¶
John slept until nearly noon. After a good bath, he dressed and was in the dining room in time for lunch. Only Mary was at home. His father and mother had gone into Lazonby for food stocks and to lunch with some friends. Mary and he chatted. She had a new pony and was enjoying her lessons from the tutor, together with her sewing and embroidery tuition from her mother.
Mary’s enthusiasm was infectious. John could not but help laughing with her. He was also surprised at how she had grown. She was sixteen years old and was now a young woman, not his little sister anymore.
Her tutor had let Mary have the afternoon free from studies to allow her to entertain her brother. They walked down to the river and along the bank towards Lazonby. The river was broad and flowed fairly slowly. There were black swans and a few multi-coloured wild ducks on the water. Out in the middle was a punt, being poled by a young man, a lady lazing in the bow with her hand trailing in the water. Birds were plentiful and contributed to the picture by chirping and flittering here and there. It was good to be home amongst all this serenity.
His sister had put her hand in his and was chattering about a girlfriend she had in town. John wasn’t really listening. He was enjoying the walk and suggested that they walk all the way into Lazonby. He had not been into the village for several years. They continued for another hour and finally reached the main street. Lazonby was a typical English riverside village with a few shops, an inn, a farrier, a church and a cemetery. The majority of the small two storey houses on the winding main road were made of bluestone, some centuries old. The Halls’ had several relatives living in the village but he wasn’t interested in meeting them just yet. He just wanted to walk with his sister.
Suddenly he saw a face he did want to see. It was Owen MacLean. They saw each other at the same time; both waved and shouted greetings. They slapped each other on the shoulder and said in unison, “What a surprise! How good to see you.”
John introduced Mary and they decided to go to the tavern’s dining room and talk about their careers. Owen had begun his legal training as an articled clerk in Carlisle and was finding it both challenging and satisfying.
He said, “I’m thinking of going to Australia when I’m qualified, at the end of next year. I have my father’s wander lust but not his desire to serve in the military.”
John said, “Well, I’m off to Ireland in three weeks. I wonder where we will next meet, now that we will be on the opposite sides of the world.” He continued, “Have you heard from George since he left university?”
“Yes, he went to London to work with the City of London.”
Mary had finished her tea and was looking a little bored. Owen noticed. ”I must apologise and excuse myself. I should go now as I’m leaving for Carlisle on the coach within the hour.” He looked at Mary. “It has been my pleasure meeting you, Mary. Good bye to you, John.” He nodded.
John and his sister both stood up and John responded, “Good bye for now. I trust providence will allow us to meet again.” John’s gaze followed his friend as he departed up the hill to the Coach Inn.
It was time to return home. The sun was low on the horizon and John guessed it would be dark by the time they arrived. They walked briskly and in silence as they were both busy with their thoughts. John was thinking of his forthcoming journey to Ireland and Mary was considering her chances in the Women’s Agriculture Gymkhana Event next week. Dinner was ready to be served when they arrived with the dogs signalling their return amid a chorus of barking and yelping.
¶
The three weeks passed swiftly and it was soon time to take up his posting in Kilrush. John prepared, not only his equipment, but also himself for his journey to Ireland. He was unsure what to expect for the start to his military career. Also what was Ireland and her people like?
Duke had been groomed and reshod. He looked a little overfed but was glossy and spirited.
On his final night at home John had dinner with his family and friends. It would likely be a while before he would get a chance to come again. John had an early night and left in the rising dawn. Both his mother and father had stiff upper lips but Mary shed some tears with their farewells.
He was moved himself but did not delay his departure and rode off into the early sunrise. He looked back to see his father still standing there gazing in his direction. John gave a quick wave and cantered Duke down the road. He was due to report for duty in three days at Liverpool Barracks.
When he arrived in Liverpool and presented his credentials to the commanding officer of the Liverpool Barracks, John was instructed to report to the officer of the day for his travel orders. The orders he received were similar to his instructions from the military training school. He was to proceed on the first available vessel with a platoon of foot soldiers.
