  had  another  move, 
and  are  temporarily  with  the  8th  Division  down  by  Neuve 
Chapelle — rather  annoying,  being  shifted  out  of  the  part 
we  were  becoming  experts  in.  This  is  the  second  change  in 
two  weeks.' 

'  March  9. — I  've  not  had  a  moment  for  anything  the 
last  two  weeks.  We  are  on  the  eve  of  some  movement, 
I  hope  success,  and  I  do  everything  myself.  We  don't  like 
the  change  to  this  8th  Division  much — one  of  the  newly 
constituted  ones  which  seems  to  get  nothing  and  have 
nothing  in  the  same  working  order  as  the  4th.' 

On  March  9  Sir  Douglas  Haig  issued  the  following  Special 
Order  to  the  First  Army : — 

In  front  of  us  we  have  only  one  German  Corps  spread  out 
on  a  front  as  large  as  that  occupied  by  the  whole  of  our  Army 
(the  First). 

We  are  now  about  to  attack  with  about  forty-eight  battalions 
a  locality  in  that  front  which  is  held  by  some  three  German 
battalions.  It  seems  probable  also  that  for  the  first  day  of 
the  operations  the  Germans  will  not  have  more  than  four 
battalions  available  as  reinforcements  for  the  counter-attacks. 
Quickness  of  movement  is,  therefore,  of  first  importance  to 
enable  us  to  forestall  the  enemy  and  thereby  gain  success 
without  severe  loss. 

At  no  time  in  this  war  has  there  been  a  more  favourable 
moment  for  us,  and  I  feel  confident  of  success.  The  extent  of 
that  success  must  depend  on  the  rapidity  and  determination 
with  which  we  advance. 

Although  fighting  in  France,  let  us  remember  that  we  are 
fighting  to  preserve  the  British  Empire  and  to  protect  our 
homes  against  the  organised  savagery  of  the  German  Army. 


100  A  MEMOIR  OF 

To  ensure  success  each  one  of  us  must  play  his  part,  and  fight 
like  men  for  the  honour  of  Old  England. 

The  affair  of  Neuve  Chapelle,  at  first  announced  as  a 
victory,  was  really  one  of  the  greatest  blunders  of  the 
campaign.  One  correspondent,1  and  the  only  one  who 
gave  any  reasonable  explanation,  wrote  : — 

'  Weeks  passed  before  the  occurrences  of  that  fateful 
day  were  made  clear  to  me.  Every  sort  of  rumour 2  was 
afloat.  On  the  10th  and  llth  I  was  between  Merville 
(where  General  Haig  had  his  headquarters),  Estaires,  and 
Laventie,  but  no  one  seemed  to  know  in  those  days  as  to 
just  why  things  had  gone  so  badly  when  the  promise  of 
success  had  been  so  great. 

*  Later  I  knew. 

'  General  Haig  had  been  quite  reasonably  correct  in  his 
estimate  of  the  enemy's  strength.  Our  chance  to  break 
through  the  German  line  was  the  finest  opportunity  of  the 
whole  war. 

'  That  with  such  odds  in  our  favour,  with  a  preponderance 
of  guns  and  shells  as  well,  we  should  have  failed  so  signally, 
and  lost  over  18,000  men  into  the  bargain,  required  some 
explanation. 

1  Frederic  Coleman,  With  Cavalry. 

1  These  rumours  emanated  from  persons  ignorant  of  the  real  cause  of 
the  disaster  to  account  for  the  failure  ;  it  needs  to  be  emphasised  that 
the  attack,  for  reasons  stated  (p.  101),  failed  on  the  first  day,  and  everything 
that  occurred  on  the  three  following  days  was  useless  slaughter.  One  of 
these  rumours,  viz.  that  the  Artillery  had  fired  into  their  own  troops, 
arose  from  ignorance  of  any  elementary  knowledge  of  the  scientific  co- 
operation of  Artillery  and  Infantry  in  an  attack — and  it  is  to  be  feared 
also  of  the  Brigade  Commanders  and  their  Staffs.  In  order  to  secure  this 
co-operation  by  means  of  the  barrage  and  limited  objective  (or,  as  Mr., 
now  Sir,  P.  Gibbs  calls  it,  the  time-table  system),  it  is  essential  that  the 
Brigade  Commanders  should  not  only  understand  their  instructions,  but 
that  their  Staffs  should  see  that  they  are  carried  out.  When  the  com- 
plete history  of  this  war  comes  to  be  written,  it  will  be  found  that  many 
blunders  resulted  from  the  same  causes ;  but  as  to  Neuve  Chapelle  it  seems 
that  the  Infantry  did  not  stop  at  the  line  arranged  but  proceeded  into 
Neuve  Chapelle.  It  is  not  quite  so  clear  what  the  actual  arrangement  was, 
but  if  any  casualties  occurred  on  this  account  they  were  no  doubt  exag- 
gerated at  the  time  because  every  one  was  searching  for  a  scapegoat. 


GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  35x11  BATTERY,  AT  COMPIEGNE,  OCT.  1914. 

Lieut.  Deacon.        Lieut.  Agnew.       Lieut.  Phillips.     Maj.  KoebeL 


GROUP  OF  MEN  SSTH  BATTERY,  AT  COMPIEGNE,  OCT.  1914. 

Facing  p.  too. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  101 

'The  tragedy  of  Neuve  Chapelle  was  a  failure  to  take 
advantage  of  an  initial  success.  The  25th  Brigade,  with 
the  23rd  Brigade  on  its  left,  nobly  did  the  work  assigned  to  it. 
It  took  Neuve  Chapelle  itself,  and  reached  the  position  it 
had  hoped  to  reach.  The  24th  Brigade  was  to  come  up, 
through  the  23rd  and  25th  Brigades,  and  as  it  advanced 
the  20th  Brigade,  on  its  left,  was  to  move  forward.  Still 
to  the  left  of  the  20th  Brigade  the  21st  Brigade  was  in 
readiness,  and  on  its  left  the  Northamptonshire  Yeomanry, 
which  had  been  put  into  the  trenches  previously  occupied 
by  the  20th  Brigade,  to  free  the  command  for  the  attack. 

'  Thus,  once  the  preliminary  ground  clearing  was  done 
by  the  23rd  and  25th  Brigades  on  the  right,  and  the  town 
of  Neuve  Chapelle  was  taken,  the  24th  Brigade  was  to  come 
on  and  form  the  right  of  a  line  composed  of  itself,  the 
20th  and  21st  Brigades,  which  were  to  pivot  on  the  North- 
amptonshire Yeomanry  and  sweep  over  the  Aubers  Ridge. 

'  On  the  left  of  the  Yeomanry  waited  the  22nd  Brigade, 
ready  to  jump  forward  the  moment  this  swinging  movement 
had  developed. 

'The  initial  success  won,  the  whole  line  waited,  eyes 
on  the  right,  for  the  signal  to  go  on.  Before  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning  all  was  ready,  and  the  road  cleared. 

'  All  day  the  watchers  waited  in  vain. 

'  It  was  after  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  before  the 
word  came. 

'  It  was  then  too  late. 

'  The  great  opportunity  had  been  lost,  and  lost  for 
ever. 

'  The  Germans  had  rallied,  filled  farms  with  machine-guns, 
and  mowed  down  the  gallant  23rd  and  25th  Brigades  men 
who  had  won  such  splendidly  advanced  positions.'  * 

On  this  point  General  French  wrote  :  '  I  am  of  opinion 
that  this  delay  would  not  have  occurred  had  the  clearly 
expressed  order  of  the  G.O.  Commanding  First  Army  been 

1  See  also  Major  Steel's  report  of  March  10  (p.  102).  The  preponderance 
of  shells  is  incorrect. 


102  A  MEMOIR  OF 

more  carefully  observed,  or  had  the  G.O.C.  IV.  Corps  been 
able  to  bring  up  his  reserve  brigades  more  speedily  into 
action.' 

One  explanation  was  that  the  Reserve  Brigade  had  to 
march  some  distance  to  their  station  and  were  too  tired  to 
advance,  and  it  was  asserted  at  the  time  that  there  was  no 
transport  available.  This  again  was  contradicted  ;  and  we 
were  told  with  equal  confidence  that  transport  was  ready 
but  was  not  allowed  to  be  used  for  the  purpose. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  cause  of  that  delay  in 
bringing  up  the  reserves  on  the  first  day  of  the  attack,  it 
seems  clear  that  all  the  correspondence  and  rumours  that 
were  afloat  were  merely  attempts  to  excuse  the  failure  to 
make  good  on  the  following  day,  and  threw  no  light  on  the 
initial  blunder,  which,  so  far  as  the  public  is  concerned,  has 
not  yet  been  explained. 

'  March  10. — After  the  first  phase  of  the  bombardment 
was  over,  the  Infantry  to  our  front  advanced  and  the 
Battery  turned  on  to  the  trenches  in  front  of  the  Pagoda 
as  arranged.  The  Infantry  did  not  stop  at  the  German 
First  Line  but  proceeded  on  to  Neuve  Chapelle.  I  accord- 
ingly proceeded  there,  and  made  my  Observing  Station  in 
the  Brewery.  No  Germans  were  seen  this  side  of  the  Bois 
de  Biez  till  the  end  part  of  the  afternoon,  when  they  came 
on  in  some  force  down  from  Le  Rusie,  turned  off  to  their 
right,  and  assembled  in  and  behind  the  many  small  houses 
between  the  corner  of  the  wood  and  H.  98.  Here  they 
were  shelled  with  so  much  effect  that  they  scattered  and 
made  a  bit  of  a  counter-attack,  it  seems,  between  93  and 
85  on  our  left.  They  also  proceeded  to  take  up  and  improve 
a  trench  between  93  and  95,  which  was  shelled  steadily 
until  5.15  P.M.,  after  which  firing  ceased  for  the  day.' 

*  March  24.  (Extract  of  Letter  received  26th.) — '  I  have 
not  had  much  time  for  letter- writing  lately.  However, 
now  the  Battle  of  Neuve  Chapelle  is  over  I  have  come  back 
to  my  waggon  line.  I  have  sent  my  Captain  up  to  the 
guns  for  a  few  days  for  a  change  from  the  W.  line.  Of  the 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  103 

battle  itself,  which  went  on  for  five  days  and  nights,  you  have 
probably  read  lots.  Believe  very  little  of  what  you  read 
about  it,  except  that  when  the  Artillery  was  behind  them 
the  Infantry  advanced,  when  they  had  not  got  a  hundred 
guns  behind  them  they  didn't  do  anything.  So  it 's  a 
poor  look-out  for  the  future  unless  we  get  about  ten  times 
the  amount  of  ammunition  we  can  get  at  present  (thanks 
to  the  strikes).  As  the  whole  attack  practically  took  place 
under  my  eyes  one  gets  rather  sick  of  the  soldiers'  letters  in 

the  Daily  Mail,  and  what  Sergt. of  the  A.S.C.  thinks 

who  was  probably  nowhere  near.  The  35th  Battery  took 
i  leading  part,  and  if  the  others  had  done  the  same  we 
diould  now  have  the  Aubers  Ridge.  I  send  you  a  copy  of 
ny  short  Report.1 

4  Since  the  15th  we  have  been  consolidating  our  position, 
aid  I  spend  most  of  my  time  sneaking  about  Neuve  Chapelle, 
wiilst  when  it  gets  dusk  the  repairing  of  the  various  look- 
ott  places  I  have  made  has  to  be  done.  My  main  Observing 
Stition  is  the  only  house  left  with  walls  more  than  10  feet 
hijh. 

Want  of  water  will  be  a  serious  question  when  we 
advance  beyond  the  area  of  ruins  we  have  just  entered.  The 
waier  stinks,  water  carts  are  all  broken,  and  no  more  available 
fron  home  yet.  They  manage  to  raise  a  few  in  working 
ordtr  for  the  Infantry  in  the  advanced  trenches.' 

'  35TH  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  IV-ra  CORPS, 

'April  18,  1916. 

'  On  arrival  I  found  the  Battery  had  joined  7th  Division, 
ind  to-morrow  we  join  8th  Division.  However,  we  shall 
low  remain  with  the  IVth  Corps  for  a  while.  I  went  to  catch 
he  8.15  A.M.  train,  but  was  told  it  was  not  going,  and  was 
;ept  waiting  about,  and  then,  finally,  was  told  to  go  by  the 
!  o'clock  train  by  the  Railway  Transport  Officer,  which  ran 
n  conjunction  with  a  supply  train  to  La  Gorgne,  the  new 
ail-head,  which  was  very  convenient.  I  didn't  mean  to  take 
Tancy  Dress,  as  I  thought  we  should  be  getting  to  work  on 

1  Major  Steel's  report  of  March  10  (p.  102),  written  evidently  in  ignorance 
c  the  cause  of  failure. 


104  A  MEMOIR  OF 

arrival.  But  I  see  no  signs  of  anything  big.  Now  that  I 
have  got  a  piano  I  propose  having  sing-songs  at  the  guns 
these  moonlight  evenings,  just  to  cheer  everybody  up.  It 
is  most  trying  and  monotonous  this  continual  watching  and 
waiting.' 

Maurice  Phillips,1  transferred  on  promotion  to  Captain 
to  31st  Battery,  was  killed  near  Festubert  on  May  22,  and 
buried  in  the  British  Cemetery  at  Le  Touquet  the  same 
evening. 

'  35TH  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  May  2, 1915. 

'  Thanks  for  yours  of  28th.  We  have  not  gone  up  north 
The  other  two  Batteries  have  gone,  but  General  Holland 
wouldn't  let  us  go.  It  has  upset  all  our  plans  here.  How- 
ever, the  Concert  arrangements  are  being  carried  on  between 
the  firing.  The  music  and  everything  has  arrived  except 
the  Banjo.  This  may  turn  up  at  last.  It  was  rather  ui- 
fortunate  we  should  have  left  the  4th  Division  just  as  it 
arrived,  and  I  believe  it  is  still  there. 

'  We  have  had  glorious  weather  here,  but  I  wish  we  hid 
more  ammunition ! ' 

'  35TH  BATTERY  R.P.A.,  May  18,  191». 

'  We  have  been  pretty  well  made  use  of  lately,  for  dire<tly 
after  the  attack  on  the  Aubers-Fromelles  Ridge,  which  vas 
hardly  a  success,  we  were  pulled  out  and  sent  down  fere, 
near  Festubert,  with  7th  Division,  to  try  to  do  somethng. 
We  have  been  at  it  three  days  now.  It  is  very  disheartering 
work  with  our  present  Infantry.  The  day  before  yesterday 
we  had  rather  a  hot  time.  I  had  a  fine  Observing  Statior 
in  a  rained  Brewery  100  yards  behind  our  trenches,  and  was 
able  to  put  my  shells  anywhere  I  liked,  and  the  Infantrj 
ought  to  have  got  La  Bass6e,  but !  (the  attack  failed),  and 
we  have  only  just  got  on  a  bit.  I  got  hit  by  some  pieces  o: 
shrapnel  in  the  morning  whilst  mending  a  telephone  wire 
and  in  the  evening  another  one  burst  at  the  feet  of  two  o: 
my  best  men  I  have  always  in  front  with  me  to  go  01 
dangerous  errands,  blew  them  to  pieces,  whilst  my  Subalten 

1  Originally  Lt.  in  35th  Battery  (see  p.  80). 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  106 

got  a  couple  of  holes  bored  in  him,  and  I  got  a  piece  or  so 
in  the  face  which  has  made  me  feel  rather  as  if  I  had  been 
in  a  prize  fight.  My  Subaltern  has  been  sent  home,  but 
I  shall  be  all  right,  I  hope,  in  a  day  or  two.  At  Fromelles  I  got 
a  bullet  through  my  hat,  and  it  just  touched  my  head  as  it 
went  through,  so  I  can't  have  anything  much  nearer. 
Where  is  Kitchener's  Army  ?  We  never  seem  to  have  more 
than  a  handful  of  men  to  do  anything.  They  seem  to  dis- 
appear directly  any  German  fires  a  shot  at  them.' 

On  May  20th  a  War  Office  telegram  was  received,  con- 
taining the  single  word  '  Wounded.' 

Referring  to  the  attack  on  the  Aubers  Ridge  May  9, 1915, 
the  correspondent  already  quoted  wrote  :  '  The  attack  was 
to  be  made  from  S.W.  by  two  Indian  Divisions  and  from 
the  N.W.  by  the  7th  and  8th  Divisions,  while  the  6th 
Division  was  pushed  forward  to  be  ready  if  the  attack 
proved  successful. 

'  Instructions  had  been  given  in  anticipation  of  any  mis- 
understandings that  might  tend  to  another  fiasco  like  the 
Battle  of  Neuve  Chapelle.  The  Order  of  the  Day  asked  the 
troops  to  "  break  a  hole  in  the  enemy's  lines."  ' 

Later,  the  same  correspondent  wrote :  '  Early  hi  the 
morning  word  had  come  that  the  8th  Division  had  made  a 
splendid  beginning,  but  later  in  the  afternoon  we  heard 
that  the  other  Division  had  been  held  up  by  machine- 
gun  fire  and  had  made  no  progress.  On  the  llth  G.H.Q. 
remarked  laconically  that  there  was  "  nothing  to  report 
from  the  First  Army  Front."  So  the  big  attack  of  which  my 
gunner  friends  along  the  Fromelles  Road  had  such  high 
hopes — fizzled  out.' 

1 35ra  BATTEBY  R.F.A.,  May  28,  1916. 

*  I  am  back  at  duty  now,  fit  and  well,  except  for  my 
jaw,  which  does  not  admit  of  the  maximum  limit  at  present, 
but  that  is  only  stiffness  and  will  wear  off.  We  are  now 
out  of  action  for  the  moment  in  reserve  between  Cheques 
and  Villers,  and  it  is  very  pleasant,  in  a  way,  to  see  green 
fields  and  farms  after  the  ruins  we  have  been  living  in, 


106  A  MEMOIR  OF 

but  we  don't  seem  to  be  getting  on  much.  I  forgot  to  tell 
you  how  useful  the  sleeping  tent  has  been  (see  ante,  14/2/15), 
and  with  the  air  mattress  I  had  bought  for  it  I  was  pretty 
comfortable.' 

'  BOTH  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  June  6,  1915. 

*  We  are  now  back  in  action  near  Festubert  again  and 
having  ideal  weather,  though  I  'm  afraid  we  shan't  do  much. 
We  are  too  short  of  ammunition  to  keep  it  up.' 

'  SOTH  BATTEBY  R.F.A.,  June  14,  1915. 

*  The  Major  of  the  31st  is  a  splendid  pianist,  and  I  've 
got  a  very  fine  piano.    We  shall  be  making  another  push, 
I  hope,  within  48  hours,  if  the  ammunition  arrives.' 

During  this  period  the  question  of  distribution  of  honours 
was  much  discussed,  and  the  proportion  that  had  been 
allotted  to  Staff  Officers,  many  of  whom  had  never  been 
nearer  the  fighting  line  than  G.H.Q.,  was  very  severely 
canvassed  both  in  letters  from  Regimental  Officers  and  in 
the  newspapers.  The  D.S.O.  was  instituted  for  the  express 
purpose  of  rewarding  distinguished  conduct  at  the  Front 
or  in  presence  of  the  enemy,  and  its  award  to  men  who  had 
never  been  near  the  Front  caused  widespread  discontent 
among  Regimental  Officers,  and  examples  were  freely 
discussed  not  only  in  the  Press  but  in  general  society. 
Some  newspapers  and  extracts  bearing  on  this  subject  were 
sent  to  Major  Steel  and  elicited  the  following  remarks  : — 

'  35rn  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  June  27,  1915. 

*  It  is  too  sickening  to  see  D.S.O.  given  to  people  who 
have  never  been  out  of  an  office .     I  haven't  met  a  Regimental 
Officer  who  isn't  disgusted.     If  we  don't  do   something 
soon  I  shall  be  quite  ashamed  of  calling  myself  a  soldier. 
A  Special  Report  went  in  by  my  Colonel  after  the  Festubert 
operations,  but  I  don't  suppose  I  shall  get  anything  more. 
The  British  Army  is  now  in  a  state  of  chaos.     Entire  re- 
organisation.    So  don't  put  Division  or  Corps  any  more. 

*  We  have  just  moved  again.    New  targets  and  country, 
and  more   Observation  Stations    to    make.    The   country 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  107 

now  is  s wanning  with  flies  and  mosquitoes,  making  every- 
thing unpleasant.  I  am  not  expecting  the  war  to  begin 
seriously  till  next  April.  I  don't  know  at  all  when  I  shall 
be  coming  home — I  am  ready  now,  for  I  can't  see  any 
prospect  of  an  advance.' 

'  35-ra  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  July  16, 1915. 

'  I  am  expecting  to  be  relieved  soon,  so  may  be  home  at 
the  end  of  the  month.  The  Major  of  31st  is  also  coming 
home,  so  there  will  be  none  left  who  started  in  this  Brigade.' 

'  35TH  BATTERY  R.F.A.,  July  28,  1915. 

' .  .  .  During  this  inactivity  we  have  managed  to  give  a 
few  concerts,  the  37th  Brigade  Pierrot  Troupe  ending  up 
with  a  full  house  in  the  theatre  at  Bethune.  We  arrived 
in  a  motor  bus,  and  a  shell  at  once  broke  two  windows  of 
it  when  we  'd  got  out.  The  four  ladies  in  our  troupe  were 
still  quaking  with  fear  in  the  cellar  when  the  time  bell  went, 
and  had  to  be  hauled  out,  though  a  bit  pale,  and  soon  forgot 
all  about  it.  They  have  since  all  handed  in  their  resignations 
and  costumes,  and  refuse  to  act  any  more  within  range  of 
the  gunners.  It  was  a  first-class  show,  and  I  have  got  back 
all  the  £20 — the  original  outlay  of  costumes,  etc.' 

PROGRAMME 

37ra  BRIGADE  R.F.A.  PIERROTS,  SOMEWHERE  IN 
FRANCE,  1915 

Price,  20  Centimes. 

At  8.45  the  Curtain  Rises 
(without  the  aid  of  BAKING  POWDER) 

Accompanist        >        .        .  •      MAJOR  M.  HARTLAND-MAHON,  R.F.A. 

1.  The  Inevitable  Opening  Chorus  ('  Lindy  Loo ')  .  EVERY  ONB, 

2.  Song       .         .         '  Ragtime  Goblin  Man  '  .  SERGT.  HAKNA. 

3.  Song      .        .        .     '  My  Old  Shako '     .  .  SERGT.  STUTTLE. 

4.  Comic    .                            Selected '         .  .  DRIVER  GARLAND. 

fM.  LEFEVRE. 

.         '  Le  Credo  du  Paysan '         .    -I  MLLE.  J.  BRAS. 

I  MLLE.  J.  THEHY. 


108  A  MEMOIR  OF 

6.  Song       .         .         .    '  My  Orange  Girl '    .         .      SEEGT.  RIDGERS. 
1.  Comic     .         .         .          'Selected'         „-     ...          MAJOR  STEEL. 

Interval  10  Minutes. 
(Scotch  Time.) 

8.  Another  Opening  Chorus  .         .         .     •  • .        .  EVERY  ONE. 

(For  no  Reason  at  all) 
'  Mother's  sitting  knitting  Mittens ' 

9.  Song       .         .    '  All  Aboard  for  Dixie  Land  '    .         SERGT.  HANNA. 

BOMB.  GREY. 

10.  Song       .         .        'I  hear  you  calling  me '         .         SERGT.  PUZEY. 

11.  Comic     .         .  '  Selected '  .          MAJOR  STEEL. 

12.  Song       .         .  '  Everybody 's  in  Slumberland '  .      SERGT.  RIDGERS. 

13.  Song       .         .         'I  want  to  go  to  India '        .      SERGT.  STTJTTLE. 

14.  Comic  '  Selected '          _  '      .    DRIVER  GARLAND. 

'  I  want  to  be  in  Dixie  ' 
MARSEILLAISE.  GOD  SAVE  THE  KING. 

At  ten  THE  CURTAIN  FALLS  beating 

THE  VICTORIA  FALLS 

INTO  FITS. 

'  August  5,  1915. 

'  No  sign  of  my  relief.  In  fact,  he  seems  to  have  got 
lost — so  I  don't  know  when  I  shall  get  home.  I  am  going 
to  "  Aire  "  to  do  gunnery  instructor  to  some  class  of  three- 
pounder  guns  on  armoured  cars  for  a  short  time.' 

'  August  15,  1915. 

'  The  school  at  Aire,  of  which  I  am  in  charge,  has  been 
extended  to  August  20.  I  don't  quite  know  what  will 
happen.  I  may  get  called  for  another  job  ;  if  so,  I  shall  try 
and  get  a  week's  leave.  I  hope  the  summer  will  not  be  over. 
I  have  to  write  several  reports.' 

'August  21,  1915. 

*  I  am  leaving  Aire  to-morrow  for  my  Battery,  which  is 
near  Festubert,  and  I  may  get  away  about  the  25th  or  28th 
I  hope.  The  boats  are  not  crossing,  I  hear,  for  a  few  days 
owing  to  submarines.  However,  I  believe  I  arrive  in 
London  about  4  P.M.' 

At  the  close  of  this,  the  first  period  of  service,  it  may  be 
convenient  to  summarise  a  few  points  that  emerge  from 


GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  35x11  BATTERY,  AUGUST  1915. 

Standing — Lieut.  Cator,  Lieut.  Scott. 
Sitting — Lieut.  Reynolds,  Maj.  E.  A.  Steel,  Capt.  Agnew. 


GROUP  OF  'No.  i's'  OF  GUNS  AND  BATTERY  ARTIFICER,  MAY  1915. 


Facing  p.  \ 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  109 

these  extracts  so  far  as  they  contain  matter  for  history, 
coming  as  they  do  from  a  man  of  wide  experience  and, 
generally  speaking,  sound  judgment ;  and  perhaps  they  are 
more  important  because  Major  Steel  was  fully  aware  of  the 
value  of  Infantry,  and  held  strong  views  as  to  the  assistance 
they  should  receive  from  the  Artillery,  and  how  each  branch 
was  inter-dependent  on  the  other,  and  should  keep  in  touch 
so  as  to  assist  each  other  in  every  possible  way. 

While  on  the  Aisne  during  October  and  November  1914 
he  had  ample  opportunity  of  observing  the  conduct  of  the 
Infantry,  and  his  unstinted  praises  of  their  methods  of 
attack  showed  that  he  had  taken  advantage  of  his  oppor- 
tunities, and  that  his  opinion  was  the  result  of  his  own 
observation.  It  deserves  to  be  repeated :  *  Our  own  In- 
fantry are  first  class.  .  .  .  Some  Regiments  are  nearly  all 
reservists  now,  but  their  excellent  system  of  training  soon 
polishes  up  the  ignorant,  and  the  "  shikar  "  spirit  which  is 
inculcated  in  their  attack  methods  is  a  fine  sight.' 

Passing  on  to  the  affair  of  Neuve  Chapelle,  it  will  be  ob- 
served that  his  report  coincides  with  that  of  the  corre- 
spondent quoted  as  to  the  delay  in  bringing  up  the  supports 
until  the  evening,  and  consequently  giving  the  Germans 
time  to  bring  up  strong  forces  and  cause  the  initial  success 
to  become  a  disaster.  (See  Staff,  p.  110.) 

Again  at  Festubert  (p.  104),  when  he  was  in  an  equally 
good  position  to  judge,  his  opinion  seems  to  indicate  that 
the  Infantry  on  that  occasion  were,  as  a  mobile  force,  un- 
doubtedly in  a  different  class  from  those  of  the  old  Expedi- 
tionary Force  on  the  Aisne.  This  would  cause  no  surprise 
but  for  the  fact  that  there  was  a  conspiracy  in  all  the 
daily  journals  of  the  time,  to  refrain  from  extolling  deeds 
of  valour  of  individuals  or  regiments,1  while  represent- 
ing as  victories  what  were  in  truth  disasters.  The  men 
were  splendid,  indeed  the  flower  of  our  manhood,  but  they 
lacked  at  that  time  the  training  in  combined  movements 

1  There  was  one  exception  to  this — a  periodical  started  by  Mr.  T.  P. 
O'Connor  entitled  Great  Deeds,  whose  publication  ceaoed  through  lack  of 
support. 


110  A  MEMOIR  OF 

which  alone  could  give  them  confidence  in  their  leaders. 
Now  that  history  is  being  written,  it  may  be  hoped  that 
the  truth  will  be  told,  and  indeed  it  is  being  told  (see 
Realities  of  War,  by  Philip  Gibbs,1  p.  66).  When  the  new 
Army  first  came  out  to  learn  their  lesson  in  the  trenches  in 
the  long  days  before  open  warfare,  the  enemy  had  the  best 
of  it  in  every  way,  and  it  may  be  elicited  that  both  leaders 
and  led  suffered  from  similar  causes,  and  the  confidence 
described  by  General  French  in  his  first  despatch  had 
not  been  kept  up  to  the  same  high  standard.  This  has 
been  repeatedly  observed  by  our  enemy  commander,  and  it 
may  now  be  admitted  that  during  1915  our  newly  trained 
battalions,  when  confronted  with  the  highly  trained  and 
frequently  more  numerous  forces  of  the  enemy,  did  not 
develop  the  powers  of  attack  that  our  panegyrists  depicted. 
Major  Steel  devoted  much  of  his  attention  to  the  matter  of 
Observing  Stations,  to  which  he  attached  special  importance, 
and  for  which  his  previous  experience  had  especially  fitted 
him ;  and  though  some  may  have  thought  that  he  was 
incurring  unnecessary  risk,  others,  and  among  them  his 
superiors,  realised  the  advantages. 

General  Holland  writes  :  '  I  am  convinced  that  our 
Artillery  will  do  no  good  until  we  get  Battery  Commanders 
well  forward  in  all  these  attacks.' 

See  also  Ludendorff,  i.  273 :  'The  decisive  value  of  Artillery 
observation  and  the  consequent  necessity  of  paying  great 
attention  to  the  situation  of  position  had  also  become 
apparent.' 

As  to  the  Staff,  the  original  Expeditionary  Force  had 
no  doubt  been  equipped  with  a  highly  trained  Staff,  as 
efficient  as  mere  peace-training  could  make  it,  but  as 
Divisions  multiplied  and  fresh  Army  Corps  came  into 
existence,  the  provision  of  Staff  Officers  became  a  serious 
question.  The  correspondent  already  quoted,  referring  to 
the  disaster  of  Neuve  Chapelle  (see  p.  100),  writes  :  '  No 
battle  of  such  magnitude  could  be  won  without  fine  Staff 

1  Now  Sir  Philip  Gibbs,  K.B.E. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  111 

work,  and  the  work  of  more  than  one  Staff  on  that  10th 
March  left  much  to  be  desired.' 

'  And  again,  when  the  immensity  of  casualties  among 
British  troops,'  writes  Philip  Gibbs,  '  was  out  of  all  pro- 
portion to  their  gains  of  ground,  our  men's  spirits  revolted 
against  these  massacres  of  their  youth,  and  they  were 
embittered  against  the  generalship  and  Staff  work  which 
directed  these  sacrificial  actions '  (Realities  of  War,  p.  35). 

'  This  sense  became  intense  to  the  point  of  fury,  so  that  a 
young  Staff  Officer  in  his  red  tabs  with  a  jaunty  manner  was 
like  a  red  rag  to  a  bull  among  battalions  of  officers  and  men ' 
(p.  35). 

And  again,  referring  to  the  Battle  of  Flanders  :  '  I  found 
a  general  opinion  among  officers  and  men  .  .  .  that  they 
had  been  the  victims  of  atrocious  Staff  work,  tragic  in 
its  consequences.  . . . '  (p.  389). 

In  the  two  cases  alluded  to,  viz.  Neuve  Chapelle  and 
Festubert,  1915,  Major  Steel  formed  the  opinion  that  after 
the  failure  of  the  initial  attack  in  both  cases  all  that  followed 
was  useless  slaughter. 

And  he  was  not  alone  in  that  opinion,  for  since  then 
the  following  has  been  written  :  '  The  battles  of  Neuve 
Chapelle,  Festubert,  and  Loos,  1915,  cost  us  thousands 
of  casualties,  and  gave  us  no  gain  of  any  account,  and 
both  generalship  and  Staff  work  were,  in  the  opinion  of 
most  officers  who  know  anything  of  those  battles,  ghastly ' 
(Realities  of  War,  p.  36). 

And  indeed  it  was  an  open  secret  that  instead  of  selecting 
Staff  Officers  for  qualities  denoting  efficiency,  they  were  too 
frequently  selected  for  other  and  totally  different  reasons. 

Major  Steel  had  qualifications  for  a  Staff  Officer  second  to 
none.  I  believe  his  name  was  sent  up  in  response  to  a  spas- 
modic effort  to  wipe  out  the  character  of  imbecility  that 
was  becoming  associated  with  the  brass  hat.  Those  inter- 
ested in  such  researches  may  discover  in  these  few  lines  why 
he  was  not  selected. 

With  regard  to  the  distribution  of  honours  (p.  106),  Major 
Steel  merely  echoes  what  has  been  said  wherever  fighting 


112  A  MEMOIR  OF 

men  congregated  throughout  the  war.  We  can  all  remember 
the  shock  we  experienced  at  the  huge  list  of  Staff  Officers 
that  headed  our  first  despatches  before  we  came  to  the 
fighting  men. 

The  D.S.O.  was  a  prized  decoration.  The  Statutes  of 
the  Order  define  the  conditions  on  which  it  was  intended 
to  be  bestowed,  and  it  is  common  knowledge  that  the  dis- 
tinction has  lost  much  of  its  value.  Nobody,  least  of  all  a 
soldier,  would  grudge  an  adequate  reward  being  given  to 
non-combatants  or  Staff  Officers  whose  duties  may  confine 
them  to  G.  or  other  H.Q. ;  but  surely  it  is  unreasonable  to 
do  so  at  the  expense  of  the  man  who  risks  his  life  ;  and  this 
is  actually  what  happens  when  so  many  members  are  intro- 
duced into  an  Order  intended  strictly  for  combatants. 

'  I  know  an  Officer,'  writes  Gibbs,  '  who  was  awarded  the 
D.S.O.  because  he  had  hindered  the  work  of  industrious 
men  with  the  zeal  of  a  hedge  sparrow  in  search  of  worms. 
And  another,  etc.  .  .  .'  (Realities  of  War,  p.  26). 

The  objection  is  not  met  by  calling  the  writer  a  disgruntled 
war  correspondent,  because  cases  of  this  distinction  formed 
the  topic  of  conversation  in  every  mess-room.  Eventually 
this  came  to  be  recognised,  but  the  amendment  when 
it  came,  in  August  1918,  came  too  late. 

In  this  respect  it  would  seem  that  our  enemy  suffered 
from  the  same  cause  (Ludendorff,  i.  262) :  '  I  should  like  to 
have  seen  at  the  head  of  the  Military  Cabinet  men  who  had 
real  personal  experience  of  the  fighting,  so  that  we  could 
rely  on  them  to  do  justice  to  the  Corps  of  Officers.  As 
it  was,  this  body  worked  too  closely  on  its  peace-time 
routine  and  did  not  bring  strong  character  to  the  front.' 

I  have  already  quoted  Gen.  Holland  as  to  the  question 
of  Battery  Commanders,  and  I  wrote  asking  him  if  he  had 
any  objection  to  my  making  use  of  it.  He  writes :  '  I  had  very 
great  admiration  for  your  son,  he  was  a  man  of  enormous 
energy  and  enthusiasm,  and  what  is  more,  having  no  great 
love  for  beaten  tracks,  progressed  on  original  lines  ;  it  was 
this  trait  in  his  character  that  attracted  me  so  forcibly, 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  113 

together  with  the  knowledge  which  grew  as  I  came  to  know 
him,  of  what  a  loyal  nature  he  had.' 

See  my  note  on  Staff ,  p .  1 1 0 .  Gen .  Holland  has  touched  the 
spot .  In  a  world  where ,  as  Swift  said , '  climbing  and  crawling 
were  performed  in  much  the  same  attitude,'  it  may  be  that 
one  of  independent  judgment  was  not  required  at  G.H.Q. 

Leaving  the  foregoing  digressions,  I  return  more  parti- 
cularly to  the  character  of  the  subject  of  this  Memoir  as 
portrayed  during  war  by  his  comrades,  senior  and  junior. 

Lt.-Gen.  Holland,  commanding  Infantry  Corps,  wrote  : — 

'  Lt.-Col.  E.  A.  Steel,  R.F.A.,  served  under  me  in  France 
as  a  Battery  Commander.  I  saw  a  good  deal  of  this  officer, 
and  have  the  very  highest  opinion  of  him.  He  has  great 
ability,  and  this,  backed  by  untiring  energy,  foresight,  and 
courage,  rendered  him  a  most  valuable  Commander.  He 
is  intensely  loyal,  and  nothing  is  too  much  trouble  or  too 
difficult  for  him  to  carry  out  the  wishes  of  Superior  Officers.' 

Lt.-Col.  M.  Hartland-Mahon  wrote  : — 

'R.A.  MESS,  COLCHESTER, 
'  January  23,  1920. 

'  . . .  The  period  during  which  I  was  most  closely  associated 
with  your  son  was  from  October  1914  to  August  1915,  when 
I  came  home  to  train  a  new  Battery.  We  were  in  many  a 
show  together.  Your  son  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
men  I  ever  met.  He  had  a  perfect  genius  for  discovering 
O.P.'s  and  constructing  them,  and  he  was  never  satisfied 
till  he  could  get  bang  up  to  really  within  a  few  yards  of  the 
enemy's  front  trench.  Two  of  his  O.P.'s,  one  the  "  barrel 
house  "  on  Hill  63  near  Ploegsteert,  the  other  his  tree  near 
Festubert,  were  marvels  of  ingenuity  and  were  quite  cele- 
brated ;  there  were  many  others. 

'  He  performed  countless  feats  of  the  utmost  value  and 
importance  to  the  Infantry,  whom  he  always  tried,  and 
successfully,  to  help  to  the  utmost  of  his  power.  His 
main  amusement  when  not  doing  a  shoot  from  some  O.P. 

H 


114  A  MEMOIR  OF 

which  most  of  us  trembled  to  go  near  was  wandering  round 
the  front  line  of  trenches.  His  bravery  was  proverbial 
and  almost  amounted  to  recklessness. 

'  He  was  idolised  by  his  own  men,  as  well  as  by  those 
outside  his  Battery  to  whom  he  was  equally  well  known. 
While  in  the  37th  Brigade  (during  the  above  period) 
he  organised  a  Brigade  Pierrot  Troupe  of  which  I  was  a 
member.  He  was  the  life  and  soul  of  it ;  he  was  equally 
good  with  the  banjo  or  singing  or  reciting.  I  could  tell 
one  or  two  good  stories  about  our  performances,  but  I  fear 
I  have  trespassed  too  long  on  your  patience. 

'  But  I  shall  be  most  interested  and  delighted  to  have 
any  details  of  his  career  which  you  may  care  to  send  me, 
as  you  so  kindly  offered  to  do.  He  was  a  most  fasci- 
nating personality,  and  any  account  of  his  career  cannot 
fail  to  be  of  absorbing  interest.  Again  assuring  you  of  my 
sympathy.' 

Brig. -Gen.  Spedding  wrote  : — 

'  BERLIN,  May  31,  1920. 

'  MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — I  was  very  grieved  to  hear  of  your 
son's  death  in  Siberia  ;  he  was  under  my  command  in  France 
in  1914-1915,  and  I  certainly  never  had  a  more  gallant  hard- 
working officer.  His  nerves  were  of  iron.  He  was  with  me 
in  many  fights,  and  I  could  give  you  many  accounts  of  his 
doings.  One  will  perhaps  suffice  for  the  present.  In  the 
attack  at  Festubert  in  June  1915  he  was  observing  for  his 
Battery  in  a  very  well-known  exposed  Observation  Post 
called  "  The  Brewery."  He  was  twice  wounded  in  the 
day,  and  his  Subaltern  who  was  with  him  came  down 
wounded  late  in  the  day  to  say  his  Major  was  still  there 
wounded  and  would  not  come  away.  When  fetched  away 
he  was  found  attending  to  his  two  telephonists,  who  had 
just  been  killed.  Trees  were  his  great  speciality  as  Observa- 
tion Posts  ;  he  used  to  half -cut  through  two  or  three  trees 
and  lay  them  together  and  erect  his  Observation  Post  at 
the  top  of  a  series  of  three  ladders.  Some  day  I  shall  hope 
to  come  and  see  you  and  tell  you  more  about  him. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  115 

'  At  Neuve  Chapelle  he  was  through  the  village  with  the 
first  Infantry  with  his  wires  and  telephonists.  He  is  a 
great  loss  to  the  Regiment.' 

Lt.-Col.  J.  Ramsden  wrote  : — 

'  Your  son  and  I  served  together  in  L  Battery  R.H.A.  for 
some  years  in  India.  Although  we  never  met  again  I  was 
able  to  follow  his  work  in  Africa,  and  I  well  remember 
the  tree  at  Festubert  where  he  continued  to  command  his 
Battery  after  the  ladder  by  which  he  communicated  with 
the  ground  had  been  cut  away  by  shell-fire.  He  has  died 
in  harness  the  death  of  the  true  knight  in  the  King's  service, 
sans  peur  et  sans  reproche.' 

Colonel  G.  Mair  wrote  : — 

'  I  hope  you  will  allow  me  to  offer  you  my  deepest 
sympathy  on  the  loss  of  your  son,  which  I  was  so  sorry  to 
read  about.  He  was  a  great  loss  not  only  to  the  Royal 
Regiment  but  to  the  Army  generally,  and  it  seemed  very 
hard,  after  going  through  the  war  in  France,  to  have  died 
in  Russia.  I  just  missed  seeing  him  in  France,  once  when 
he  was  commanding  a  Battery  on  the  Somme  in  Sept. 
1916,  and  later  when  he  was  in  command  of  a  Brigade.' 


CHAPTER  XI 

Return  to  England — Training  New  Artillery — Return  to  France, 
April  1916 — Dangerously  Wounded  on  Somme,  September  15 — 
King  Edward  vn.  Hospital — Convalescent — Lecture  to  Royal  Geo- 
graphical Society — Reported  Fit  for  Light  Duty,  April  1918. 

IN  October  1915  Major  Steel  and  several  other  officers  of 
similar  standing  and  special  qualifications  were  ordered 
home  for  the  purpose  of  training  the  new  Batteries  that 
had  been  recently  recruited. 

These  Batteries,  of  which  the  men  were  keen  and  interested 
in  their  work,  were  brigaded  at  Tidworth  Camp  in  Sep- 
tember, and  October  onwards  near  Codford,  where,  with  the 
exception  of  a  course  of  gun-firing  on  Salisbury  Plain  and 
another  course  at  Lydd,  they  remained  through  the  winter  of 
1915,  and  in  February  1916  they  were  ordered  to  France. 

The  training  of  these  men  was  of  exceptional  interest. 
I  am  sorry  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  collect  more  infor- 
mation as  to  their  several  trades  and  occupations  before 
enlistment.  Major  Steel  found  them  extraordinarily  keen 
and  anxious  to  learn  their  work,  and  that  they  took  full 
advantage  of  their  training  is  fully  borne  out  by  the  good 
work  they  did  in  France. 

Major  Steel's  remark  in  his  letter  of  July  4,  1916,  when, 
after  recounting  the  disadvantages  of  their  position,  he  said, 
'  However,  a  good  Battery  makes  up  for  a  lot,'  shows  what 
he  thought  of  them  ;  and  whenever  we  met  during  the 
training  he  frequently  commented  on  the  keenness  of  the 
men. 

When  on  the  point  of  leaving,  early  in  February,  he  went 
to  Yorkshire  to  say  '  Good-bye '  to  the  family  of  Sir  John 
Barran ;  while  on  the  road  a  Zeppelin  attack  occurred,  and 
his  train  was  held  up  at  a  siding  all  night.  He  returned 
with  a  feverish  cold,  and  his  doctor  refused  to  let  him  go 

116 


A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL      117 

with  the  Battery,  which  went  without  him  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lt.  S.  Colling  wood  on  February  17. 

This  Battery  of  182nd  Brigade  R.F.A.  was  formed  and  re- 
cruited at  Hurlingham ,  H.Q.  being  at  Fulham  Town  Hall.  The 
Brigade  Commander  was  Col.  Shortt  (a  retired  R.A.  Captain), 
and  Sir  Henry  Norris,  the  then  Mayor,  raised  the  Brigade.1 
The  horses  were  stabled  in  the  polo  stables,  the  men  being 
billeted  in  the  neighbourhood,  as  far  as  possible  in  their 
own  homes. 

Their  first  Divisional  Commander  was  General  Sir 
Lawrence  Parsons,  retired,  and  their  Divisional  Artillery 
Commander  Brig.-Gen.  Duffus. 

From  Fulham  they  went  to  Deep  Cut*  where  Major  Steel 
took  over  command  of  the  Battery,  and  from  there  to 
Borden. 

'BOYTON,  October  11,  1915. 

'  We  march  to-morrow  to  huts  at  Gorton,  near  War- 
minster,  Wilts.  My  address  will  be  182nd  Brigade,  Gorton, 
Upton  Lovell,  Wilts  ;  Railway  Station,  Codford.' 

'  182ND  BEIOADE,  December  18,  1916. 
'  We  go  to  shoot  on  the  Plain,  January  5.' 


1916 

'  January  17,  1916. 

'We  got  back  from  Salisbury  Plain  last  Friday,  where 
we  did  not  do  very  well.  But  considering  they  have  only 
had  about  a  month's  real  training  it  wasn't  too  bad.' 

The  Battery  remained  at  Borden  till  February  17. 

I  am  indebted  to  Lt.  Allen  J.  Perry8  for  the  following 

1  This  was  one  of  three  Brigades  raised  by  Sir  Henry  Norris,  now  M.P., 
viz.  the  177th,  182nd,  and  187th ;  all  rendered  wonderful  service  in  France. 

2  Lt.  Allen  J.  Perry  joined  the  Royal  Regiment  of  Artillery  at  the  age 
of  14  years  3  months.     Saw  service  for  two  years  in  the  South  African 
campaign  with  the  82nd  and  67th  Batteries,  Private.    From  there  to  India 
for  four  and  a  half  years.     Left  with  the  109th  Battery  3rd  Division  for 
France  as  Sergeant.    August  1914,  at  Mons.    Commissioned  when  Battery 


118  A  MEMOIR  OF 

account  of  this  Battery  between  February  17  and 
April  11:— 

'  Major  Steel  having  fallen  sick,  the  Battery,  now 
called  B/182,  under  the  temporary  command  of  Lt.  S. 
Collingwood,  R.G.A.,  left  for  France  via  Southampton  on 
February  17,  1916. 

'  After  a  month  or  so  spent  in  the  vicinity  of  Witterness 
to  accustom  the  troops  to  billeting  conditions,  etc.,  we 
moved  forward  to  the  "  back  areas  "  of  the  Loos  salient. 

'  From  here  we  sent  detachments  at  a  time  for  a  few  days' 
attachment  to  both  the  12th  and  15th  Divisional  Artillery 
to  get  them  used  to  the  battle -zone  and  all  its  conditions, 
and  to  familiarise  us  all  with  that  portion  of  the  line  which 
we  eventually  took  over. 

*  On  entering  the  line  in  relief  of  the  12th  Divisional  Ar- 
tillery, B/182nd  (Fulham)  Bde.  R.F.A.  took  over  the  duties 
of  counter-battery  work,  for  which  purpose  we  were  at- 
tached  to  the  R.G.A.  group,  which  was  in  command  of 
Lt.-Col.  Metcalfe,  R.G.A. ,  and  it  was  while  there  that  Major 
Steel  rejoined  and  resumed  command.' 

'  BASE,  April  8,  1916. 

*  I  arrived  here  yesterday  morning  after  an  unpleasant 
passage.    Went  out  to  the  R.F.A.  camp,  several  miles  out 
of  the  town,  where  everything  is  much  changed  for  the 
better  since  August  1914.     I  am  leaving  to-night  to  join 
my  old  lot  from  Borden.' 

'  En  route,  ABBEVILLE,  April  1916. 

'  There  have  been  great  changes  since  I  left.  Batteries 
and  Brigades  all  changed,  and  I  am  on  my  way  to  the 
Somme.  Will  let  you  know  later  what  has  happened  to  my 
Battery.' 

Sergt. -Major  in  June,  and  sent  home  to  Fulham,  where  he  equipped  and 
trained  B/182,  handing  over  to  Major  Steel  on  completion.  Became 
Acting-Major,  and  commanded  A/180  at  Somme,  191  fl.  Mentioned  three 
times  and  M.C. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  119 

'April  11,  1916. 

'  I  am  off  this  morning  to  join  the  Battery  (B)  near 
Loos.' 

Lt.  Perry  has  given  me  the  following  interesting  account 
of  what  happened  after  that  date  : — 

'  Our  O.P.  at  that  time  was  named  "  Bunny  Hutch,"  and 
it  certainly  was  not  much  larger  than  such. 

'  Our  first  experience  of  the  Germans'  aggressive  stunts 
was  an  exceedingly  unpleasant  one. 

'  On  this  occasion  I  was  forward  observing  officer.  On 
April  27,  1916,  just  before  dawn,  I  took  up  my  post  at  the 
forward  O.P.  (Observing  Post).  I  had  scarcely  arrived 
when  I  tasted  in  the  air  that  which  reminded  me  of  the 
Germans'  first  gas  attack  at  Ypres  in  1915. 

'  I  was  unable  to  see  anything,  dawn  not  having  broken, 
so  I  took  the  immediate  precaution  to  buzz  back  on  the 
'phone  "  S.O.S.  Gas  !  " 

'  This  arrived  at  the  Battery  end  all  right,  and  in  the 
shortest  of  time  not  only  my  own  but  every  Battery  in  the 
Division  had  opened  up. 

'  The  execution  was  such  that  it  broke  up  an  undoubted 
enemy  attack,  the  barrage  being  such  that  the  Hun  could 
not  get  through,  and  it  was  fortunately  so,  for  his  gas  had 
played  a  ghastly  game  amongst  our  Infantry  in  the  line, 
one  battalion  alone  (The  Inniskilling  Fusiliers)  suffering,  I 
believe,  700  casualties. 

'  The  following  day  was  perfectly  quiet,  scarcely  a  shot 
being  fired  by  either  side.  Undoubtedly  the  Hun  was 
occupied  in  like  manner  as  we  ourselves,  i.e.  burying  dead 
and  reconstructing  defences. 

'  I  was  liaison  officer  with  the  Infantry  in  the  line  on  the 
night  of  the  28th.  Just  before  dawn,  on  the  morning  of 
29th,  I  was  again  on  my  way  to  the  O.P.,  where  I  was  to 
remain  till  Collingwood  relieved  me  after  breakfast.  I  had 
arrived  to  within  about  100  yards  of  the  O.P.  when  the 
Germans  put  down  a  terrific  barrage. 

'  It  was  Divine  Providence  alone  that  enabled  me  to  get 


120  A  MEMOIR  OF 

through  the  curtain  of  bursting  shells  without  coming  to 
any  harm  and  to  gain  the  shelter  of  the  O.P.  where,  on 
looking  out  into  the  grey  dawn,  I  saw  a  thick  low-lying 
green  cloud  coming  rolling  towards  our  lines.  A  second 
gas  attack  was  being  launched.  Once  again  I  was  able 
to  get  a  message  back  to  the  Battery — "  S.O.S.  Gas  !  " 
and  only  just  in  time,  for  a  shell  immediately  afterwards 
cut  my  communication  wires. 

'  Soon  the  whole  of  our  Artillery  were  on  the  spot,  and 
masters  of  the  situation,  for  other  observing  officers  had 
also  "  spotted  "  and  reported. 

*  This  time  the  gas  did  not  reach  our  lines,  for  again  the 
Divine  Hand  manifested  itself,  for  as  the  cloud  reached 
about  half-way  over  "  No  Man's  Land  "  it  stood  still  for  a 
second  or  so,  and  then  commenced  to  roll  back  again,  en- 
trapping the  enemy  in  his  own  net,  the  wind  having  changed 
completely  round.  When  all  was  quiet  again  and  daylight 
arrived  the  grass  could  be  seen  to  have  bleached  in  the 
track  of  the  gas  cloud,  half-way  across  No  Man's  Land  and 
then  back  again  over  the  enemy's  front,  support,  and  rear 
trenches,  and  then  some  distance  up  the  hill  behind  them. 

'  The  promptitude  and  execution  of  our  Artillery  on 
this  our  first  practical  demonstration  of  covering  our  own 
Divisional  Infantry  gave  to  the  latter  an  impression  of 
confidence  and  comradeship  which  established  itself  and 
remained  till  the  closing  of  hostilities.' 

'  B/182ND  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  April  24, 1916. 

'  This  is  the  second  place  I  have  been  in,  and  I  suppose 
as  soon  as  we  've  got  this  in  some  shape  we  shall  move  along 
again.  This  is  the  worst  part  of  the  line  we  've  been  in, 
from  every  point  of  view.  We  get  it  on  all  three  sides ; 
as  soon  as  we  make  one  room  secure  a  shell  comes  and  wrecks 
everything.  We  have  taken  it  over  in  a  hopeless  state, 
and  in  about  a  month's  time  it  may  be  something  like  a 
Battery.  During  daylight  the  Battery  is  shut  off  almost 
from  communication,  except  telephone  !  I  am  beginning 
to  suffer  from  insomnia,  I  think.  All  huddled  together  like 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  121 

this  in  cellars.  Calls  from  the  telephone  through  the  night — 
and  alarms .  One  never  gets  any  fresh  food  here  at  all  except 
ration  meat,  as  it  is  too  far  to  send  into  Bethune,  and  there 
is  nothing  but  mines  in  all  this  area.  It  has  rained  nearly 
every  day  up  till  to-day,  and  blown  hard,  so  it 's  impossible 
to  keep  warm.  There  is  no  wood  left  even  in  the  summer 
houses  !  I  have  been  very  fit  so  far,  however.  I  get  to  sleep 
about  6  A.M.,  and  soon  after  that  the  Germans  always  send 
over  their  morning  bouquets  of  "  crumps,"  which  shake  the 
whole  place,  and  as  soon  as  the  plaster  comes  down  on  top 
of  me  I  think  it 's  time  to  get  up.  I  have  not  seen  a  news- 
paper for  six  days  now.' 

'  B/182ND  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  May  5,  1918. 

'  Since  my  last  we  have  been  through  two  gas  attacks, 
and  many  casualties  have  resulted.  The  "  weeping " 
shells,  too,  with  which  the  Battery  was  plastered,  were  a 
great  trial.  However,  the  men  did  splendidly,  and  the 
shooting  was  excellent.  We  had  a  direct  hit  in  one  of  our 
gunpits,  but  only  the  gun  was  knocked  out.  It  has  been 
perfect  weather,  and  we  have  been  able  to  get  through  a 
lot  of  work  and  make  these  mines  a  bit  safer !  I  haven't 
had  time  to  go  down  to  my  waggon  line  since  arrival  in  the 
country.  Horrible  part  of  the  line  is  this.  The  time  seems 
to  pass  quickly.  We  haven't  had  an  undisturbed  night  for 
a  long  time  now — always  gas  alarms,  attacks,  attacks,  etc., 
and  it  all  results  in  nothing  but  tiring  everybody  out.  Other- 
wise no  news.  I  'm  afraid  we  shall  be  out  of  any  attack  in 
this  salient,  but  are  always  being  attacked  on  three  sides. 
The  newspapers  are  pretty  interesting  these  days.' 

'  B/182ND  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  May  11, 1916. 

'  Last  night  we  had  a  terrific  bombardment — all  about 
nothing — and  as  usual  our  corner  was  plastered,  and  I  can 
hardly  open  my  eyes.  It 's  perfectly  disgusting,  these 
asphyxiating  and  weeping  shells.  We  are  moving  again  in 
a  few  days  to  an  impossible  position  out  in  the  open,  into 


122  A  MEMOIR  OF 

some  derelict  gunpits.     I  expect  it  will  take  three  weeks  to 
a  month  to  put  them  right.' 

'  The  months  of  June  and  July,'  wrote  Lt.  Perry,  '  were 
spent  very  happily  in  the  "  Lone  House  Position,"  which 
we  built  ourselves,  and  at  which  Major  Steel  had  worked 
so  hard. 

'  In  building  a  gun  position  he  not  only  thought  of  the 
strength  and  concealment  of  the  position,  but  gave  marked 
attention  to  the  construction,  for  the  safety  and  comfort 
of  his  men  ;  neither  did  he  give  instructions  and  leave  the 
work  for  others  to  do,  but  laboured  with  his  own  hands,  and 
that  not  spasmodically,  but  all  and  every  day  when  he  was 
not  forced  to  be  somewhere  else. 

'  This  position,  known  as  the  "  Lone  House  "  position, 
behind  Fosse  7  at  Loos  was  second  to  none. 

'  To  this  position  came  Staff  Officers  from  all  directions, 
and  Major  Steel  was  asked  to  submit  to  H.Q.  a  plan  of  the 
gunpit. 

'  Eventually  one  of  the  pits  was  put  to  a  very  severe  test, 
it  receiving  two  direct  hits  from  a  5-inch  (or  thereabout) 
armour-piercing.  The  first  left  little  impression  other  than 
a  weakening  of  the  pit,  which  was  then  unable  to  stand 
against  the  second. 

'  The  first  gave  warning  to  the  detachment,  who  cleared, 
so  by  the  time  the  second  arrived,  which  destroyed  the  gun, 
no  men  were  there  (the  Battery  was  not  in  action  at  the  time). 

'  In  this  same  position  Major  Steel  had  a  miniature 
theatre  built,  stage  and  all  complete,  and  then  hired  a  piano 
from  Bethune  and  placed  it  in  it.  This  was  an  integral  part 
of  the  position,  and  one  did  not  have  to  go  out  in  the  open 
whether  to  go  to  theatre,  gunpit,  men's  "  dug-outs,"  canteen, 
or  any  other  necessity.  All  was  underground,  and  shrapnel 
proof. 

'  The  telephone  systems  of  that  position  would  also  not 
take  second  place.  It  was  as  perfect  as  could  be  under 
existing  circumstances,  and  every  item  of  it  was  constructed 
and  maintained  by  your  son  personally. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  123 

'  His  Battery  just  loved  him,  and  all  recognised  him  to 
be  a  fighter,  one  who  was  out  to  win,  never  showing  the 
slightest  sign  of  fear,  yet  took  the  greatest  care  to  protect 
and  conceal  his  Battery.  We  three  subalterns  were  very 
happy  with  him.  They  with  me  could  not  be  more  happy 
under  anybody  than  we  were  with  Major  Steel.  Though 
kept  hard  at  it,  and  at  times  under  very  trying  circum- 
stances, never  can  I  remember  one  moment  when  he  was  not 
just  all  out  to  do  his  job,  and  that  right  cheerily. 

'  Though  we  all,  officers  and  men,  were  kept  "  up  to  the 
scratch,"  we  were  a  very  happy  Battery,  and  regretted 
exceedingly  when  re -organisation  took  place  which  meant 
the  disbanding  of  what  we  esteemed  the  best  Battery  of 

the  Division.' 

'  B/182ND  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  July  4,  1916. 

'  It  seems  ages  since  I  have  written.  We  have  been 
making  a  new  position  for  the  Battery,  as  well  as  our  daily 
and  nightly  work.  I  have  never  a  minute.  The  time  seems 
to  go  very  quickly,  and  I  am  very  fit.  I  have  noted  re 
Graham  Leadam.  One  hardly  ever  sees  any  one  these  days 
of  dug-outs  and  communication  trenches.  I  have  had  most 
of  my  kit  ruined  by  a  shell  coming  into  my  dug-out  when 
I  was  not  there.  Everything  has  a  mark  of  some  kind  on  it, 
or  perforated  in  many  places.  My  air  mattress  punctured. 
We  have  an  awfully  good  position  now — quite  clean.  A 
nice  cellar  to  feed  in,  but  a  rotten  part  of  the  line.  How- 
ever, a  good  Battery  makes  up  for  a  lot.' 

1 B/182ND  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  July  14,  1916. 

'  I  think  I  must  have  my  Banjo.  Could  you  have  it 
packed  in  wooden  case,  and  despatched  clearly  addressed 
via  Military  Forwarding  Officer,  Southampton.  Things 
are  arriving  pretty  well  by  that  route  now,  and  I  've  got  a 
piano  up  from  Bethune,  which  lives  under  about  6  feet  of 
concrete  and  iron,  and  relieves  everybody's  nerves  at  times.' 

'  B/182ND  BRIGADE  R.F.A.,  August  1916. 

'  I  am  writing  this  in  bed  at  Bethune  Hospital.  I  had  to 
come  in  at  last  after  some  weeks  of  not  feeling  up  to  the 


124  A  MEMOIR  OF 

mark,  and  eventually  could  not  move  about.  Sort  of 
rheumatic  fever,  but  they  don't  seem  to  quite  know.  I  shall 
not  be  going  to  base  or  home,  and  expect  to  be  back  in  the 
Battery  in  a  week's  time.  I  took  most  of  my  music  with 
me,  but  the  rest  you  have  found  will  all  be  welcome.' 

At  the  end  of  August  he  had  ten  days'  leave,  and  August  26 
saw  the  end  of  B/ 182nd  (Fulham)  Brigade,  for  on  the  re- 
organisation of  the  Artillery  from  the  4-gun  Batteries  to 
6  guns  each  the  182nd  Brigade  was  disbanded  and  absorbed 
into  the  three  remaining  Brigades  of  the  Division.  Lt. 
Perry  was  posted  as  second  in  command  of  A/180,  while 
Major  Steel  on  his  rejoining  from  England  assumed  com- 
mand of  B/177. 

'September  12,  1916. 

'  I  am  now  B/177.  We  are  bang  in  the  middle  of  it,  so 
you  may  not  hear  for  some  days.  No  doubt  you  saw  how 
our  crowd  took  Guinchy.  Every  one  living  out  in  the  open, 
just  like  Aug.  and  Sept.  1914,  but  shelling  night  and  day.' 

September  15  was  the  actual  date  of  Major  Steel  being 
knocked  out.  In  his  recent  book,  Realities  of  War,  Mr. 
Gibbs  writes  :  *  On  September  15  the  German  Command 
had  another  shock,  when  the  whole  line  of  the  British  troops 
on  the  Somme  Front  south  of  the  Ancre  rose  out  of  their 
trenches  and  swept  over  the  German  defences  in  a  tide.' 

In  a  previous  work  by  the  same  author,  The  Battles 
of  the  Somme,  the  various  attacks  were  described  in  detail, 
and  probably  with  insufficient  knowledge  for  their  descrip- 
tion. However  that  may  be,  Major  Steel,  on  being  asked 
whether  those  descriptions  gave  any  accurate  impression  of 
the  occurrence  of  that  day  so  far  as  his  observation  ex- 
tended, expressed  the  opinion  that  they  did  not,  so  it  may  be 
that  the  recent  description  may  on  the  whole  be  considered 
as  the  more  accurate.  An  inquiry  as  to  how  Major  Steel 
was  wounded  elicited  the  fact  that  he  had  gone  on  with  the 
Infantry  in  order  to  keep  in  touch  with  them  and  prevent 
any  such  contretemps  as  already  referred  to  resulting  from 
the  '  barrage,'  and  also  to  select,  if  possible,  an  observing 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  125 

station  in  an  advanced  post  where  he  could  render  them 
assistance  if  required.  Readers  of  this  Memoir  will  observe 
that  this  was  in  accordance  with  his  action  on  previous 
occasions. 

The  first  report,  about  September  16,  1916,  of  Major 
Steel  having  been  wounded  was  a  postcard  received  from 
Sister  W.  Tice,  i/c  :  '  Major  E.  A.  Steel  has  been  wounded 
in  the  chest  and  shoulders  and  is  extremely  ill.  The 
surgeons  are  doing  all  they  can,  but  are  very  anxious  about 
his  condition  in  the  next  few  days.  He  is  not  strong 
enough  to  be  sent  to  the  base  yet,  but  is  still  at  the  2/2nd 
London  C.C.S.' 

September  22,  from  the  same  :  '  Major  E.  A.  Steel  has  just 
left  for  the  base.  He  is  stronger  than  when  brought  in.' 

He  arrived  at  No.  8  General  Hospital,  Rouen,  on 
September  20,  and  Mr.  Newland,  writing  from  there,  said 
Major  Steel  hoped  to  be  able  to  move  in  a  few  days,  and 
that  there  was  every  hope  that  his  arm  would  be  saved. 

Meanwhile  a  telegram  received  from  the  War  Office  said  : 
'  Major  Steel  admitted  to  8  General  Hospital,  Rouen, 
September  20,  with  gun-shot  wound  right  arm  slight.' 

The  only  effect  caused  by  the  discrepancy  in  these  accounts 
was  wonder  how  these  reports  were  compiled. 

Meanwhile,  Major  Steel  wrote  a  few  lines  with  his  left 
hand,  and  expressed  a  wish  that  if  accommodation  could 
be  found  for  him  he  would  like  to  be  taken  to  Sister  Agnes 
at  9  Grosvenor  Gardens  ;  and  so  by  the  combined  efforts 
of  Sister  Agnes,  his  mother,  and  the  Medical  Officer  at  the 
Front,  he  was  conveyed  to  9  Grosvenor  Gardens.  Arrived 
there,  it  soon  became  evident  that  so  far  from  being  slight 
his  wounds  were  serious.  True,  his  arm  might  be  saved, 
but  never  to  be  a  sound  arm,  and  the  wound  in  his  chest 
turned  out  to  be  a  penetration  of  the  lung  by  a  splinter 
which  caused  an  abscess,  and  for  long  defied  treatment,  until 
under  an  operation  a  splinter  was  extracted. 

However,  more  cases  arrived  and  he  was  removed  to 
Belgrave  Square,  the  abode  of  Lord  Aberconway,  which 
had  been  given  up  as  an  annexe  to  the  King  Edward  vn. 


126  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Hospital  by  its  noble  owner,  and  in  March  1917  Major  Steel 
was  considered  sufficiently  recovered  to  be  moved  to  No. 
129  Convalescent  Hospital,  Brighton. 

1917 

In  June  1917  Major  Steel  read  a  paper  before  the  Royal 
Geographical  Society  on  the  subject  of  the  Zambezi-Congo 
watershed.  The  President,  Col.  Holdich,  in  introducing 
the  reader  of  the  paper,  said  :  '  Major  Steel  has  had  a  long 
experience  of  survey  in  Africa,  and  is  one  of  those  travellers 
who  take  an  interest  not  only  in  his  official  work  but  in 
many  forms  of  inquiry  into  the  history  of  the  country  and 
the  habits  and  customs  of  the  people.  At  the  outbreak 
of  the  war  the  work  of  the  Commission  very  abruptly 
terminated,  and  Major  Steel,  having  been  recalled  to  service, 
was  after  many  months  in  France  severely  wounded  at  the 
Battle  of  the  Somme.  We  are  fortunate  that  his  recovery 
has  so  far  progressed  that  he  is  able  now  to  give  us  this 
paper  in  the  intervals  of  successive  operations.' 

Major  Steel  then  gave  a  resume  not  only  of  the  details 
and  difficulties  encountered  by  the  Commission1  (to  be 
found  in  a  separate  Chapter),  but  also  an  interesting  account 
of  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  people  ;  he  also  initiated 
a  discussion  on  the  various  projects  for  the  transport  of 
mineral  wealth  out  of  the  country  in  the  following  words : — 

'  In  some  maps  of  Africa  you  will  find  a  line  marking,  so 
the  reference  tells  you,  the  proposed  route  of  the  Cape  to 
Cairo  Railway  from  Broken  Hill  to  Tanganyika.  This  was 
one  of  the  life  objects  of  the  late  Cecil  Rhodes,  whose  name 
is  written  in  large  letters  throughout  so  much  of  the  African 
continent.  But  those  who  first  drew  this  line  across  the 
map  had  no  idea  of  the  sort  of  country  to  be  traversed  or 
the  difficulties  to  be  faced ;  and  I  think  the  original  route 
from  Broken  Hill  via  Serenje,  Mpika,  Kasama  must  be  rele- 
gated to  the  limbo  of  forgotten  things.  I  think  it  will  be  a 
long  time  before  the  vast  region  of  North -Eastern  Rhodesia 

1  Especially  those  of  transport. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  127 

will  be  of  any  commercial  value,  or  will  enter  into  the 
economic  scheme  its  discoverers  imagined.  Owing  to  the 
discovery  of  the  great  Katanga  copper  belt  the  railway  was 
extended  from  Broken  Hill  to  Sakania  on  the  Congo  border, 
for  which  an  easy  route  was  available  along  the  Kafue- 
Lusenfwa  watershed.  This  line  joins  with  the  "  Chemin  de 
Fer  du  Katanga  "  system  to  Elizabeth ville.  The  line  on  to 
Kambove  was  completed  in  1913,  opening  up  some  of  the 
richest  copper  mines  in  the  world,  and  in  a  few  months 
Bukama  on  the  Lualaba  will  be  joined  to  Cape  Town,  a 
distance  of  2600  miles,  and  will  open  up  the  rich  tin  deposits 
near  Busanga.' 

He  then  passed  in  review  the  various  outlets  to  the 
ports  on  the  east  and  west,  as  to  the  latter  of  which  he 
had  acquired  many  interesting  details,  and  compared 
those  of  Cape  Town,  Lobito  Bay,  and  Beira.  It  will  be 
observed  that  he  was  so  impressed  with  the  mineral  wealth 
of  the  Katanga  district  that  he  considered  it  as  a  factor 
that  could  not  be  disregarded  in  any  complete  scheme  of 
economical  transport. 

'  There  is  no  doubt,'  said  he,  '  that  Africa's  economical 
salvation  can  only  be  brought  about  by  the  development 
of  transport  facilities,  thereby  releasing  the  natives  from 
the  work  of  carrying  loads,'  and  as  railways  must  have 
something  to  live  upon  they  should  not  be  constructed 
through  districts  which  had  neither  mineral  wealth,  popula- 
tion, nor  agricultural  produce,  none  of  which  was  to  be 
found  in  N.E.  Rhodesia.  These  views,  perfectly  sound 
and  generally  acceptable  to  a  body  of  city  men  looking  for 
promising  schemes  for  investment  or  prospecting,  were 
much  too  detached  for  a  purely  British  and  South  African 
audience,  most  of  whom  had  gone  through  years  of  harassing 
war,  while  to  a  Rhodesian  they  must  have  appeared  rank 
heresy  ;  and  even  assembled — as  they  were — mainly  for 
the  purpose  of  congratulating  Major  Steel  on  his  work, 
it  soon  became  evident  through  a  most  interesting  discussion 
which  ensued  that  sentiment  is  a  powerful  factor  in  the 


128  A  MEMOIR  OF 

affairs  of  South  Africa,  and  that  no  mere  commercial 
objections  will  ever  eclipse  the  desire  for  a  Cape  to  Cairo 
Lane,  '  all  British,'  the  dream  of  Cecil  Rhodes  whose  name 
was  *  written  so  large  over  South  Africa.'  Sir  Richard 
Birchenough,  while  expressing  on  behalf  of  the  Administra- 
tion their  appreciation  of  the  work  Major  Steel  had  done 
for  them  and  the  extent  to  which  they  had  been  fascinated 
by  the  account  he  had  given  of  his  labours,  pointed  out 
that  the  territory  in  which  Major  Steel  passed  a  solitary 
existence  had  since  the  war,  and  in  consequence  of  it, 
become  a  hive  of  activity ;  that  the  enormous  and  un- 
developed portion  of  N.E.  Rhodesia,  which  some  years 
before  had  been  regarded  as  negligible  from  an  economic 
point  of  view,  had  in  order  to  forward  supplies  to  General 
Northey's  Column  in  East  Africa  become  a  practical 
thoroughfare,  partly  by  water  through  the  swamps  of  Lake 
Bangweulu  and  partly  by  motor  road,  in  the  direction 
necessary  to  carry  out  the  original  scheme  of  railway ;  and 
though  it  might  take  years  to  accomplish,  his  audience 
might  rest  assured  that  Rhodesia,  the  pioneer  of  railway 
work  in  South  Africa,  would  do  everything  in  its  power  to 
complete  the  great  ideal  of  its  founder,  Mr.  Rhodes. 

Mr.  Wilson  Fox,  M.P.,  touched  the  same  note.  He  said 
that  although  the  construction  of  the  railway  might  have 
to  depend  in  the  future  on  commercial  and  financial  con- 
siderations, nevertheless  he  was  still  hopeful  that  in  the 
days  to  come  we  should  see  it  approximate  to  the  route 
originally  traced  by  Mr.  Rhodes — he  had  seen  him  do  it — 
in  the  Chartered  Company's  Board  Room :  and  even  the 
President,  obviously  in  sympathy  with  Major  Steel  and  his 
work,  could  scarcely  resist  the  appeal  to  an  '  All  British 
Line.' 

The  discussion  was  of  absorbing  interest  not  only  to  those 
who  heard  it  but  to  those  who  have  had  an  opportunity 
of  reading  it.  It  has  since  been  followed  by  others  of  a 
more  technical  description,  but  it  may  be  conjectured  that 
this  contribution  will  be  long  remembered  and  recalled 
with  regret  now  that  the  voice  of  the  originator  is  silent. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  129 

Since  the  foregoing  was  written  an  article  has  appeared 
in  the  Empire  Number  of  The  Times  of  May  25,  1920,  from 
the  pen  of  Lt.-Col.  Solomon,  which,  if  it  fairly  represents 
the  present  condition  of  N.E.  Rhodesia,  rather  encourages 
the  supposition  that  the  judgment  of  Major  Steel  may  be 
more  sound  than  the  optimism  of  the  Rhodes ians. 

NORTH-EASTERN  RHODESIA 

Once  upon  a  time  it  was  considered  that  the  Tanganyika 
Plateau,  which  forms  the  connecting  link  between  Lakes  Nyassa 
and  Tanganyika,  would  become  a  valuable  highway  of  com- 
munication in  Central  Africa,  and  would  be  rapidly  opened  up 
and  developed.  The  Stevenson  Road  was  constructed  to  con- 
nect the  two  lakes.  The  African  Lakes  Corporation  built  stores 
at  various  points  on  the  road,  and  the  settlements  of  Abercorn 
and  Fife  were  planned  in  such  a  way  as  to  permit  of  their  being 
developed  into  flourishing  townships. 

These  optimistic  prognostications  have  not  been  fulfilled. 
To-day  the  Stevenson  Road  has  fallen  into  disuse,  and  in  places 
can  hardly  be  traced.  Most  of  the  African  Lakes  Corporation 
stores  have  been  abandoned,  and  are  now  ruins.  The  post-office 
of  Abercorn  remains  a  testimony  to  these  unrealised  antici- 
pations. It  is  almost  big  enough  to  cope  with  a  town  the  size  of 
Tunbridge  Wells  ;  unhappily,  to-day,  the  population  of  Abercorn 
consists  of  six  Europeans.  Another  testimony  is  the  Victorian 
Memorial  Library  at  Abercorn,  which  contains  so  many  books 
that  were  the  whole  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  place  to  read  con- 
sistently for  the  rest  of  their  lives,  they  would  not  have  digested 
a  tithe  of  the  works  collected  there. 

Whether  the  plateau  will  ever  be  developed  depends  on  the 
communications  afforded  to  it  making  development  worth  while. 
Should  a  railway  run  from  Wiedhafen  to  the  coast  the  plateau 
may  yet  be  peopled  by  white  settlers,  and  have  a  good  future 
before  it.  It  stands  some  4000  to  5000  feet  above  sea-level,  is 
free  from  the  mosquito,  and  has  a  pleasant  climate.  Its  soil  is 
good,  and  almost  untouched,  except  by  the  native  cultivator. 
There  is  one  '  white '  cattle  farm  on  it,  and  the  goings  and 
comings  of  stock  to  the  nearest  market  area,  Elizabeth ville, 
occupy  months  of  walking,  and  the  necessity  of  passing  through 
many  belts  where  the  tsetse  fly  flourishes.  Cattle  can  only  be 

I 


130     A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 

moved  by  night,  and  valuable  stock  is  protected  during  the  day 
by  being  stabled  under  mosquito  netting.  In  some  villages  the 
white  man  has  hardly  ever  been  seen  ;  or  if  seen,  only  at  such 
rare  intervals  as  to  make  his  coming  an  event  of  importance  for 
many  a  day.  In  the  southern  portion  of  this  area,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Fort  Jameson,  the  country  has  been  settled  in  to  a 
certain  extent,  and  cotton,  rubber,  and  tobacco  have  been  grown 
with  success.  The  communications  of  Nyassaland,  however,  are 
more  likely  to  prove  of  value  to  this  portion  of  the  territory  than 
are  those  of  Northern  Rhodesia. 

The  treatment  dragged  on,  his  arm  had  to  be  reset,  and 
he  had  to  undergo  an  operation  to  try  and  recover  the  use 
of  a  nerve  which  prevented  the  use  of  the  fingers.  This 
was  carried  out  at  Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital,  formerly  the 
Central  Railway  Hotel,  and  at  length,  in  April  1918,  he  was 
reported  fit  for  light  duty. 


CHAPTER  XII 

Anti- Aircraft  —  Passed  for  General  Service  —  Embarked  for 
Mesopotamia — Appointed  Command  Brigade  Artillery — Volunteers 
for  Service  with  British  Military  Mission,  Siberia — Journey — 
Singapore— Shanghai,  Visit  and  Festivities — Vladivostok,  Novo- 
Nikolaevsk,  Barnaul,  Bisk,  Omsk,  Yekaterinburg— General  Jack- 
Illness  and  Death  at  Omsk — Letters  from  General  Knox  and  Russian 
Officers — Summary — Conclusion. 

1918 

ON  being  reported  fit  for  light  duty  at  the  end  of  April 
1918  Major  Steel  was  posted  to  the  School  of  Instruction 
in  Anti-Aircraft  Gunnery,  at  that  time  established  at  New- 
port, Isle  of  Wight,  after  much  discussion  and  prolonged 
vacillation  as  to  whether  it  was  to  be  carried  out  by  the 
Admiralty  or  the  War  Office. 

The  defence  of  London,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  been  a 
topic  of  gossip  in  the  first  twelve  months  of  the  war  ;  a  sharp 
line  seemed  to  divide  those  who  thought  a  raid  probable 
and  those  who  thought  otherwise.  The  question  was  sur- 
rounded by  mystery,  and  the  wildest  conjectures  were 
afloat  as  to  what,  if  any,  measures  had  been  taken  against 
possible  land  or  Zeppelin  attack.  Londoners  had  watched 
with  curiosity  the  erections  at  Hyde  Park  Corner.  It  was 
rumoured  that  learned  professors  had  been  asked  to  provide 
a  formula  for  high-angle  fire  at  an  object  of  unknown  alti- 
tude. A  distinguished  civilian,  it  was  said,  had  been  asked 
to  take  charge  of  the  land  defences,  whether  he  had  studied 
the  principle  of  land  defences  or  otherwise  ;  and  it  was  said 
that  he  had  consented  on  the  condition  that  he  was  to  be 
in  sole  charge,  unfettered  by  advice  or  assistance  of  any 
kind.  As  to  the  defence  against  aircraft,  which  it  trans- 
pired, to  the  astonishment  of  everybody,  had  up  to  that 
time  been  under  the  charge  of  the  Admiralty,  we  have 


132  A  MEMOIR  OF 

since  been  told  that  Sir  Percy  Scott  was  asked  in  1915  to 
take  charge  of  it,  and  that  he  had  consented,  also  on  the 
condition  that  he  should  be  supreme. 

These  rumours  may  or  may  not  have  had  a  solid  basis. 
If  so,  they — and  several  others  of  a  similar  nature  that 
recent  controversies  have  elicited — tend  to  show  the  great 
difficulty  that  every  administration  has  to  reckon  with  in 
finding  capable  individuals  who  can  act  in  harmony  with 
others  in  a  national  cause.  In  business  this  problem  seems 
to  have  been  solved  ;  but  in  affairs  of  state  it  would  seem 
to  be  otherwise.  Perhaps  some  kink  hi  human  nature 
supplies  the  clue,  and  is  the  reason  why  politicians  always 
quarrel ;  why  Cabinets  which  are  at  the  time  supposed  to 
be  united,  when  the  memoirs  of  their  respective  members 
come  to  be  written  are  shown  to  have  been  in  a  chronic 
state  of  discord  ;  why  the  War  Office  is  always  '  in  a 
muddle '  ;  why  the  Admiralty,  hitherto  popularly  sup- 
posed to  have  been  admirably  and  efficiently  managed,  has 
lately,  through  the  indiscretions  of  distinguished  admirals, 
proved  to  have  been  a  hotbed  of  intrigue  and  jealousy  ;  and 
why  even  '  marriage  is  a  failure.' 

But  this  is  a  digression,  however  true.  The  land  defence  of 
London  is  still  surrounded  by  mystery,  though  at  the  time 
rumour  had  it  that  hard- worked  professional  men  were  de- 
voting the  last  hour  of  their  spare  time  in  digging  trenches 
when  they  might  have  been  more  usefully  employed  ;  and  if 
any  one  knows  where  they  are  situated,  and  on  what  prin- 
ciple they  have  been  devised,  the  secret  has  been  carefully 
preserved. 

As  to  the  air,  the  story  has  been  told  correctly  and 
humorously  by  Admiral  Sir  Percy  Scott  with  chapter  and 
verse ; 1  and  it  need  only  be  said  here  that  at  the  time  we 
are  now  writing  of — April  1918 — it  had  developed  into  a 
system,  and  Schools  of  Instruction  had  been  established. 
The  defence  of  the  capital  had  been  taken  over  by  the  War 
Office  in  February  1916. 

1  Fifty  Years  in  the  Navy.  See  also  The  Dover  Patrol  by  Admiral 
Bacon  ;  and  Memories  and  Letters  by  Lord  Fisher. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  133 

Zeppelins  came  over  London  and  dropped  bombs  in 
September  1915,  and  then  for  the  first  time  the  idea  of  form- 
ing an  anti-aircraft  corps  was  started.  In  the  months  which 
elapsed  before  the  War  Office  took  charge  much  had  been 
done :  high-angle  firing  guns  produced ;  high-explosive  bullets 
invented ;  Air  Force  in  sufficient  strength  (?)  provided  ;  and, 
generally  speaking,  land  defence  became  an  organised  system. 

Major  Steel  was  sent  to  the  Reserve  Brigade  of  Anti-Air- 
craft  Gunnery  at  Newport,  Isle  of  Wight,  and  after  a 
course  there  and  at  Shoeburyness  was  posted  to  the 
Chatham  district  of  Anti -Aircraft  Defence,  his  work 
consisting  in  inspecting  the  Anti-Aircraft  batteries  between 
Gravesend  and  Sheerness,  and  in  August  he  was  brought 
to  Headquarters  at  Great  George  Street,  the  Headquarters 
of  the  A.A.C.  Batteries,  Defence  of  London.  A  small  group 
of  officers  spent  their  time  by  day  inspecting  the  A.A.C. 
Batteries,  and  at  night  by  turn  sat  at  a  table  awaiting  the 
warning  of  the  telephone,  and  took  measures  accordingly. 

On  September  5,  1918,  having  been  passed  by  Medical 
Board  '  Fit  G.S.,'  he  was  ordered  to  Mesopotamia,  and 
started  on  September  24,  about  two  years  after  he  had 
narrowly  escaped  with  his  life  in  the  advance  on  the  Somme 
on  September  15,  1916. 

From  Southampton  to  Cherbourg,  and  thence  by  train, 
occupying  nine  days,  to  Taranto,  and  thence  by  transport 
to  Egypt. 

'  En  train,  Oct.  4. — You  will  be  able  to  judge  what  sort  of 
a  journey  it  has  been  when  I  say  we  have  averaged  seven 
miles  an  hour.  Officers  herded  in  baggage  waggons,  and 
everything  rottenly  managed.' 

The  following  account  of  the  journey  has  been  given  by 
Julian  S.  Tritton 1  :— 

1  Julian  S.  Tritton,  eldest  son  of  Sir  Seymour  Tritton,  K.B.E.,  and 
Lady  Tritton,  served  as  an  Assistant  Engineer  on  the  B.B.  &  C.I.  Rail- 
way ;  took  a  Viceroy's  commission  in  1915,  and  became  a  Company  Com- 
mander of  the  Railway  Unit  of  the  Indian  Defence  Force  early  in  1915, 
was  transferred  to  the  Royal  Engineers  on  special  duty  at  the  War  Office 
M.R.,  and  in  September  1915  was  posted  to  the  I.E.F.  Mesopotamia. 
On  arrival  at  Port  Said  he  was  transferred  to  the  North-Western  Railway. 


134  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  I  was  delighted  on  arrival  at  Waterloo  to  meet  Major 
Steel  on  the  platform,  and  find  that  he  too  was  Eastward 
bound.  It  was  the  first  time  I  had  seen  him  for  five  or  six 
years. 

'  From  the  start  I  very  much  appreciated  his  kindness  in 
taking  a  "  2nd  Lieut."  under  his  wing,  as  he  did  me.  His 
seniority  and  experience  proved  invaluable  in  helping  our 
little  party  through  most  of  the  discomforts  unavoidable 
in  travelling  with  a  party  of  about  say  250  young  officers. 

'  At  Cherbourg  the  Major  very  kindly  arranged  with  the 
B.T.  Staff  for  me  to  travel  in  his  compartment  in  the  O.C.'s 
coach  with  Major  Herschel  and  himself — no  small  advantage 
on  a  nine -day  journey. 

'  The  nine  days  passed  cheerfully  in  spite  of  the  everlasting 
waits  and  halts,  scheduled  and  otherwise,  which  never  seemed 
to  depress  the  Major  as  they  did  the  majority  of  us. 

*  It  was  at  Taranto  that  I  first  realised  how  bad  his  arm 
was.    To  attract  his  attention  in  a  crowd  on  the  platform 
one  evening  I  gripped  his  elbow  sharply.     It  must  have 
hurt   him   considerably,  but  he  only  remarked,  "  Steady, 
that 's  my  dickey  arm  !  "     I  imagine  this  arm  gave  him  a 
good  deal  of  pain  off  and  on  during  the  whole  voyage,  but 
he  hardly  ever  mentioned  it. 

*  We  were  all  bound  for  Mesopotamia,  but  shortly  before 
reaching  Port  Said  we  got  the  news  by  wireless  that  the 
Turks  were  on  the  verge  of  collapse.     "  Good  news,  that, 
Major,"  I  said.     "  What !  "  said  he.     "  Worst  news  we  've 
had  this  trip.     It  will  be  all  over  by  the  time  we  get  there." 

While  the  transport  was  on  its  way  to  Suez  Major  Steel 
paid  a  visit  to  Cairo. 

'  SUEZ,  October  24. 

*  Still  messing  about  en  route.     Nothing  but  delay  and 
muddle  here,  and  this  after  four  years,  so  I  can't  imagine 
what  it  must  have  been  at  the  beginning.     Some  officers 
have  lost  all  their  kit.    Most  have  lost  some  of  it.     I  am  one 
of   the   lucky   ones.      This   waiting   day   after   day   with 
absolutely  nothing  to  do  makes  one  feel  incapable  of  ever 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  135 

doing  any  hard  work  again.  Tritton  says  he  has  never 
done  a  real  day's  work  since  he  came  into  the  Army,  and 
if  he  doesn't  get  back  to  his  railways  soon  his  brain  will 
rust.  He  has  gone  ahead  of  me,  as  apparently  it  is  more 
important  to  get  to  India  than  to  Mespot !  I  get  a  good 
dose  from  the  skipper  on  board  every  night  of  how  they  are 
run  in  these  parts  ;  at  any  rate  there  is  no  shortage  of 
anything  anywhere.' 

'  November  12,  1918. 

'  I  went  ashore  at  Aden  and  had  a  look  at  the  water 
tanks  again  that  I  had  last  seen  when  coming  home  with 
you  from  India  about  1887.  Bombay  was  much  altered — 
many  good  hotels,  and  motor  cars  all  over  the  place  owned 
by  opulent  Parsees.  We  reach  Basra  to-morrow.  I 
expect  to  be  there  a  few  days,  and  then  a  trip  up  the  river. 
I  gather  there  will  be  plenty  to  do  up  country,  settling  the 
country  from  the  Black  Sea  to  Southern  Russia.' 

After  a  short  stay  at  Basra,  where  he  described  the  con- 
ditions from  which  he  was  unable  to  get  away,  and  incidentally 
observed,  '  I  wish  I  had  brought  my  Banjo,'  he  proceeded 
to  Baghdad  by  river. 

c  November  27,  1918. 

'  I  have  just  met  Thuillier,1  Capt.  R.G.A. ;  he  was  in  the 
next  tent  to  me  in  the  rest  camp,  but  I  did  not  know  it. 
Leslie  2  is  up  the  Tigris.  Hacking  is  down  at  the  base,  and 
Christy,  who  talked  at  my  lecture  at  the  Geographical,  is  in 
the  Malarial  Department  here.  I  have  had  quite  a  pleasant 
few  days  in  Baghdad,  and  have  been  very  comfortable  at 
the  Heavy  Art.  H.Q.,  who  have  put  me  up.  The  skipper 
of  the  mail-boat  that  brought  us  to  Bombay,  "Dow," 
knew  John  when  he  was  in  the  Centurion  years  ago  in 
China.  He  was  attached  for  R.N.R.  training  from  some 
merchant  vessel.  I  have  just  met  Col.  Percy  Smith  at 

1  Son  of  Maj.-Gen.  H.  F.  Thuillier,  C.B.,  C.M.G.,  R.E.,  Commandant 
S.M.E.,  Chatham,  etc. 

*  Leslie  Thuillier,  Indian  Army,  his  cousin,  son  of  Col.  Sir  H.  R.  Thuillier, 
K.C.I.E.,  late  Royal  Engineers. 


136  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Baghdad  Club  ;  his  father  was  at  Gulmurg  when  I  was  there 
in  1901.  I  am  appointed  (temp.)  Lt.-Col.  to  command 
55th  Brigade  R.F.A.,  13th  Division.' 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  first  orders  for  demobilisa- 
tion were  that  all  tradesmen — or,  as  they  were  called,  pivotal 
men — who  had  been  taken  from  the  workshops  were  to  be 
returned  first.  This  plan  did  not  stand  the  test  of  practice. 
Volunteers  of  earlier  date  saw  no  justice  or  reason  for 
conscripted  men  of  later  date  being  allowed  to  go  earlier, 
and  a  crisis  ensued  which  caused  a  complete  change  in  the 
order  for  demobilisation. 

This  is  a  digression,  but  a  necessary  one,  because  it  is  one 
of  the  causes  why  Major  Steel  went  to  Russia.  His  Brigade 
was  to  march  down  to  Amara,  being  depleted,  according 
to  orders  then  existing,  of  all  his  best  men,  and  he  said  by 
the  time  he  arrived  at  Basra  he  would  have  only  the 
skeleton  of  a  Brigade  left.  He  might,  no  doubt,  have 
brought  hj!s  Brigade  home,  retained  his  temporary  rank 
of  Lt.-Col.,  and  sat  down  quietly  until  the  demobilisation 
was  complete,  but  this  he  could  not  do.  When  the  call 
for  volunteers  for  Russia  came,  though  he  had  to  give  up 
his  temporary  rank,  he  volunteered.  It  would  scarcely 
be  fair  to  ascribe  his  decision  to  volunteer  for  service  in 
Russia  entirely  to  the  foregoing  cause ;  owing  to  his  long 
disability,  in  consequence  of  his  wounds,  he  had  been  passed 
over  by  his  contemporaries  who  had  received  promotion 
and  decorations,  and  undoubtedly  he  felt  this,  and  was 
anxious  to  find  an  opportunity  to  recover  his  position  and 
gain  distinction  by  further  service.  Moreover,  his  chivalry 
was  awakened  by  that  call  of  Russia  for  help. 

'  MESOPOTAMIA  EXPEDITIONARY  FORCE, 
'  55TH  BDE.  R.F.A.,  13/D.,  December  30,  1918. 

' .  .  .  The  weather  here  is  rough,  very  cold,  and  ice  in 
the  mornings.  Sometimes  rain,  sometimes  wind  and  sand, 
while  the  sun  is  never  hot  enough  to  need  a  topi,  which  is 
rather  nice.  We  are  in  tents,  so  it 's  pretty  stiff.  The 
Diyala  runs  swiftly  by — 100  yards  across — and  the  snow 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  137 

is  visible  on  the  mountain  tops.  I  have  a  pretty  large 
command — four  Batteries  and  an  Ammunition  Column — 
so  I  am  kept  pretty  busy.  Most  uninteresting  country, 
and  a  dirty  lot  of  diseased  Arabs  here  and  there  in  a  few 
scattered  villages.  Quite  open  country  except  for  bunches 
of  date  palms  here  and  there,  and  the  whole  land  is  cut  up 
with  canals  a  few  feet  wide  and  bunded  both  sides — some 
dry,  some  with  water,  just  a  big  enough  obstacle  to  prevent 
one  getting  over  it. 

*  I  get  through  a  good  bit  of  riding,  and  have  had  one  or 
two  shoots  on  Sunday  morning.  There  is  nothing  in  this 
country  except  bird  life,  and  that  is  very  scarce,  but  very 
good  eating.  Excellent  partridges,  but  very  hard  to  get. 
My  arm  is  holding  out  well !  and  hurts  just  about  the  same 
as  ever.  At  present  I  am  very  interested  in  carpets  and 
read  up  a  good  deal  about  them.  Officers  have  paid  such 
prices  and  bought  such  trash  that  the  story  goes  that 
London  firms  are  sending  their  Oriental  rugs  out  to  Baghdad 
to  sell  before  the  Army  of  Occupation  goes  away  !  How- 
ever, for  those  who  know  and  can  tell  the  difference  between 
vegetable  and  aniline  dyes  and  old  and  modern  work,  there 
are  still  excellent  bargains,  and  I  hope  to  pick  up  several 
on  my  return  to  Baghdad,  which  will  be  very  soon.  We 
are  due  to  go  to  Amara  January  20,  whole  13th  Division. 
This  is  the  only  British  Division  out  here.  The  feeding 
question  is  very  difficult  here,  so  we  are  going  down.  Our 
men  are  going  home  according  to  their  trades,  starting  now. 

'  I  have  heard  from  Pope-Hennessy,1  and  he  has  invited 
me  to  stay  with  him  up  the  Tigris  near  Tekri,  so  I  'm 
going  to  have  a  shot  at  it.  I  should  like  to  have  a  look  at 
dirty  old  "  Mosul,"  which  I  hear  was  the  filthiest  town  in 
existence.' 

1  L.  H.  R.  Pope-Hennessy,  b.  1875,  eldest  son  of  the  late  Sir  J.  Pope- 
Hennessy,  K.C.M.G.,  M.P.,  of  Rostellan  Castle,  Co.  Cork.  Joined  Oxford 
L.I.,  1895;  D.S.O.,  1908;  p.s.c. ;  C.O.  King's  African  Rifles,  1900.  In 
European  War,  1914 ;  Bt.-Lt.-Col.  and  Col.,  Chevalier  of  Legion  of  Honour ; 
G.S.O.2  in  France,  1915-16 ;  Commander  1st  Oxford  and  Bucks  L.I.  in 
Mesopotamia,  1916-17  ;  O.S.O.  3rd  Div.,  1917  ;  B.Q.Q.S.  Indian  Army 
Corps,  1917-18. 


138  A  MEMOIR  OF 

At  the  end  of  a  delightful  book,1  Mr.  Hale,  writing  on 
December  29,  from  Kermanshah  : — 

'The  men  have  a  Soldiers'  Club  where  dances  and 
lectures  while  away  the  long  evenings.  .  .  .  Arrangements 
were  made  for  a  varied  programme  of  sports  on  Christmas 
and  Boxing  Days,  but  snow  and  rain  prevented  most  of 
the  meetings.  .  .  .  Mesopotamia  is  going  home,  one  division 
has  already  started  on  its  way  to  Basra.  The  troops  up 
the  line  now  move,  when  they  move  at  all,  towards 
Baghdad  only.' 

1919 

'  ABUSAIDA,  January  2,  1919. 

*  I  have  not  heard  from  you  since  the  end  of  October. 
There  seems  to  be  awful  delay.  I  sent  you  a  telegram  of 
New  Year's  greetings  as  my  letter  will  probably  have  been 
late.  I  am  going  off  on  a  tour  of  inspection,  one  of  my 
batteries  separated  from  the  rest.  I  hope  to  get  as  far  as 
Hamadan,  or  at  least  to  Kermanshah,  if  the  snow  on  the 
Pass  permits  of  it.  One  Battery  that  has  just  come  down 
had  to  camp  in  two  feet  of  snow.  I  shall  return  via  Mosul 
and  I  might  catch  General  Pope-Hennessy  on  my  way  near 
Tekri.' 

'  Jan.  5.  (Extract  from  Diary.) — Left  in  Smith's  car  for  trip 
into  Persia  via  Shahroban,  Kizil  Robat,  Qasr-i-Shirin,  etc.' 

The  gap  in  Col.  Steel's  correspondence  between  Nov.  27 
and  Dec.  30  leaves  no  doubt  that  his  letter  or  letters  have 
been  lost. 

His  subsequent  proceedings  are  thus  explained  in  a 
letter  dated  January  31,  s.s.  Sandakan  : — 

'  The  last  to  you  reported  me  starting  off  on  a  tour  of 
inspection  in  Persia,  which  I  had  hoped  to  complete  via 
Mosul  and  stay  with  Pope-Hennessy,  but  I  received  a  wire 
after  some  days  out  that  I  was  appointed  to  join  a  batch 
of  officers  proceeding  to  Vladivostok  to  train  Czechs  and 

1  From  Persian  Uplands,  by  F.  Hale.     Constable  and  Co.     1920. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  139 

Slovaks  against  the  Bolsheviki,  so,  though  I  had  some  diffi- 
culty in  passing  my  medical  exam.,  I  think  it  will  suit  me. 
I  find  now  the  heat  affects  me  more  than  the  cold.  It  was 
very  severe  on  the  Persian  frontier,  but  I  got  quite  used  to 
it.  How  it  will  be  when  it  is  below  zero  remains  to  be  seen. 
However,  there  is  not  much  more  to  do  in  Mesopotamia — 
rapid  demobilisation  taking  place — and  my  command  would 
hardly  have  been  a  soldier's  one.  So  I  accepted  this. 
I  am  not  sure  how  I  am  going,  whether  by  Colombo  or 
Calcutta.  I  have  got  a  paper  authorising  me  to  go  to 
Vladivostok,  and  in  due  course  we  shall  arrive.  This 
explains  how  I  have  missed  several  mails. 

'  I  was  not  able  to  see  Sir  John  Hewett *  before  leaving. 
He  was  lecturing  to  British  officers  in  Baghdad  on  every 
conceivable  subject  except  that  relating  to  his  official  visit.' 

This  letter  arrived  in  England  February  22,  and  on  the 
same  day  a  telegram  :  '  Proceeding  to  Vladivostok.' 

This  requires  explanation.  When  Major  Steel  was 
Chief  of  the  Rhodesia-Congo  Boundary  Commission  he  had 
met  Sir  John  Hewett,  who  was  travelling  in  South  Africa 
(see  p.  66),  and  as  Sir  John  was  starting  for  Mesopotamia 
at  the  same  time  Major  Steel  had  endeavoured  to  arrange 
that  they  should  meet  again.  This  was  prevented  by  the 
different  circumstances  of  their  respective  voyages,  but  when 
Sir  John  Hewett  reached  Baghdad  it  seemed  reasonable 
to  hope  that  they  might  meet  there,  and  but  for  Major 
Steel's  necessarily  hasty  departure  they  certainly  would 
have  met.  Major  Steel's  remark  about  the  lecturing 
recalls  an  amusing  episode  about  which  the  public  would  not 
have  heard  anything  except  for  a  debate  in  the  House  of 
Lords  reported  in  The  Times,  November  28,  1919. 

CASE  OF  Sm  JOHN  HEWETT 

LORD  LAMINGTON  called  attention  to  the  action  of  the  Army 
Council  in  calling  upon  Sir  John  Hewett  for  an  explanation  of 

1  Sir  John  Prescott  Hewett,  G.C.S.I.,  K.B.E.,  formerly  Lt.-Governor 
of  the  United  Provinces. 


140  A  MEMOIR  OF 

his  conduct  in  having  delivered  in  January  last  at  Baghdad  a 
private  lecture  to  an  audience  of  military  officers,  on  the  ground 
that  the  lecture  criticised  the  Indian  reform  proposals,  and  asked 
whether  Sir  John  Hewett  did  not  in  his  explanation  show  con- 
clusively that  the  action  of  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  in 
asking  the  Army  Council  to  take  him  to  task  was  without  justi- 
fication, and  what  action  the  Army  Council  or  the  Secretary  of 
State  had  taken  on  receipt  of  the  explanation. 

VISCOUNT  PEEL,  Under-Secretary  to  the  War  Office,  stated 
that  the  War  Office  received  information  from  the  India  Office 
that  the  lecture  in  question  was  of  an  undesirable  kind,  and  had 
certain  results,  one  being  that  a  number  of  officials  in  India  had 
been  applying  for  posts  outside  India.  Sir  John  Hewett  had 
gone  out  to  Mesopotamia  at  the  request  of  the  War  Office.  The 
War  Office,  having  considered  the  matter,  and  in  deference  to 
this  communication,  agreed  to  ask  this  gentleman  for  an  ex- 
planation of  what  he  said.  Sir  John  Hewett  accordingly  wrote 
a  full  letter  of  explanation  to  the  War  Office.  This  was  sent  in 
to  the  India  Office,  and  the  reply  received  from  the  India  Office 
was  that  the  Secretary  of  State  did  not  press  for  any  further 
action.  That  reply  was  sent  to  Sir  John  Hewett,  and  there,  so 
far  as  the  War  Office  was  concerned,  the  whole  matter  was  closed. 

LORD  SINHA,  Under-Secretary  of  State  for  India,  explaining 
the  action  of  that  Department  in  the  case,  stated  that  complaint 
was  made  by  the  Civil  Commissioner  at  Baghdad  to  the  Secretary 
of  State  for  India,  under  whom  he  acted,  with  regard  to  the 
lecture  and  the  immediate  result  of  it — namely,  that  there  was 
an  increased  number  of  applications  for  employment  in  Meso- 
potamia by  permanent  officials  holding  pensionable  positions  in 
India.  On  that  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  asked  the  War 
Office  to  call  upon  Sir  John  Hewett  for  an  explanation.  Sir  John 
Hewett  was  then  acting  as  agent  to  the  War  Office  in  Meso- 
potamia, and  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India  had  no  right  to 
call  for  an  explanation  from  him .  On  receiving  Sir  John  Hewett's 
explanation  through  the  War  Office  the  Secretary  of  State  said 
that  he  did  not  wish  to  press  the  matter  further. 

The  EARL  OF  SELBORNE  did  not  think  the  story  reflected  great 
credit  upon  the  common  sense  and  courtesy  of  the  War  Office 
or  the  India  Office.  Sir  John  Hewett  was  one  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished of  our  public  servants.  Such  a  letter  as  the  War 
Office  sent  him  should  not  have  been  written. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  141 

EABL  CURZON,  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affaire,  said  his 
personal  feeling  of  admiration  and  regard  for  Sir  John  Hewett 
did  not  leave  him  an  impartial  judge,  but  he  thought  that  the 
Earl  of  Selborne  had  dealt  out  rather  hard  treatment  to  both 
Departments,  especially  to  the  War  Office.  He  had  no  doubt 
that  the  inquiry  addressed  by  the  Secretary  of  State  for  India 
to  the  War  Office  was  a  perfectly  legitimate  and  bona-fide  one. 
He  was  not  an  admirer  of  official  phraseology  ;  he  spent  a  good 
deal  of  his  time  correcting  it.  (Laughter.)  The  letter  written 
by  the  War  Office  to  Sir  John  Hewett  was  not  a  model  of  the 
kind  of  English  spoken  at  the  dinner-table  or  in  the  drawing- 
room,  but  it  did  not  cover  any  desire  to  be  discourteous  or  offen- 
sive. Sir  John  Hewett  made  a  very  effective  reply,  and  the 
Secretary  of  State  for  India  retired  with  dignity.  It  was  a  scene 
of  combat  from  which  every  one  retired  with  credit. 

The  MARQUESS  of  SALISBURY  hoped  that  even  yet  the  War 
Office  would  express  regret. 

The  motion  was  withdrawn. 

Whether  the  hope  entertained  by  Lord  Salisbury  was 
fulfilled  or  not,  the  Army  Council  published  the  excellent 
report  of  Sir  J.  Hewett  at  a  price  that  enables  any  one 
desiring  to  know  the  present  value  of  Mesopotamia  to  make 
himself  acquainted  with  the  facts.1 

The  Revolution  in  Russia  of  1917,  and  the  subsequent 
proceedings  resulting  therefrom,  caused  such  confusion, 
and  even  now  are  so  obscure,  that  it  is  very  difficult  to 
understand  the  circumstances  in  which  these  volunteers,  of 
whom  Major  Steel  was  one,  were  invited  to  go  to  Siberia 
in  November  1918. 

In  the  Far  East  a  very  difficult  problem  was  created  for 
the  Entente  Governments.  An  enormous  quantity  of  stores, 
mostly  purchased  from  Japan,  had  been  collected  at  various 
points  along  the  Siberian  railway  between  Vladivostok  and 
Irkutsk.  The  port  itself  was  blocked  with  stores  that  could 
not  be  moved,  and  when  revolution  broke  out  they  required 
protection,  and  it  seemed  most  natural  that  Japan  should 
be  asked  to  undertake  the  task.  An  enormous  number  of 

1  Report  for  the  Army  Council  on  Mesopotamia,  by  Sir  John  P.  Hewett, 
G.C.S.I.,  K.B.E.  His  Majesty's  Stationery  Office.  Price  Is.  6d. 


142  A  MEMOIR  OF 

German  prisoners  had  been  collected  in  East  Siberia,  and 
the  wildest  rumours  were  afloat  as  to  their  numbers  and 
possible  behaviour.  The  necessity  for  intervention  was 
apparent,  and  the  murder  of  Mr.  Ishido,  Japanese  merchant 
in  Vladivostok,  necessitated  the  landing  of  a  force  by  the 
Japanese  in  April  1918,  and  much  discussion  in  the  Press, 
and  presumably  in  diplomatic  circles,  on  joint  inter- 
vention ensued,  as  to  which  little  is  known,  but  the  facts 
are  that  some  Marines  from  British  ships  were  landed  for 
the  protection  of  the  Consulate  at  the  same  time. 
Japan  was  prepared  to  intervene,  but  with  a  firm  hand, 
and  perhaps  proposed  a  joint  occupation  with  U.S.,  but 
this  latter  held  the  view  that  the  Entente  would  be  placed 
in  a  false  position  by  suggesting  Japanese  intervention 
while  denouncing  German  occupation  of  Russia  in  the  west. 
Moreover,  that  effective  occupation  would  require  a  much 
larger  force  than  they  either  desired  or  were  able  to  provide. 
It  seems  to  have  been  generally  agreed  that  Japan  alone 
could  effectively  intervene,  but  by  way  of  giving  it  the 
semblance  of  inter-nationalisation  it  was  arranged  that 
small  forces  of  about  5000  men  of  each  nation  should  be 
landed — in  which  move  China  also  desired  to  join — and 
Japan  occupied  Blagovyeshchensk,  then  the  capital  of  the 
Amur  Province. 

From  such  accounts  as  have  been  made  public  this  joint 
occupation  was  not  regarded  with  favour  by  Japan,  but 
rather  as  unnecessary,  as  implying  distrust  or  want  of 
confidence  in  her  actions.  Perhaps  it  would  have  been 
better  for  us  if  we  had  advocated  a  more  generous  occupa- 
tion by  Japan.  However  this  may  be,  the  question  took 
another  turn  by  the  fact  that  some  15,000  Czecho -Slovaks, 
under  General  Gaida,  who  refused  to  accept  the  terms 
forced  on  the  Bolsheviki  by  the  Brest-Litovsk  Treaty, 
worked  their  way  across  Siberia  intending  to  join  the  French 
in  the  west.  On  arrival  at  Vladivostok,  in  June  1918, 
finding  it  in  the  hands  of  Bolsheviki,  they  marched  in  and 
took  possession,  and  then  joined  in  with  the  British  and 
French  and  other  forces  scattered  along  the  railway.  Con- 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  143 

fusion  was  increased  by  General  Horvat  in  July  declaring 
the  independence  of  Siberia  and  proclaiming  himself  dictator. 
This  aroused  protests  from  the  occupying  Powers,  but  no 
one  inclined  to  intervene,  and  Japan,  who  would  no  doubt 
have  intervened,  was  not  invited  to  do  so. 

Another  question  arose  when  in  July  the  Bolshevik  Govern- 
ment denounced  British  intervention  in  Archangel  and 
Vladivostok  as  unjustifiable  and  asked  for  an  explanation. 
This  was  followed  by  the  murder  of  Capt.  Cromie,  attached 
to  the  British  Embassy  and  the  British  Consulate  at  Moscow, 
in  August,  and  by  every  description  of  propaganda  against 
the  British  and  French  intervention  in  both  east  and  west. 

In  the  west  the  reason  for  British  intervention  seemed  to 
be  demanded  by  the  fact  that  the  treaties  with  Germany 
by  the  Bolshevik  Government  opened  the  route  via  the 
Black  Sea  ports  to  Mesopotamia,  Persia,  Afghanistan,  and 
India,  and  we  already  had  a  small  force  with  a  Mission  of 
about  two  weak  battalions  and  a  number  of  officers, 
principally  technical,  to  assist  in  keeping  open  the  Black 
Sea  route,  the  Caspian  and  the  Siberian  railway,  and 
generally  to  advise  and  assist  Admiral  Koltchak,  who  had 
now,  with  the  support  of  the  Allies,  become  supreme  ruler 
of  the  Anti-Bolshevik  movement  with  the  sole  object  of 
protecting  Allied  interests  and  assisting  in  establishing  an 
administration  that  would  maintain  order. 

Things  were  in  this  condition  when  Major  Steel  went 
to  Mesopotamia  in  September  1918.  The  Armistice  which 
was  declared  in  November  removed  the  German  menace, 
and  the  British  Government  decided  to  withdraw  the  small 
military  forces  then  in  Siberia  and  limit  their  assistance 
to  providing  additional  officers  for  technical  instruction 
and  stores  they  might  require  that  they  could  not  otherwise 
obtain.  Major  Steel  was  one  of  several  officers  who  went 
from  Mesopotamia. 

The  Party  1  left  Basra  for  Bombay  on  January  23,  by 

1  Major  (Acting  Lt.-Col.)  Steel,  Capt.  Hodges,  Capt.  Faber,  Lt.  Stratton, 
Lt.  Simmons,  Lt.  Allen.  I  am  not  sure  of  the  rank  of  the  three  last, 
and  I  have  no  means  of  verifying  or  communicating  with  them. 


144  A  MEMOIR  OF 

s.s.  Sandakan,  hired  transport,  arriving  in  Bombay  on 
February  1 .  Then  came  a  streak  of  bad  luck  which  is  thus 
described  : — 

'  NEGAPATAM,  March  3,  1919. 

'  After  writing  my  last  from  Bombay,  I  embarked  on  the 
Dilwara,  which  was  going  round  to  Hong-Kong,  but  un- 
fortunately we  got  delayed  by  a  case  of  plague  developing 
on  board  and  had  to  wait  outside  in  quarantine.  Then 
the  skipper's  dog,  which  we  had  been  playing  with,  developed 
symptoms  of  rabies,  and  three  of  us  had  to  go  up  to  Kasauli 
for  an  anti-rabies  treatment,  so  we  bundled  off  the  boat,  and 
I  found  myself  going  through  India  again.  After  a  long 
journey  and  a  three  hours'  ride  up  from  Kalka  on  a  pony, 
I  arrived  in  two  feet  of  snow  and  everything  looked 
beautiful.  I  went  straight  to  the  Institute,  got  my  first 
injection,  and  settled  down  at  the  Club.  Unfortunately 
the  treatment  twice  a  day  makes  one  feel  very  rotten, 
and  not  always  up  to  coming  down  and  up  to  the  Institute 
twice  daily.  I  felt  all  the  time  as  if  some  one  was  sitting 
on  my  chest,  and  no  doubt  it  did  my  lung  good  as  I 
had  to  breathe  like  anything.  After  sixteen  days  of  it 
I  proceeded  to  Calcutta,  found  Adolf,  who  is  quite  one  of 
the  local  magnates,  and  there  is  no  doubt  he  and  John 
have  worked  up  a  splendid  business,  second  to  none  there. 
I  lunched  and  dined  with  Adolf  l  in  his  beautiful  home,  and 

1  Adolf  Howeson,  son  of  a  life-long  and  dearly  valued  friend  of  the 
writer,  was  educated  at  Uppingham  and  Oxford,  and  was  in  the  University 
Cricket  Eleven.  With  his  brother  John  he  has  for  many  years  been 
actively  and  successfully  engaged  in  commerce  and  industry  in  Calcutta, 
taking  a  prominent  part  in  the  industrial  expansion  which  has  been 
a  noteworthy  feature  of  the  Indian  business  world  during  the  past 
decade. 

Oscar,  his  father,  came  to  England  as  a  boy  of  nineteen  in  the  year  1848, 
and  elected  to  become  a  citizen  of  this  country.  After  a  short  apprentice- 
ship he  went  out  to  Calcutta,  and  started  in  business  there.  During 
the  Mutiny  he  served  with  the  Calcutta  Volunteers,  and  became  a 
sergeant.  After  a  successful  business  career,  during  which  he  amassed 
wealth,  he  retired  from  business,  married,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  up- 
bringing of  his  family,  hoping  to  enjoy  the  winter  of  his  days  as  an  English 


SCKNE   ON    THE    OK. 


GROUP  OF  OFFICERS  AT  BARNAUL,  1919. 

Major  Pattison.  Lieut.-Col.  Steel.  Capt.  Conlan. 


Facing  /.  144. 


TRAINING  RUSSIAN  ARTILLERY  AT  BARNAUL. 


LIEUT.-COL.  E.  A.  STEEL  AND  MR.  WILTON  DURING  RETREAT 
FROM  YEKATERINBURG,  NEAR  TYUMEN,  JULY  1919. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  146 

saw  Camac  St.  where  you  and  his  father  lived  together  once. 
The  next  day  I  went  over  a  jute  factory,  and  in  the  evening 
left  for  Puri-on-Sea  to  get  some  surf  bathing.  It  was  great 
fun,  and  in  spite  of  my  lung  and  arm  I  was  quite  the  champion 
of  the  Coromandel  Coast  in  a  Catamaran  canoe.  Un- 
fortunately it 's  rather  dangerous.  I  then  went  to  Madras, 
had  a  couple  of  days  to  complete  my  outfit  and  embarked 
on  this  ship.  We  have  just  put  in  at  Negapatam,  S.  India, 
and  I  will  be  able  to  get  this  posted  before  we  go  across  to 
Penang  and  Singapore.  There  I  will  probably  find  the  old 
Dilwara.  There  are  only  fifteen  passengers  on  this  tub — 
mostly  missionaries  going  back  to  Australia !  I  don't 
seem  to  have  been  anywhere  more  than  a  fortnight  since 
I  left  England.  Nothing  but  packing  up  and  unpacking. 
Just  before  I  left  Madras  I  got  three  letters  from  you  and 
some  newspapers.  I  reckon  to  have  missed  about  three  of 
your  mails — December  23  and  27  and  January  6.  Heartiest 
congratulations  to  John  on  his  C.B.E.  Some  mails  seem 
to  have  gone  astray  altogether.  I  hear  that  d'Arcy  has 
written  to  me  several  times,  but  I  have  never  received  a 
word  from  him  since  I  left  England.  I  have  just  received  a 
letter  from  Mrs.  Mallock,  dated  November  18,  which  she  sent 
you  to  forward  on.  I  shall  not  give  any  destination  in 
Siberia,  as  if  I  leave  for  anywhere  else  there  is  always  a 
mess  up,  so  I  '11  give  c/o  Messrs.  T.  Cook  &  Son,  Shanghai, 
China.  It  would  have  been  much  better  if  I  had  had  all 
correspondence  addressed  to  Cook  at  Bombay,  then  I  would 
have  been  able  to  pick  it  all  up  on  my  way  back.  Have 

country  gentleman.  By  his  friends — and  they  were  many  (including  the 
writer) — he  was  regarded  as  a  king  among  men.  A  born  mathematician, 
the  possessor  of  knowledge  gathered  from  a  wide  intercourse  with  men  of 
all  nations,  a  musician  of  such  a  calibre  that  he  might  have  made  it  a  pro- 
fession, it  seemed  that  he  might  well  have  looked  forward  to  an  honour- 
able and  honoured  retirement.  He  had,  however,  one  fault.  Himself  the 
soul  of  honour,  he  trusted  to  the  honesty  of  his  fellow-men,  and  this  when 
put  to  the  test  failed  him.  A  member  of  the  firm  to  which  he  had  be- 
queathed his  name  became  an  unsuccessful  gambler  in  '  silver,'  and  in 
order  to  save  him  from  ruin  Oscar  sacrificed  a  large  portion  of  his  well- 
earned  capital,  and,  returning  to  business  in  London  in  the  last  years  of  his 
life,  he  remained  active  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

K 


146  A  MEMOIR  OF 

you  seen  the  new  pay  conditions  of  Indian  Police  ?  Very 
good  indeed,  as  the  life  is  so  cheap  for  a  policeman  and 
excellent  opportunities  if  a  fellow  has  any  guts.  Personally, 
I  would  rather  do  that  than  Indian  Army  now  ;  I  hope  to 
get  into  conversation  with  the  rubber  world  at  Singapore 
and  perhaps  visit  an  estate  if  I  am  delayed.  Wonderful 
show,  the  British  Army  ;  it  is  all  over  the  world  now,  keeping 
the  peace,  but  there  's  never  any  hurry  and  all  done  regard- 
less of  expense.  I  may  be  two  months  before  I  see  the 
snow  again.  It  is  real  hot  here,  lying  off  the  shore  on  a  third- 
class  boat.  I  seem  to  go  from  snow  to  tropics  alternately , 
and  keep  very  fit  on  it  all.  My  next  will  be  from  Penang 
or  Singapore.' 

1919 

Jan.      23.  Left  Basra  in  s.s.  Sandakan. 

„         26.  Left  Jenjam  Island. 
Feb.         1.  Arrived  Bombay. 
„  2.  Sunday. 

„  3.  Left  Bombay  for  Kasauli  B.B.  and  C.I.,  Rawal 

Pindi,  met  Jack  Lock  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F. 
W.  Stranach. 

„  5.  Arrived  Kasauli.     Put  up  at  Club. 

„  6.  Col.  Hodgson,  I.A. 

„  7.  Major  and  Mrs.  Carmichael,  R.A.M.C. 

„  7.  Desmond. 

8.  Col.  and  Mrs.  Talbot. 
„         20.  Arrived     Calcutta.       Stayed     Grand     Hotel. 

Lunched  and  dined  with  Adolf. 

„         21.  Left  Calcutta  for  Puri.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  W. 
Viney   in  same   train.      6  Hastings   Street, 
H.  S.  King  and  Co. 
„         26.  Arrived  Madras. 
March    1.  Left  Madras  for  Pondicheri,  Negapatam. 

14.  Arrived  at  Singapore  and  went  to  Sea  View 
Hotel. 

On  Sunday  he  spent  the  day  with  General  Sir  Dudley 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  147 

Ridout,  who  on  hearing  of  his  death  wrote  me  the  follow- 
ing :— 

'  His  death  was  a  great  shock  to  me,  for  during  his  short 
stay  in  Singapore  I  saw  a  good  deal  of  him,  and  both  Lady 
Ridout  and  I  were  fascinated  by  his  keen  vigorous  outlook. 
He  struck  me  as  a  man  who  was  splendidly  equipped  with 
mental  powers  and  the  possessor  of  unbounded  energy, 
and  now  he  is  gone,  a  sad  loss  to  the  Army  and  those  who 
value  its  highest  traditions.' 

March  24.  Arrived  Hong  -  Kong.  Played  tennis  with 
Mrs.  Gray  and  Mrs.  Mitchell,  and  left  in 
Olengyle  on  the  27th. 

„        31.  Arrived  Shanghai. 

April  1 1 .  R.M.S.  Monteagle.  '  We  have  had  a  splendid  ten 
days  at  Shanghai,  dancing  every  afternoon 
and  evening.  Everybody  did  their  best  to 
give  us  a  good  time,  and  we  were  all  very  sorry 
to  leave.' 

„        13.  Arrived  Mo ji,  Japan. 

„         16.        „       Vladivostok. 

„        28.  Arrived  N.N. 

'  Novo  NIKOLAEVSK,  May  3,  1919. 

'  DEAREST  MOTHER  AND  FATHER, — I  have  at  last  moved 
here  after  a  very  quick  journey  in  the  mail  train — twelve 
days — the  time  it  used  to  take  in  pre-war  days  to  go  from 
Shanghai  to  Berlin !  Most  trains  take  three  to  four  weeks, 
but  we  were  lucky  not  to  be  held  up,  though  there  were 
many  signs  of  Bolshevik  work  en  route, — most  bridges 
being  propped  up  on  piles  of  sleepers.  They  have  done  a 
lot  of  damage  along  the  line.  Whilst  mooning  about  the 
docks  at  Vladivostok  before  the  train  started  I  stumbled 
across  my  banjo  box.  It  had  just  come  off  the  Carmarthen, 
and  was  being  thrown  into  the  Ordnance  Department  Store 
along  with  the  shells  and  howitzers  and  bicycles  and 
telephone  wire,  and  you  can  imagine  how  pleased  I  was  to 


148  A  MEMOIR  OF 

have  it.     It  is  in  perfect  condition.    There  is  chaos  at  Vlad. 

The  Canadian  Expeditionary  Force  preparing  to  leave,  and 

the  handing  over  of  everything  to  our  people  is  a  big  task, 

while  our  own  ships  are  unloading  every  kind  of  war  material 

for  the  Russians  on  to  the  quay,  and  it 's  a  wonderful  sight. 

There  seems  to   be  no  mail  service  for  us.    When  any 

officer  is  going  up  he  is  thrown  various  bags  of  mails  for  all 

up-country  officers,  and  if  they  are  not  there  to  meet  the 

train,  they  don't  get  them — perhaps  on  the  return  journey  ! 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  find  out  when  any  train  is  likely 

to  arrive,  so  I  don't  know  when  I  shall  hear  from  you. 

But  as  the  banjo  has  arrived  I  know  that  you  have  heard 

from  me  and  are  attending  to  all  my  wants.     I  feel  very 

lost   out   here.    The    Russians   seem   incapable   of   doing 

anything.     Everything  is,  "  Never  mind,  it  doesn't  matter." 

We  call  it  the   "  Land  of  To-morrow."     They  never  do 

anything  to-day  as  to-morrow  they  may  not  have  to.     It  is 

impossible  to  describe  the  situation  here.     I  am  off  to 

Barnaul,  which  is  150  miles  due  south  of  Novo  Nikolaevsk, 

which    is    situated   where    the    Trans  -  Siberian    Railway 

crosses   the   Ob  River.     There  is   a  railway   (private)  to 

Barnaul  and  Semipalatinsk,  but  I  shall  probably  go  by  the 

steamer,  which  is  getting  ready  to  go  now,  the  first  trip  of 

the  season.     It  goes  on  up  to  Bisk  at  the  foot  of  the  Altai 

Mountains,  and  I  shall  treat  myself  to  a  little  shooting  and 

exploring.     Barnaul  is  to  be  the  Artillery  Training  Centre 

of  the  13th  and  14th  Russian  Divisions  which  I  am  going  to 

start  off.    At  present  they  only  exist  on  paper,  I  believe  ! 

So  they  will  want  a  lot  of  gingering  up.    They  think  they 

are  going  to  train  them  in  two  months  with  our  guns  which 

are  now  arriving  only — so  I  am  sorry  for  the  Infantry. 

The  last  blocks  of  ice  are  floating  down  the  rivers  now  and 

it  is  not  too  cold.    There  is  no  spring  here,  and  summer 

comes  on  without  any  warning — pretty  hot  too.     Up  to 

Vladivostok  I  had  not  lost  a  single  thing  of  my  kit,  and 

I  had  everything  from  a  packet  of  toothpicks  to  an  iron 

for  ironing  my  clothes.     But  on  the  journey  up  somebody 

took  a  fancy  to  my  Field  Service  Cap,  so  I  'm  having  one 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  149 

made  here.  It  will  be  a  sight  I  expect.  Everything  is  a 
terrific  price  here,  there  being  no  trains  for  merchandise  ; 
but  bread,  milk,  and  butter  are  all  procurable  locally,  and 
that 's  all.  Sugar,  tea,  coffee,  etc.,  do  not  exist.  We  have 
all  brought  food  cases  with  us,  but  life  is  plain  for  all  here. 
And  it 's  tea  all  day  long.  I  have  some  whislfey,  but  can 
only  get  boiling  water  to  drink  with  it,  so  limit  myself  to 
one  drink  before  going  to  bed.  Eggs  are  very  scarce,  and 
I  have  just  paid  two  roubles  each  for  some — which  is  sixpence 
each  at  a  minimum  valuation.  A  rouble  is  now  about 
threepence  instead  of  two  shillings.  I  am  staying  in  the 
Russian  Barracks,  some  two  miles  out  of  town,  with  two 
other  of  our  officers — one  infantry  and  one  machine-gun. 
Filthy  dirty  place,  facing  an  immense  Austrian  Prisoners' 
Camp.  There  are  no  roads  or  paths  anywhere,  and  every- 
body and  everything  is  loathsome,  and  yet  they  all  seem 
happy  and  gay,  officers  included.  There  is  plenty  of 
vodka,  of  course,  but  I  haven't  tasted  any  yet.  I  don't 
quite  know  what  I  shall  do.  All  plans  are  changed  every 
few  days  it  seems,  and  both  the  French  Mission  and  ours 
seem  to  have  great  difficulty  in  getting  the  Russians  to  do 
anything.  I  may  be  attached  to  the  Czecho-Slovaks  in 
about  a  week  who  are  guarding  the  whole  line  of  com- 
munications from  Chelyabinsk  to  Vladivostok,  or  I  may 
go  to  Yekaterinburg  in  the  Urals  where  a  new  composite 
Brigade  is  being  formed — destination  Moscow  !  The  only 
bit  of  real  excitement  is  that  on  May  1,  being  Revolution 
Day,  proclamations  were  stuck  up  in  this  town  by  the 
Bolsheviki  threatening  Admiral  Koltchak,  head  of  the 
Government  at  Omsk,  and  telling  the  Anglo-French  Mission 
they  would  be  first  too,  as  they  see  in  us  the  sole  obstacle 
to  their  aims.  If  we  left,  there  would  certainly  be  an 
end  of  all  government.  There  is  very  little  now  even.  I 
am  looking  forward  to  a  trip  to  the  Altai  Mountains,  where 
I  believe  it  is  beautiful,  and  I  shall  have  to  go  and  look 
for  an  Artillery  shooting  range  somewhere  ! 

'  I  have  given  up  the  idea  of  getting  letters.    They  will 
all  arrive  some  day  all  right.    Don't  expect  to  hear  from 


150  A  MEMOIR  OF 

me  regularly.  I  am  very  fit  and  well  and  have  plenty 
of  ammunition,  and,  thanks  to  the  wonderful  constitution 
you  have  endowed  me  with,  I  don't  seem  to  mind 
the  cold  either.  It  is  impossible  to  say  when  I  shall  be 
home.  It  may  be  next  year.  It  may  depend  a  good  deal 
on  the  Peace  Conference  if  they  ever  do  come  to  any  agree- 
ment about  anything.  I  find  it  very  hard  to  hold  a  pencil 
these  cold  mornings.  If  they  mean  business  here,  I  shall 
see  it  through  to  the  end  unless  the  W.O.  sends  for  me  to 
finish  the  Boundary  Commission.  Anyhow  I  shall  not  be 
home  for  Father's  birthday  this  year — next  year  for  certain 
though. 

'  PS. — I  am  sending  this  back  by  an  American  friend  to 
Vladivostok,  and  it  may  catch  the  last  boat  going  direct  to 
Vancouver  with  the  Canadians.  I  will  try  a  postcard  * 
through  the  Russian  Post  Office  at  the  same  time.  It  was 
very  lucky  you  always  wrote  to  3rd  Echelon  at  Basra. 
The  Post  Office  is  hopeless  and  letters  lie  for  ages,  and  as 
for  papers,  I  have  given  up  news.  I  wish  I  had  ordered 
Weekly  Times2  now.' 

Entries  in  Diary 

May    8.  Left  N.N.    Arrived  Barnaul  May  9,  11  P.M. 
,,     21.  British  Mission  gave  a  dance  at  Barnaul. 
„     31.  Capt.  Conlan  arrived. 

'  BARNAUL,  June  15,  1919. 

'  I  have  just  returned  from  a  tour  in  the  out-district  Bisk 
to  Semipalatinsk,  where  I  have  been  inspecting  different 
training  centres,  and  have  found  on  my  return  an  enormous 
mail,  and  have  now  tabulated  from  you  the  following  letters : 
Xmas  Day  ;  January  8,  22  ;  February  3,  4,  5,  6,  and  9 ;  and 
so  on  right  through  up  to  April  16,  and  papers  too  numerous 
to  mention,  which  are  all  very  welcome.  I  seem  to  have  been 
out  of  the  world  altogether,  and  have  had  no  idea  what 

1  Postcard  not  received. 

a  Weekly  Times  had  been  going  to  Vladivostok  since  February  8. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  151 

has  been  going  on,  as  we  don't  get  any  realities.  I  cannot 
possibly  answer  your  letters  now  as  orders  are  awaiting  me 
here  to  proceed  to  take  over  a  new  command  at  Yekaterin- 
burg in  the  Ural  Mountains  on  the  Bolshevik  front,  where  I 
am  going  to  form  a  sort  of  Anglo-Russian  Brigade  of 
Artillery — 2  batt.  18-pounders  and  2  batt.  4' 5  howitzers — 
and  more  I  cannot  tell  you.  These  Russians  are  quite 
incapable  of  making  any  effort  to  regain  their  country, 
and  I  believe  would  do  nothing  if  it  was  not  for  us.  All 
the  peasants  in  this  country  are  Bolshevik  and  only  want 
a  man  to  rouse  them.  Every  week  there  is  a  station  de- 
stroyed along  the  line  or  some  damage  done,  and  if  it  were 
not  for  the  Czechs  we  should  be  in  a  bad  way  out  here. 
I  am  off  to  Semipalatinsk,  the  dirtiest,  dustiest,  and  hottest 
town  in  Siberia,  and  there  will  take  a  steamer  down  to 
Omsk  on  the  River  Irtish.  The  journey  on  the  river  will 
take  five  days,  and  I  hope  in  that  time  to  deal  with  some 
correspondence.  I  don't  know  how  I  am  going  to  get  on 
for  clothes,  as  it  is  impossible  to  buy  even  a  piece  of  cloth 
except  at  fabulous  prices  in  this  land,  and  I  brought  very 
little  with  me.  I  don't  dare  to  trust  my  best  khaki  service 
jacket  and  breeches,  even  if  I  could  have  them  found,  by  the 
Pall  Mall  Co.  along  the  railway  line.  And  really  one  never 
knows  when  the  whole  show  is  going  bust,  and  I  'm  sure  the 
British  Government  will  not  lend  us  much  longer  to  the 
Russians  unless  they  do  something,  and  half  the  summer 
has  gone.  It  is  beginning  to  get  hot  and  dusty  ;  spring  has 
come  and  gone,  and  my  lung  will  not  improve  swallowing 
mouthfuls  of  dust,  so  the  move  is  lucky  for  me  besides  being 
a  command  after  my  own  heart.  We  have  nothing  to  do 
with  the  Canadian  Expeditionary  Force,1  and  have  never 
had  anything  to  do  with  them,  and  are  lent  to  the  Russian 
Army,  so  any  of  the  communications  to  the  C.E.F.  will  not 
reach  me  I  fear.  There  are  two  "  Steels  "  in  it  by  the  way- 
one  a  Col.  G.  L.  Steel ;  his  letters  I  get  sometimes.' 

1  This  refers  to  the  fact  that  the  R.E.P.S.  insisted  on  letters  being  ad- 
dressed to  Canadian  Expeditionary  Force. 


152  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  June  16,  1919. 

'Since  yesterday  Captain  Hodges,  one  of  my  officers, 
has  just  been  carried  off  to  hospital  with  typhus,  caught 
from  the  Russian  soldiers,  no  doubt,  and  so  now  we  are  all 
in  for  fumigating  and  isolation  for  ten  days,  but  I  hope  it 
won't  prevent  my  slipping  off  to-morrow.  It  is  a  loathsome 
disease  and  generally  affects  the  brain,  so  I  hope  nobody 
else  gets  it.  Unfortunately  he  has  my  blankets  and  pillow, 
etc.,  as  none  of  these  chaps  seems  to  have  anything  or  can 
think  of  anything  ahead,  and  I  have  to  go  round  outfitting 
even  the  mess  with  table-cloths,  china,  and  stoves  brought 
all  the  way  from  Mespot !  It  is  impossible  to  get  anything 
here  except  milk,  butter,  and  meal — all  very  expensive — but 
tea,  sugar,  coffee,  jam,  unobtainable.  So  I  'm  glad  to  be 
off !  Is  chocolate  obtainable  at  home  now  ?  If  so,  I  'd 
like  some  sometimes,  and  if  I  'm  not  alive  to  eat  it,  it  will 
be  gratefully  received  by  any  survivors  !  I  have  never 
felt  the  same  after  my  Kasauli  treatment,  and  when  I  have 
had  a  hard  day  my  legs  seem  to  swell  and  ache,  just  as  they 
did  at  Puri-on-Sea  when  I  was  out  swimming  all  day. 
However,  I  'm  expecting  great  results  from  the  summer 
in  the  Urals,  and  expect  I  shall  get  clear  from  here  without 
contagion.  I  expect  these  Russians  will  be  days  before 
they  come  and  fumigate  !  We  have  no  Comforts  Fund  and 
Canteens  and  so  on  out  here  like  in  the  Expeditionary 
Forces.  I  have  heard  of  the  Red  Cross  Commissioner  at 
Vladivostok,  but  I  think  he  's  got  the  sack  and  it 's  only 
for  the  Russians.  I  am  at  present  wearing  a  pair  of 
socks  made  by  the  ladies  of  Yokohama,  but  there 's  no 
heel  to  them — made  just  like  one  for  sleeping  in,  and  I 
couldn't  walk  far  in  it.  If  I  have  to  send  you  a  wire 
about  anything,  I  may  wire  to  Richmond  Symes,  39 
Charterhouse  Square,  London,  E.G.,  and  I  have  told  them  to 
pass  it  on.' 

'  SEMIPALATINSK,  S.  SIBERIA, 
'  June  17,  1919. 

'  Just  a  line  from  this  out-of-the-way  spot  where  I  am 
waiting  for  the  boat  to  start.  There  is  a  sort  of  railway,  but 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  153 

only  third  class  from  Barnaul,  as  it  was  not  finished  before 
the  war  began.  The  intention  was  to  bridge  the  Irtish 
River  here  and  continue  the  line  to  Sergipol,  but  the  bridge 
is  not  begun  and  the  line  only  laid  in  sections  here  and  there. 
This  must  be  quite  the  hottest,  dustiest,  dirtiest  town  in 
Siberia ;  although  it  had  poured  for  days  before  my  arrival 
there  was  then  a  good  six  inches  of  dust  on  the  road.  At 
Barnaul  I  refused  to  get  in  till  the  train,  or  at  least  my 
carriage,  was  washed  and  fumigated — it  always  takes 
twenty -four  hours,  sometimes  two  or  three  days.  At 
Semipalatinsk  I  was  met  and  deposited  in  a  bare  room  at 
the  so-called  "  Hotel  Russie  "  by  the  Commandant,  but 
the  next  day  I  cleared  out  and  got  into  the  boat.  These 
boats  are  quite  good,  but  the  service  is  bad  and  the  company 
unpleasant  ;  the  troops  come  down  in  the  evening  about 
10  P.M.  for  a  meal  and  vodka  and  occupy  the  saloon  entirely, 
and  of  course  I  have  to  join  as  it  is  no  use  going  to  bed,  and 
as  I  can't  drink  vodka  I  have  to  say  I  'm  a  teetotaller. 
I  have  a  German  prisoner  as  servant,  so  my  German  is 
coming  back  quickly.' 

He  arrived  at  Omsk  June  26  at  8  P.M.  and  stayed  on 
board  all  night.  On  the  27th  he  paid  his  visit  to  the  H.Q. 
of  B.M.M.,  and  on  July  1  Col.  Harvey *  returned  from 
Yekaterinburg  and  gave  him  orders  to  proceed  there.  The 
2nd  and  3rd  were  passed  in  paying  official  visits  to  the 
Staff,  and  on  the  5th  he  left  Omsk  with  Stratton  and  Simmons, 
arriving  at  Yekaterinburg  the  following  day. 

Arrived  there,  he  paid  a  visit  to  General  Jack  and  after- 
wards to  the  Ordnance  Office.  On  the  8th  he  had  another 
conference  with  General  Jack  and  with  General  Dietrikhs, 
and  lunched  with  Mr.  Wilton.2  The  Times  correspondent,  in 
the  train. 

1  Chief  of  the  Military  Mission. 

8  Mr.  Robert  Wilton,  author  of  The  Last  Days  of  the  Romanovs,  who, 
referring  to  the  photograph  opposite  p.  145,  writes :  '  We  travelled 
together  from  Yekaterinburg;  the  photograph  was  taken  in  the  woods 
near  Tyumen.  I  afterwards  saw  a  good  deal  of  him  while  he  was  busy 
with  the  Special  Artillery  Brigade.' 


154  A  MEMOIR  OF 

He  next  received  orders  to  go  to  Tyumen,  arid  after  going 
there  and  returning  to  Yekaterinburg,  he  left  for  Omsk  on 
the  12th.  A  letter  from  Yekaterinburg,  July  7,  describes 
the  condition  of  affairs  at  that  time : — 

'  YBKATEEINBUBG,  July  7, 1919. 

'  I  only  arrived  yesterday,  and  between  the  time  of  my 
leaving  Omsk  and  arriving  here  the  situation  on  the  front 
had  got  so  bad  that  orders  have  been  given  for  the  evacuation 
of  this  place  before  the  Bolsheviki  capture  it.  This  state  of 
affairs  is  rotten.  Everybody  is  very  disappointed  at  having 
to  retire,  but  British  officers  are  not  allowed  to  go  into 
action.  The  departure  of  the  Hants  Regiment  from  here 
has  been  the  signal  for  a  general  exodus,  and  a  stream  of  carts 
pours  down  to  the  station  all  day  and  night ;  those  who 
can't  get  on  a  train  continue  their  down  journey  on  country 
carts.  Only  half  a  dozen  of  us  are  here.  I  am  senior, 
and  there  are  others  doing  liaison  and  at  the  Russian  School. 
I  am  awaiting  my  trains  with  Artillery  stores  that  left 
Omsk  before  they  could  be  stopped,  and  of  course  to  be  in 
here  at  the  death.  Any  night  now  the  whole  staff  may 
disappear  without  saying  a  word  to  any  one.  So  we  are 
all  on  the  qui  vive.  There  is  no  firing  to  warn  one  of  the 
Bolshevik  approach,  so  the  Russian  Army  is  simply  trekking 
backwards  because  they  've  once  started  and  no  one  can 
stop  them.  Besides,  no  one  puts  any  trust  in  any  other, 
and  so  every  one  thinks  he  is  being  surrounded  always. 
The  town  presents  a  very  deserted  appearance,  and  every- 
body has  got  properly  wound  up.  I  see  General  Jack 
daily  now.  He  lives  on  his  car  on  the  railway  with  steam 
up,  and  they  are  having  their  work  cut  out  getting  all  the 
trains  away.  He  is  very  sanguine  and  ridicules  the  idea  of 
a  Bolshevik  coming  here  as  long  as  an  Englishman  is  in  the 
place  to  keep  them  back,  but  I  don't  trust  anybody  here — 
even  the  coachman  of  the  house  we  are  in — and  as  soon  as  the 
Bolsheviki  are  really  here  they  will  cut  the  line  behind  us ! 
and  then  a  nice  bag  will  remain,  eight  British  Officers, 
six  Railway  Mission  and  British  Consuls.  We  can  only 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  155 

raise  about  six  rifles  between  us.    This  is  going  down  by 
Hants' l  train  to-day. 

'  PS. — I  have  sent  to  you  a  letter  for  forwarding  to  the 
Minister  of  Pensions  whoever  he  is.  Just  a  few  remarks  on 
them  cutting  my  pension.' 

To  this  he  received  this  reply  : — 

'  SIR, — In  reply  to  your  letter  of  March  3,  I  am  directed 
to  point  out  that  you  have  received  the  maximum  wound 
gratuity  to  which  an  officer  of  your  rank  is  entitled  for 
wounds  of  a  very  severe  nature. 

'  As  regards  the  cessation  of  your  wound  pension  the 
Medical  Board  that  examined  you  on  July  27,  1918,  did  not 
regard  your  disability  as  still  very  severe  or  likely  to  be 
permanent,  and  as  both  these  conditions  are  necessary 
(Article  646,  Pay  Warrant)  for  continuation  of  wound 
pension  no  renewal  could  be  granted. — I  am,  Sir,  Your 
obedient  Servant, 

'  C.  M.  LAMBERT 
'  (for  the  Assistant  Financial  Secretary).' 

'  OMSK,  August  2,  1919. 

'  I  last  wrote  you  on  July  7  from  Yekaterinburg,  which 
I  'm  afraid  is  very  long  ago,  but  I  have  never  been  still  since. 
We  had  a  week  at  Yekaterinburg,  and  I  tried  then  to  take 
my  guns  down  to  Chelyabinsk  as  the  Northern  Army  was  on 
the  run,  and  no  power  on  earth  will  stop  them  till  the 
Bolshe  viki  are  tired .  General  Sakaroff  at  Chelyabinsk  wanted 
the  Brigade  to  come  to  his  army,  but  the  Bolshe  viki  had  cut 
the  line  between  Yekaterinburg  and  Chelyabinsk,  and  so  we 
had  to  return  to  Omsk  :  this  took  us  two  weeks  instead  of 
two  days.  There  were  hundreds  of  trains  each  100  yds.  be- 
hind the  other  the  whole  way.  General  Jack  managed  to 
get  nearly  everything  away  from  Yekaterinburg  before  the 
Bolshe  viki  took  possession — a  great  feat,  as  the  Russians 
were  quite  off  their  heads.  Train  after  train  went  out 
with  nothing  but  officers  and  women,  and  the  whole  Siberian 
army  has  disappeared  for  the  time  being.  On  arrival  at 

1  The  Hampshire  Regiment. 


156  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Omsk  I  was  just  going  off  to  Kurgan  and  Chelyabinsk  when 
news  came  that  the  latter  place  had  also  been  evacuated. 
It  is  going  to  be  difficult  to  get  out  of  this  country  for  every 
one,  and  things  are  in  a  critical  state  ;  the  armies  do  not 
exist,  and  the  rouble  is  about  a  penny.  I  am  taking  my 
Brigade  some  miles  down  the  Irtish,  fifty  miles  north  of 
Omsk,  so  as  to  intercept  any  Bolshevik  attack  on  Omsk 
by  Reds  from  Tyumen,  which  they  will  enter  in  a  few  days. 
Some  big  decisions  will  have  to  be  made  now,  one  way  or  the 
other.  I  will  be  glad  to  get  out  of  this  town,  as  the  dust 
everywhere  seems  to  get  down  into  my  lung.  It  will  take 
me  till  the  end  of  September  to  train  this  lot,  so  I  cannot 
be  home  till  Xmas,  but  may  have  to  see  the  winter  through.' 

'  PS. — I  have  enclosed  letter  from  some  people  left  behind 
at  Yekaterinburg  to  the  Bolsheviki.  I  had  ten  in  my  waggon 
coming  down,  including  two  families.  It  was  impossible  to 
keep  any  one  out.  Will  you  post  enclosed  letter  if  possible? ' 

The  letter  was  posted  on  arrival ;  unfortunately  the 
address  has  not  been  preserved. 

Entries  in  diary  for  August  show  that  he  was  in  almost 
daily  communication  with  Colonel  Doroshinsky. 

'  OMSK,  August  24,  1919. 

'  DEAREST  MOTHER  AND  FATHER, — I  am  afraid  I  have 
not  good  news  for  you  (my  hand  hurts  too  much  to  work  a 
pen).  As  you  will  have  realised,  the  Russian  Army  has 
become  a  demoralised  mass  and  nobody  knows  where  it  is 
exactly.  It  is  no  use  hiding  things.  They  have  retreated 
before  the  Bolshevik  Army  from  Perm  to  nearly  Petro- 
pavlovsk,  250  versts  west  of  Omsk,  for  no  reason  at  all. 
The  Bolsheviki  are  advancing  just  in  small  handfuls,  mostly 
in  country  carts,  and  of  course  if  they  take  Omsk  the  whole 
country  from  Irkutsk  westwards  will  rise  in  revolution  and 
we  shall  have  some  difficulty  in  getting  out  at  all.  There 
is  a  small  revolution  going  on  at  Barnaul  and  Bisk,  and  some 
friends  of  mine  there  are  wiring  for  help.  Most  that  can 
have  cleared  out,  some  into  Mongolia  and  others  towards 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  157 

Vladivostok,  leaving  all  behind.  With  winter  coming,  now 
beginning,  and  the  whole  country  fleeing  before  the  Reds,  I 
can  only  leave  to  your  imagination  the  prospects  if  Omsk,  the 
seat  of  government,  falls.  No  one  is  to  be  trusted.  All  the 
English  soldiers  have  gone  and  half  the  Mission.  Every- 
thing has  been  thrown  into  the  battle  that  is  to  be  fought 
in  the  next  few  days.  If  successful,  there  is  no  reason  why 
the  Russian  Army  should  not  return  to  Perm  as  quickly 
as  it  has  retreated.  That  is  the  way  with  these  semi- 
civilised  people.  But  if  it  fails  and  the  army  come  flying 
back  into  Omsk  then  it  will  be  a  case  of  Sauve  qui  peut. 
If  the  railway  is  blown  up  behind  us  we  shall  have  to  fight 
it  out.  Anyway  I  and  four  of  my  officers  are  training  this 
Brigade  of  Russian  Artillery — 2  batt.  18-pounders,  2  batt. 
4' 5  howitzers — but  of  course  they  can't  be  ready  for  four 
weeks.  We  are  in  camp,  some  miles  (15)  outside,  and  I 
don't  like  it  being  so  far  out  of  limit.  The  last  regular 
mail  train  goes  down  to-day  (Sunday)  with  the  H.  Com- 
missioner, Sir  C.  Eliot  of  East  African  fame,  and  the  last 
English  civilians.  My  Brigade  will  retire  and  continue 
its  training,  and  we  have  volunteered  to  stay  until  they 
succeed.  A  possibility  is  that  we  may  then  be  transferred 
to  the  Black  Sea  Front,  Denikin's  Army,  by  sea  via  India. 
The  War  Office,  ever  anxious  to  back  a  winner,  I  think,  have 
decided  to  forsake  this  show.  In  a  week's  time  we  should 
know  the  result.  Don't  be  alarmed,  it  adds  to  the  fun  to 
know  the  Bolshevik  Commander  has  put  a  price  of  25,000 
roubles  on  any  British  officer's  head.  I  haven't  a  minute 
or  the  inclination  to  write  to  any  one.  Perhaps  it  is  as  well 
I  gave  you  Shanghai  for  letters.  I  may  be  there  sooner  than 
expected  ...  if  ever. — Best  love, 

'  EDWARD. 

'  Mails  will  not  arrive  till  we  know  if  we  are  to  clear  out 
to  the  rear  or  not.' 

'  OMSK,  September  5,  1919. 

'  Still  no  news  of  the  decisive  battle,  though  I  understand 
Vladivostok  has  received  news  that  Omsk  has  fallen !  and  the 
rouble  is  down  to  about  400  to  £1.  Even  if  these  people 


158  A  MEMOIR  OF 

win  they  will  be  quite  unable  to  continue  long  as  everything 
has  been  thrown  into  this  fight,  and  their  only  chance  is  the 
Bolshevik  cracking  up.  With  six1  nations  helping  them, 
they  are  even  quite  incapable,  so  there  is  not  much  hope  for 
them.  I  am  sorry  to  say  the  military  missions  of  all  nations 
have  been  quite  a  failure  here  as  the  people  (Russians  ?) 
won't  do  anything.  It  has  got  cold  all  of  a  sudden — first 
bit  of  snow  if  you  please — and  it 's  caught  me  unprepared. 
Nothing  is  coming  up  owing  to  the  situation,  so  I  haven't 
heard  from  home.  Last  paper  June  21.' 

The  intended  transfer  of  the  Brigade  down  the  Irtish, 
mentioned  in  the  letter  of  August  2,  seems  to  have  been 
cancelled,  and  they  remained  near  Omsk. 

The  last  paragraph  of  Col.  Steel's  letter  of  September  5 
gives  the  clue  to  what  follows.  The  training  of  the  Artillery 
continued,  but  with  the  confusion  that  was  going  on  and  the 
gradual  withdrawal  of  the  Mission  it  must  have  been  uphill 
work.  The  first  indication  of  his  illness  was  conveyed  in  a 
telegram  from  Omsk  dated  October  14  : — 

'  Inform  relatives  of  Lt.-Col.  Steel  Royal  Artillery 
he  is  seriously  ill  with  influenza  at  American  Red  Cross 
Hospital  Omsk.  Will  notify  further  change.' 

The  next  intimation  was  that  of  his  death  and  burial  in 
The  Times,  October  24. 

The  last  entry  in  his  Diary  is  '  September  12,  Parade 
of  Jaeger  Brigade.' 

The  complete  story  is  contained  in  the  following  letter 
and  enclosures  from  Gen.  Knox,  the  Chief  of  the  B.M.M. : — 


BRITISH  MILITARY  MISSION  TO  SIBERIA 

'  OMSK,  October  24,  1919. 
'  DEAR  MRS.  STEEL, — I  wish  to  express  to  you  my  deep 

1  This  is  scarcely  a  fair  statement.  At  this  stage  little  or  no  help  was 
given  by  any  but  ourselves,  indeed  Japan  was  rather  obstructive  (see 
With  tlte  Die-hards,  Col.  John  Ward,  C.B.). 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  159 

sympathy,  and  the  sympathy  of  every  member  of  my 
Mission,  in  the  terrible  loss  you  and  your  husband  have 
sustained  in  the  death  of  your  son,  Colonel  Edward  A. 
Steel. 

*  As    you    know,    he    arrived    in    this    country    from 
Mesopotamia  in  the  early  spring,  and  was  at  first  placed  in 
charge  of  the  training  of  two  Artillery  Brigades  (24  guns 
in  all)  of  British  15-pounders  at  Barnaul.    These  Brigades 
have  since  gone  to  the  front  with  their  infantry  divisions, 
the  llth  and  13th  Siberian. 

*  I  first  met  him  on  visiting  Barnaul  on  June  12.    He 
had  a  very  uphill  task  in  trying  to  get  the  Russian  officers  to 
work  up  to  British  Artillery  standards,  but  he  never  lost 
heart. 

'  In  July  I  transferred  him  to  Omsk  to  take  charge  of  the 
formation  of  two  batteries  of  British  18-pounders  and  2 
batteries  of  British  4' 5  howitzers  that  were  to  be  raised 
here  as  part  of  the  "  Model  Jaeger  Brigade,"  the  nearest 
approach  to  regular  troops  that  the  Omsk  Government 
possesses. 

*  Not  only  the  guns,  but  the  harness  and  saddlery  and  all 
the  instruments  and  transport  were  British,  while  most  of 
the  horses  were  those  left  behind  by  the  Canadian  Ex- 
peditionary Force  on  leaving  Siberia.    The  personnel  of  the 
batteries  was  Russian,  but  your  son  had  six  British  Artillery 
officers   and  a  number  of  British  sergeants  to  help  him. 
He  gave   himself    heart  and  soul  to  the  work,  and   any 
efficiency  that  these  four  batteries  have  attained  is  due  to  his 
self-sacrificing  devotion  to  duty.    The  Russian  officer  is 
a  pleasant  companion  if  not  asked  to  work,  but  sometimes 
difficult  if  pushed.    Your  son  from  the  first  earned  their 
respect,    and,    I   am   confident,    towards    the   end,    their 
affection. 

'  He  got  a  feverish  cold  early  in  the  month,  and  after  some 
three  or  four  days  in  his  railway  waggon  he  was  sent  out  by 
Major  Cummins  of  the  R.A.M.C.,  who  had  been  attending 
him,  to  the  American  Hospital  some  four  miles  from  here. 
This  was  on  Tuesday,  October  7. 


160  A  MEMOIR  OF 

*  I  rode  out  to  see  him  the  next  day  ;  his  cough  was 
troubling  him  much.  He  grew  gradually  weaker,  and 
though  he  had  every  attention  from  the  personnel  of  the 
Hospital  he  died  at  5  A.M.  on  Friday  17th.  The  doctor 
ascribes  the  fatal  result  of  the  illness  to  his  having  been  shot 
through  the  lung.  He  was  with  him  at  the  end,  and  told 
me  he  passed  away  without  suffering  at  the  last. 

'  He  died  on  the  morning  of  the  day  that  had  been  fixed 
for  the  first  firing  practice  of  the  batteries  he  had  trained. 
The  parade  was,  of  course,  at  once  postponed  by  the 
Russians,  who  have  been  wonderful  in  their  expressions 
of  sympathy. 

'  Sunday,  the  19th,  the  day  of  the  funeral,  was  a  wonder- 
fully bright  and  warm  day.  The  coffin,  covered  with  the 
Union  Jack,  was  brought  from  the  Hospital  on  a  gun- 
carriage  to  an  open  space  opposite  the  Cathedral  in  the 
centre  of  the  town.  There  the  procession  was  formed. 
Representatives  from  every  unit  in  the  Garrison  took  part 
— Admiral  Koltchak's  Personal  Escort,  the  43rd  Siberian 
Infantry  Regiment,  a  squadron  of  Siberian  Cossacks,  a 
complete  Jaeger  Battalion,  and  immediately  in  front  of  the 
coffin  the  four  batteries.  The  pall-bearers  were  three 
British  Artillery  officers  with  reversed  swords  on  the  right — 
Captains  Faber  and  Hodges  and  Major  Cameron — and  three 
Russian  officers  on  the  left  with  drawn  swords.  The 
charger  was  led  by  a  British  gunner  immediately  after  the 
gun-carriage.  The  mourners  included  all  officers  of  the 
British  Military  Mission  in  Omsk,  and  practically  every  one 
of  any  importance  in  the  official  world,  including  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief,  General  Dietrikhs,  with  many  members 
of  his  staff,  a  General  representing  the  Supreme  Ruler, 
the  President  of  the  Council  of  Ministers,  and  General 
Janin,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Allied  Forces  in  Western 
Siberia.  The  coffin  was  covered  with  wreaths,  including 
one  from  the  Mission,  from  Admiral  Koltchak,  General 
Dietrikhs,  and  all  the  Military  Missions  in  Siberia.  Just 
as  the  cortege  was  about  to  move  off,  a  little  girl  of  twelve 
brought  a  wreath  and  placed  it  on  the  coffin.  We  learned 


MOURNERS  FORMING  UP  IN  CATHEDRAL  SQUARE. 

General  representing  the  Supreme  Ruler  ;  General  Janin,  C.-in-C.  of  Allied  Forces  in  Siberia  ; 
General  Knox  ;  General  Dietrikhs,  C.-in-C.  of  Russian  Armies,  Eastern  Front. 


GUN-CARRIAGE  COVERED  WITH  WREATHS. 

Pall-Bearers: — Capt.  Faber,  Capt.  Hodges,  Major  Cameron,  Officers  of  Royal  Artillery. 
Three  Russian  Officers  obscured  by  the  gun-carriage. 


Facing  p.  161. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  161 

afterwards  that  she  was  a  refugee  whose  family  your  son 
had  helped. 

'  We  walked  the  two  miles  to  the  cemetery  slowly  through 
crowds  that  uncovered  as  the  coffin  passed.  At  the  entrance 
to  the  cemetery  the  troops  drew  up  and  presented  arms  as 
the  gun-carriage  halted  and  the  coffin  was  carried  to  the 
grave  by  the  pall-bearers.  The  Service  was  read  by  the 
British  Consul,  Mr.  Hodgson,  the  volleys  fired,  and  the  Last 
Post  sounded. 

'  Your  son's  body  lies  in  a  small  railed-off  space  with  the 
graves  of  two  British  soldiers  on  either  side.  We  are  arrang- 
ing about  a  monument,  and  if  possible  would  like  to  get  a 
plain  white  marble  cross. 

'  The  kit  is  being  sold  with  the  exception  of  a  few  personal 
effects  such  as  the  sword-belt,  field  glasses,  spurs,  badges  of 
rank,  medal  ribbon  bar.  These  will  be  sent  you,  also  a 
banjo.  The  revolver  has  been  given  to  a  Russian  doctor 
friend  who  asked  for  a  personal  souvenir. 

'  I  enclose  in  this  letter  : — 

'  A.  Copy  of  Order  No.  1308  issued  by  General  Dietrikhs 

on  October  17  with  translation. 
'  B.  Translation  of  letter  received  by  General  Knox 

from  the  Officers  of  the  Model  Jaeger  Brigade. 
'  C.  Translation  of  the  Notice  placed  in  the  Russian 

Press  by  the  British  Military  Mission  on  October 

21. 
'  D.  Copy  of  letter  addressed  by  Major  Cameron  to  the 

Secretary  Royal  Artillery  Institution,  Woolwich. 

'  I  think  these  documents  better  than  any  poor  word 
of  mine,  will  prove  to  you  the  esteem  in  which  your  son  was 
held  here,  and  how  deeply  his  death  is  deplored. — Yours 
sincerely, 

'  (Signed)    ALFRED  KNOX,  M.G., 
'  Chief  of  British  Military  Mission  to  Siberia.' 


162  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Translation  of  Order  issued  by  General  Dietrikhs 

'  THE  CHIEF  OF  STAFF  TO  THE  SUPREME  COMMANDER  AND 
THE  COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF  OF  THE  ARMIES  OF  THE 
EASTERN  FRONT 

'  No.  1308 

'  OMSK,  October  17,  1919. 

*  This  day,  October  17,  the  British  Military  Mission  and 
with  it  the  Model  Jaeger  Artillery  Regiment  have  sustained 
a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  the  exemplary  British 
Artillery  officer,  Colonel  Steel,  who  from  the  first  had  taken 
a  leading  part  hi  the  raising  and  war  training  of  the  Regiment. 

'  To  the  Model  Jaeger  Artillery  Regiment,  which  has  now 
reached  in  every  respect  a  high  state  of  efficiency,  Colonel 
Steel,  as  an  officer  in  the  service  of  a  great  Power  allied 
to  us,  rendered  every  such  service  as  might  have  been 
anticipated  from  an  honourable,  regular  trained  soldier, 
who  devoted  his  whole  soul  to  the  task  of  training  his  own 
country's  Artillery. 

'  Thrice  wounded  hi  action,  and  with  lungs  perforated  by 
bullet  wounds,  Colonel  Steel  spared  neither  his  strength  nor 
his  health  hi  fulfilment  of  the  task  allotted  him,  but  un- 
fortunately, being  unable  to  support  our  climate,  fell  ill 
with  inflammation  of  the  lungs  and  died,  thus  giving  his 
life  to  the  cause  he  had  espoused. 

'  In  the  name  of  the  Army  on  the  Eastern  Front,  in  the 
names  of  his  comrades  of  the  Jaeger  Artillery  Division 
mourning  his  loss,  and  in  my  own  name,  I  beg  the  Chief 
of  the  British  Military  Mission,  General  Knox,  to  accept 
my  deepest  sympathy  in  the  loss  we  have  sustained. 

'  I  will  be  especially  gratified  to  be  assured  that  General 
Knox  will  be  good  enough  to  convey  to  the  relatives  of  the 
late  Colonel  Steel  that  though  this  British  officer  died  hi 
Siberia,  a  land  alien  to  him,  yet  he  died  for  an  ideal — the 
ideal  of  the  re-establishment  of  Russia  as  a  great  Power, 
and  for  the  salvation  of  those  who  still  struggle  under 
oppression  and  the  lash  in  Soviet  Russia. 

'  May  the  remains  of  the  late  Colonel  Steel,  taken  to  the 
bosom  of  Siberia,  rest  as  hi  his  own  native  land. 

*  (Signed)    LT.-GEN.  DIETRIKHS.' 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  163 

Translation  of  Letter  handed  to  General  Knox  by  General 
Volkov,  Commander  of  the  Model  Jaeger  Brigade 

'  It  was  with  deep  regret  we  heard  to-day  of  the  death  of 
Colonel  Steel,  Royal  Field  Artillery,  who  was  an  object  of 
esteem  by  all. 

'  During  the  three  months  of  our  collaboration  with  him 
striving  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  Russian  Army,  and 
of  the  Artillery  of  the  Model  Jaeger  Brigade  in  particular, 
it  became  our  habit  to  value  him  not  only  as  an  indefatigable 
worker,  fanatically  devoted  to  his  beloved  artillery,  but 
also  as  a  sincere  and  feeling  man. 

'  With  all  our  heart  we  grieve  this  loss  and  beg  Your 
Excellency  to  express  our  condolences  and  our  sympathy  to 
the  British  Military  Mission,  which  has  sustained  so  great  a 
loss  in  the  death  of  one  of  its  best  officers. 

'  Commander  of  the  Model  Jaeger 

Brigade      ....  GENERAL  VOLKOV. 

Assistant  of  the  Commander      .  COL.  BUDKEVICH. 

Chief  of  the  Brigade  of  Artillery  COL.  DOROSHINSKY. 
Assistant   of   the   Chief  of  the 

Brigade  of  Artillery      .         .  COL.  TJAPKIN. 

O.C.  of  the  1st  Regiment  .  COL.  REMMER. 

,,          2nd  Regiment          .  COL.  KRUSE. 

C.S.O.  of  the  Brigade       .         .  STAFF-CAPT.  ANDREEV. 

O.C.  of  the  Field  Art.  Division  CAPT.  MATSKEVICH. 

Howitzer        „        ,  COL.  EROFEEV. 

„          1st  Field  Battery     .  STAFF-CAPT.  KONOPOV. 

„          2nd  „  .  CAPT.  DIETERICHS. 

„          1st  Howitzer  Battery  STAFF-CAPT.  ROMANOV. 

ft         2nd  „  .  CAPT.  DVORSHETSKY. 

Park  CAPT.  PANACUSHEK.' 


164  A  MEMOIR  OF 

Translation  of  Notice  placed  in  Russian  Press  on  Tuesday, 
October  21,  1919 

'  NOTICE 

'  General  Knox  and  the  Officers  of  the  British  Military 
Mission  wish  to  express  their  deep  thanks  to  their  many 
Allied  friends  who  attended  the  funeral  of  their  dead  comrade, 
Lt.-Col.  Steel. 

'  They  wish  especially  to  thank  the  Supreme  Ruler  for 
his  kind  message  of  sympathy,  and  for  the  presence  in  the 
funeral  procession  of  a  part  of  his  personal  escort. 

'They  thank  General  Dietrikhs  for  his  noble  order  No. 
1308  in  which  he  spoke  of  Colonel  Steel's  death  in  terms 
that  will  go  straight  to  the  heart  of  every  British  officer  in 
Siberia. 

'  They  thank  General  Volkov  and  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  Model  Jaeger  Brigade  for  their  loving  care  and  thought- 
ful organisation  of  the  funeral  arrangements.  They  thank 
Colonel  Steel's  old  comrades  Colonel  Doroshinsky  and  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Jaeger  Artillery  Regiment  who  have 
worked  together  so  well  to  produce  the  fine  batteries  the 
citizens  of  Omsk  saw  to-day. 

'  They  thank  the  many  Ministers,  Diplomatic  Repre- 
sentatives, and  other  civilians  who  left  their  work  to  follow 
the  gun-carriage. 

'  Colonel  Steel  died  from  the  result  of  wounds  received 
in  France.  He  should  not  have  volunteered  for  work 
in  such  a  climate  as  Siberia,  but  the  demonstration  of 
spontaneous  sympathy  to-day  showed  that  his  work  here, 
though  it  cost  him  his  life,  has  not  been  in  vain.  He  died, 
as  General  Dietrikhs  has  written,  in  a  foreign  land,  "  but  for 
the  great  ideal  of  restoring  Great  Russia  and  to  save  those 
who  suffer  from  persecution  and  oppression  in  Soviet 
Russia." 

*  The  motto  of  his  Regiment,  the  Royal  Regiment  of 
Artillery,  is  Ubique  quo  fas  et  gloria  ducunt.  It  is  singularly 
appropriate  in  this  case.' 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  165 

Copy  of  Letter  from  Major  Cameron  to  Secretary 
R.A.  Institution 

'  To  the  Secretary, 

'  Royal  Artillery  Institution,  Woolwich. 

*  I  am  desired  by  General  Knox,  Chief  of  the  British 
Military  Mission  to  Siberia,  to  forward  to  you  a  translation 
of  an  Army  Order  published  by  the  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Russian  Forces  on  the  Eastern  Front,  on  the  occasion 
of  the  decease  in  Siberia  of  the  late  Lt.-Col.  E.  A.  Steel, 
D.S.O.,  Royal  Field  Artillery. 

'  The  terms  in  which  this  Order  are  couched  are  sufficient 
indication  of  the  esteem  in  which  the  late  Lt.-Col.  Steel 
was  held  and  of  the  services  he  rendered  to  the  cause  for 
which  the  British  Military  Mission  to  Siberia  is  labouring. 

'  General  Knox  desires  that,  if  possible,  space  may  be 
found  in  the  Royal  Artillery  Journal  or  Pamphlet  for  the 
insertion  of  this  announcement,  since  he  wishes  to  convey 
to  the  Royal  Regiment  of  Artillery  his  appreciation  of  the 
services  of  one  of  their  distinguished  Officers. 

'  AYLMEB  CAMERON, 

*  Major,  Royal  Field  Artillery  t 

*  Personal  Staff  Officer  to  General  Knox. 

'  OMSK,  SIBERIA,  October  19,  1919.' 

On  receiving  this  intimation  of  Colonel  Steel's  death  the 
following  leaflet  was  published  by  the  Royal  Artillery, 
with  a  copy  of  the  Order  by  General  Dietrikhs,  as  requested 
by  General  Knox  : — 

'THE  LATE  MAJOR  (ACTING  LT.-COL.)  E.  A. 
STEEL,  D.S.O.,  R.F.A. 

'  Lt.-Col.  Steel  joined  the  Regiment  from  the  R.M.  Academy 
as  a  2nd  Lt.  on  January  6,  1900,  becoming  a  Lt.,  April  3, 
1901 ;  Capt.,  April  4, 1908 ;  and  Major,  October  30, 1914.  He 
served  in  India  from  March  1901  to  October  1904,  with  the 


166  A  MEMOIR  OF 

West  African  Frontier  Force  from  October  1904  to  May 
1908,  during  which  time  he  served  on  patrol  duty  through 
the  unsettled  portion  of  the  Ibibio  and  Kwa  country,  and 
with  the  Bende-Onitsha  Hinterland  Expedition  (despatches 
twice,  medal  with  two  clasps),  also  with  the  Anglo -Belgian 
Boundary  Commission  in  Northern  Rhodesia  in  1912.  He 
arrived  in  England  from  the  Anglo -Belgian  Boundary  Com- 
mission on  July  7, 1914,  for  a  rest.  He  at  once  reported  him- 
self for  duty  on  the  outbreak  of  war  and  proceeded  with 
reinforcements  to  France,  joining  the  35th  Battery  at 
Soissons  early  in  September.  He  took  part  in  the  fighting 
in  the  north  and  in  the  battles  of  Neuve  Chapelle  and 
Festubert,  where  he  was  severely  wounded. 

'  He  went  home  in  the  autumn  of  1915  to  train  a  new 
battery  with  which  he  went  to  France  in  April  1916.  He 
was  dangerously  wounded  on  September  16,  1916,  and 
was  in  hospital  till  May  1918.  After  a  short  tour  with 
A.A.  Artillery  he  proceeded  to  Mesopotamia  to  command  a 
F.A.  Brigade,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  volunteered  to 
proceed  to  Siberia  to  train  Russian  officers  in  Artillery. 
During  the  war  of  1914-18  he  was  twice  mentioned  in 
despatches,  and  awarded  the  D.S.O.  in  June  1915.  Colonel 
Steel  died  at  Omsk,  Siberia,  on  October  17,  1919,  whilst 
serving  with  the  British  Military  Mission  to  Siberia.' 

The  story  of  the  British  Military  Mission  in  Siberia, 
if  it  ever  be  told  in  its  entirety,  will  assuredly  form  a  chapter 
on  which  no  historian  will  desire  to  linger.  So  far — from 
the  glimpse  we  have  seen  in  the  very  excellent  work  of 
Col.  J.  Ward,  C.B. — we  know  fairly  well  what  happened  up 
to  his  leaving  in  July  1919.  It  discloses  a  story  of  Allied 
diplomacy  at  its  worst ;  of  international  jealousies,  of  self- 
seeking  politicians  everywhere — only  redeemed  by  the 
courage  and  honesty  with  which  the  members  of  the  Mission 
endeavoured  to  reconcile  their  duty  of  encouraging  the  party 
of  which  Admiral  Koltchak  had  been  accepted  as  the  recog- 
nised leader  with  that  of  shamefully  abandoning  them. 

Not  the  least  remarkable  feature  in  this  story  will  be 


PROCESSION  OPPOSITE  CATHEDRAL 


ANOTHER  VIEW  OF  THE  PROCESSION,  CHARGER  FOLLOWING. 

Facing  f.  106. 


THE  GRAVE  OF  LIKTT.-COL.  K.  A.  STKEI.. 


I'\icing'  p,  167. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL  167 

that  at  a  time  when  deserted  by  America,1  thwarted  by 
Japan,  but  half-heartedly  encouraged  by  the  French,  this 
noble  band  of  Russian  officers  from  Koltchak  downwards 
combined  to  do  such  extraordinary  honour  to  the  subject 
of  this  Memoir  in  recognition  of  the  fact  that  he  had 
sacrificed  his  Uf e  in  their  cause,  and  that  the  B.M.M.  with 
which  he  had  been  associated  had  given  them  their  heartfelt 
support  under  very  difficult  circumstances. 

This  Memoir,  already  perhaps  too  long,  may  be  fittingly 
concluded  with  an  extract  from  the  West  Cumberland  Times 
entitled  '  Countryside  Crack,'  over  the  signature  of  John 
Peel  :— 

'  The  West  Cumberland  Times  recently  recorded  the  death 
in  Russia  of  Col.  Edward  A.  Steel.  This  distinguished 
officer  came  of  a  Cumberland  clan  which  has  a  long  and 
honourable  military  record.  The  family  has  been  associated 
with  Cumberland  from  mediaeval  times.'  The  writer 
passes  in  review  the  history  of  the  family,  giving  copious 
extracts  from  a  Memoir  of  Col.  James  Steel,  C.B.,  written 
and  printed  by  his  son  (the  author  of  this  Memoir).  He  then 
comments  on  the  career  and  death  of  Lfc.-Col.  E.  A.  Steel, 
quoting  at  considerable  length  from  the  R.A.  Institution 
leaflet  as  to  his  military  career,  and  from  the  letter  and 
enclosures  of  General  Knox  as  to  his  last  service  and  death, 
paraphrasing  the  description  of  the  funeral  given  by  the 
latter.  The  writer  then  quotes  from  this  the  following 
incident :  '  Just  as  the  cortege  was  about  to  move  off,  a  little 
girl  of  twelve  brought  a  wreath  and  laid  it  on  the  coffin. 
We  learned  afterwards  that  she  was  a  refugee  whose  family 
your  son  had  helped.'  (See  letter  of  August  2,  1919.) 

1  This  refers  only  to  official  America,  i.e.  the  Government  of  the  United 
States.  The  American  Bed  Cross,  known  all  over  the  world  for  its  unselfish 
and  unstinted  help  to  all  nations  and  in  all  countries — and  especially  to 
our  own — has  been  conspicuous  in  lending  aid  to  the  various  Missions  in 
Siberia,  and  though,  owing  to  the  unsettled  conditions  at  this  time,  the 
members  were  being  withdrawn,  their  work  remained,  and  the  Russian 
establishment  carried  on  its  ministrations  under  Dr.  Judd,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  the  interesting  photographs  of  the  funeral  and  grave. 


168  A  MEMOIR  OF 

'  These  last  two  sentences,'  continued  the  writer,  '  are 
the  most  affecting  in  the  description  of  this  impressive 
funeral.  They  speak  of  a  simple  but  a  most  touching 
tribute  to  a  kindly  helpful  man  who  was  full  of  practical 
sympathy,  just  as  the  other  tributes  testify  to  respect  and 
regard  for  an  efficient  and  devoted  officer  who  died  while 
bent  on  doing  his  duty  to  the  end.'  After  further  appre- 
ciative comments  on  the  arrangements  for  the  burial  service 
so  feelingly  described  by  General  Knox,  and  the  spot  in  the 
cemetery  in  which  he  lies  '  with  the  bodies  of  two  British 
soldiers  on  either  side,'  the  writer  thus  concludes  :  '  The 
graves  of  the  Steel  family  are  scattered  far  and  wide.  There 
are  many  leagues  between  Brighton  and  Omsk.  The  Indian 
fighter  whose  career  recalls  a  remote  and  romantic  past  died 
in  England.  His  grandson  rests  in  Siberia  after  honourable 
service  in  France  and  Russia.  "But  little  he  '11  reck  if  they 
let  him  sleep  on,  in  the  grave  where  a  Briton  has  laid  him." : 


NOTE  BY  MRS.  STEEL 

RECENTLY  Major  Aylmer  Cameron,  D.S.O.,  R.F.A.,  sent 
us  many  ribbons  which  he  had  taken  off  the  wreaths  laid 
on  Lieut. -Col.  Steel's  grave  the  day  before  the  Bolshevik 
troops  took  possession  of  Omsk,  also  an  oak  box  which 
he  says  '  was  made  by  the  grateful  hands  of  the  Russians 
for  whom  Edward  gave  his  life.' 

The  inscriptions  hand-painted  on  the  ribbons  are  very 
touching :  they  include  one  from  the  Commander-in-Chief 
of  the  Russian  Army,  one  from  General  Janin  and  the 
officers  of  the  French  Mission,  the  Japanese  War  Mission, 
and  the  Model  Jaeger  Artillery,  and  the  Chief  and  Staff  of 
other  Departments ;  also  from  General  Knox  and  officers 
of  the  British  Military  Mission. 


EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL       169 


GENEALOGY  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 

EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL,  younger  son  of  Col.  J.  P.  Steel,  late 
of  the  Royal  Engineers,  and  Annie  Josephine,  second  daughter 
of  General  Sir  H.  L.  Thuillier,  Col. -Commandant  Royal  Artillery, 
and  Annie,  daughter  of  George  Gordon  Macpherson,  I.M.S. 

COL.  J.  P.  STEEL  was  third  son  of  Col.  James  Steel,  H.E.I.C.S., 
and  Adelaide,  daughter  of  Antonio  Angelo  Ramondo,  H.E.I.C.S., 
and  Elizabeth  Martha  Bland. 

COL.  JAMES  STEEL,  C.B.  (1792-1859)  was  third  son  of  Joseph 
Steel  of  Cockermouth,  attorney-at-law  and  Captain  in  the 
Cumberland  Militia,  and  Dorothy,  third  daughter  of  John  Pon- 
sonby,  Esq.,  of  Haile  Hall,  Cumberland. 

JOSEPH  STEEL  (1758-1842)  was  fourth  son  of  John  Steele  l  of 
Birks,  Harby  Brow  Hall,  and  Hollins,  etc.,  and  Phoebe,  daughter 
of  Richard  Skelton  of  Rowrah  (1728-1817).  He  dropped  the 
final  '  e.' 

JOHN  STEELE  (1721-1770)  was  eldest  son  of  James  Steele  of 
High  and  Low  Wreay,  Birks,  Harby  Brow  Hall,  etc.,  and  Eliza- 
beth, daughter  of  Anthony  Benn,  Esq.,  of  Hensingham  (b  1692, 
m.  1714,  d.  1791). 

JAMES  STEELE  (1674-1752)  was  eldest  son  of  John  Steele  of 
High  and  Low  Wreay,  and  Bridget,  daughter  of  John  Benn  of 
Scradgate,  Hensingham  (m.  1673,  d.  1719). 

JOHN  STEELE  (1641-1729)  was  eldest  son  of  James  Steele  of 
Threepthwaite  (later  of  High  and  Low  Wreay),  and  Bridget  (not 
traced,  buried  at  St.  Bees,  1645). 

JAMES  STEELE  (1600-1673)  was  younger  son  of  William  Steele 
of  Crossfield  and  Threepthwaite,  and  Agnes  (6.  at  Cleator,  d. 
1608). 

WILLIAM  STEELE  of  Threepthwaite  was  younger  son  of  John 
Steele  of  Crossfield  ;  originally  a  copyholder  or  customary  tenant, 
he  became  a  freeholder,  28-29  Elizabeth  (see  F.  of  F.  Cumberland). 

Beyond  this  the  ancestry  cannot  be  traced,  but  they  have 
belonged  to  the  soil  of  Cumberland  since  Edward  in.  (see  Lay 
Subsidy,  6  Edward  in.). 

1  The  name,  originally  spelled  with  a  final  *  e,'  was  changed  to  Steel  by 
Edward's  great-grandfather. 

M 


INDEX 


ABBRCONWAY,  LORD,  125. 

Agnes,  Sister,  29  and  note. 

Agnew,  Lieut.  K.  M.,  80. 

Aire,  108. 

Aisne,  action  on  the,  108. 

Ajmere,  birthplace  of  E.  A.  Steel,  1. 

Angelo,  Kenneth  M.,  29. 

Angelo,  Capt.,  21. 

Aylmer,  Cel.,  5. 

BARR,  COL.  SIR  DAVID,  14. 

Barr,  Miss,  15. 

Battery,  35th,  diary  of,  80. 

Bates,  Lieut.  A.  G.,  80. 

Battiscombe,  Major  C.,  80. 

Baya,  69. 

Bradford,  Major  E.  R.  C.,  1  and  note. 

Bremner,  Mr.,  69. 

Brighton,    Bruton    and    Osborne's 

school  at,  2. 

Browning,  Lieut.  L.,  80. 
Bwana  Mkubwa  copper  mine,  59. 

CALABAU,  32. 
Cameron,  — ,  I.M.S.,  23. 
Cartwright,  M.ijor  G.  N.,  80. 
Cloete,  Major  and  Mrs.,  15. 
Cockburn,  Mr.,  60. 
Coleman,  Frederick,  100. 
Collingwood,  Lieut.,  117. 
Colville,  Capt.  J.  B.,  80. 
Colvin,  Sir  Auckland,  2. 
Craig,  Major  T.,  52. 
Curzon,  Lord,  16. 
Curzon,  Lady,  16. 

DEACON,  2ND  LIEUT.  H.  W.,  82. 
Dietrikhs,  General,  162. 
Dixon,  Capt.,  12. 
Doake,  Lieut.  S.  H.,  80. 
Dodgson,  Capt.  B.  C.,  80. 
D.S.O.,  distribution  of,  112. 
Doughty,  Marian,  15. 

ETESON,  COL.,  2. 

Eustace,  Lady,  12  and  note. 

Everest,  Capt.,  58. 


FERGUSON,  LIEUT.  P.  H.,  80. 
Festubert,    battery    in    action    at, 

106. 

Firminger  at  Colombo,  2. 
Fisher,  Dr.,  his  mission  station  at 

Kalene  Hill,  76. 

Franks,  Capt.  Norman,  14  and  note. 
French,  Field-Marshal,  his  Order  of 

the  Day  of  October  16,  1914,  90  ; 

on  the  affair  of  Neuve  Chacelle, 

101. 

GIBBS,  SIR  PHILIP,  110,  111. 
Gill,  Major  D.  H.,  80. 
Gillam,  Major  B.,  R.E.,  58,  64. 
Gore-Browne,  Lieut.  S.,  58. 
Greathead,  Capt.  O.  C.,  8. 
Guggisberg,  Lieut. -Col.  F.  G.,  45. 
Guinchy,  attack  on,  124. 
Gulmurg,  10. 

HAIO,  SIR  DOUGLAS,  99. 

Hartland-Mahon,  Major,  106. 

Harvey,  Lieut.,  12. 

Hedley,  Col.  Sir  Coote,  73. 

Helsham- Jones,  Col.,  2. 

Henshaw,  Col.  C.  G.,  56. 

Herschel,  Major,  134. 

Hess,  Lieut.  A.  G.,  80. 

Hewett,  Sir  J.  P.,  66. 

Holdich,    Col.     Sir    T.,    K.C.M.G., 

K.C.I.E.,  C.B.,  126. 
Holland,  Gen.  Sir  Arthur,  K.C.B., 

K.C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  110,  113. 

JACK,  BRIG.-GEN.  J.,  153. 
Johnstone,  Lieut.  G.  H.,  80. 

K  A  I  UK   RlVKK,    64. 

Kansanshi  copper  mine,  67. 

Kashmir,  19. 

Katanga,  railway  to  Elizabethville, 

67. 
Knor,  Gen.  Sir  Alfred,  K.C.B.,  159 

et  tea. 
Koebel,  Major  H.  A.,  80. 

171 


172     A  MEMOIR  OF  EDWARD  ANTHONY  STEEL 


LAGOS,  43. 
Lyon,  Major,  3. 

MAIR,  COL.  G.,  33,  37. 

Marne,  action  on  the,  81. 

Mellor,  Lieut.  Jocelyn,  8  and  note, 

19,  39  and  note. 
Moorhouse,  Major,  3G. 
Morgand,  M.  Pierre,  82. 
Munyafunshi,  69. 
Mwinilunga,  73. 

NEUVE  CHAPELLE,  100. 
Norris,  Sir  Henry,  117. 

OWEN,  MB.,  68. 

PERRY,  LIEUT.,  119,  121  and  note, 

122    123 

Phillips,  Capt.  M.,  80,  104. 
Pretyman,  Gen.,  18. 

RAMSDEN,  LIEUT.  J.  V.,  8. 
Baper,  General,  4. 
Reid,  Capt.,  14. 
Ricardo,  F.  C.,  5  and  note. 


Ridout,  Gen.  Sir  Dudley,  147. 
Russell,  Lieut.  G.  R.,  82. 

SAKANIA,  62. 

Scott,  Admiral  Sir  Percy,  132. 

Sealy,  Lieut.  E.  M.,  66,  98  and  note. 

Simpson,  Lieut.  G.  P.,  80. 

Solomon,  Lieut. -Col.,  129. 

Steel,  Major-Gen.  J.  A.,  5. 

Stewart,  Dr.,  41. 

Stevens,  Miss,  22. 

Storey,  Lieut.  R.  B.,  80. 

Sueter,  Capt.,  12  and  note. 

Srinagar,  10. 

THUILLIER,  COL.  SIR  H.,  2. 
Thuillier,  Col.  W.,  9. 
Thuillier,  Sydney,  2. 
Thuillier,  Leslie,  135. 
Thuillier,  Capt.,  135. 
Tritton,  Lady,  50  and  note. 
Tritton,  Lieut.  Julian  S.,  133. 

WALLINGER,  CAPT.  E.  A.,  80. 
Wanstead,  Park  Gate,  1. 
White,  Lady,  7. 
Willoughby-Osborne,  Lieut.  D.,  82. 


Edinburgh  :  Printed  by  T.  and  A.  CONSTABLE  LTD. 


f'CSB  LIBRARY 


000  650  206    6