John met with his men and advised them of the orders. No doubt they already knew; John knew the troops always had a good spy service. A shipping agent had arranged for them to sail on the next tide, so they immediately proceeded to the ship, loaded their equipment and embarked for Kilrush.
The weather was bleak but the ship made good time down the Irish Sea with the following icy northerly winds. The seas were choppy and the sea spray did not encourage visits on deck. John spent considerable time with Duke helping keep the horse calm. They had put the horse in a semi-sling to ensure he did not fall.
When the ship turned west along the Irish coast the seas abated as the land was sheltering the ship from the worst of the winds. John went on deck when they turned north towards County Clare. The coast line was most forbidding, with sheer rocky cliffs dotted with inlets, all with similar terrain. Very little farm land was in sight. A few small fishing villages came into view over the waves when the ship heaved. Even with the rolling seas several fishermen were out braving the waters to obtain their catch. He mused it must be a most difficult life to endure. He counted his blessings for his fortune to be born into a comfortable life.
They turned into the river and the captain pointed out Kilrush to him as they sailed towards the town. It was the biggest Irish town he had seen to date. The wind had dropped and this allowed the ship to soon be moored alongside the dock. He gave his troops an hour to stretch their legs before commencing the unloading.
The first cargo ashore was Duke. He was flighty and difficult to handle for a few minutes but soon settled down. The unloading was soon underway and John saddled Duke in the interim.
A disturbance on the dock caught his eye. A young woman had just been pushed to the ground by a constable and a tall man was challenging him. Several other constables approached them and the scene looked like getting nasty.
John stepped forward. He checked that the lady was unhurt and then turned to the constable and said, “What are you doing? You owe this lady an apology.”
The constable hesitated, looked around at his men and then saw the troopers coming forward. “My apologies, young lady, for my constable’s action.”
John ordered the constables to leave. The military held the ultimate authority and the constables knew it. John introduced himself to the young Irish lass who had the delightful name of Maeve and the tall man who was her brother, Michael. Maeve was a beautiful girl with a captivating Irish brogue. They exchanged brief farewells before John left to report to his troop. He was pleased that he had stepped in to assist the Irish couple. Perhaps they would meet again. He certainly hoped so.
John ordered his sergeant to move the men out, with the drummer beating marching pace. He led out of the docks, with his sergeant next, followed by the troopers then the Mounted Horse. Finally the carts brought up the rear. They were an imposing sight with their red coats and white flannel trousers, black polished boots and tall helmets. They headed up the main street, passing through the market and up the hill to the barracks.
The sentry saluted Lieutenant John Hall as he led his men into the quadrangle. John then positioned them into formation, dismounted and was escorted by another lieutenant into Colone
l Paul Lang’s office, the commandant. He marched up to the desk where the colonel was still sitting. He waited at attention for the colonel to acknowledge him.
John sensed that this was not going to be a warm welcome. He was right.
The colonel looked up. “What gives you the right to interfere with constables doing their duties?”
John was dumbfounded and responded, “My responsibility as an officer and a gentleman, sir.”
The colonel grunted, “Umm.” This was no ordinary officer. He stood up and said, “Welcome, Lieutenant Hall. I’ll inspect your men.” John stood back and allowed the colonel to pass. He noticed that he had a slight limp.
The inspection proceeded without incident or comment. At the end, the colonel answered his salute and walked off.
The other lieutenant had been standing there watching him. He smiled and offered his hand. “I’m George Russell. You’re relieving me. I and twenty of the Regiment are heading home for leave and then off to the Crimea. Anywhere is better than being here. I hope you can handle your time here better than I did; I found it very depressing.”
The sergeant dismissed the men and they were shown to their new dormitory by the duty corporal. George Russell took him to his room and had an orderly collect his travel chest for him. The room was around eight feet square with a tall cupboard and a small window. The walls were thick so the temperature would not be extreme inside the room. This room will be comfortable, thought John.
Dinner time would be soon so John unpacked his mess uniform, then went to the wash room to refresh himself before dressing for dinner. He walked into the officers’ mess and over to several other officers standing at the bottom of the table. There were seven officers and he was pleased he was not the junior rank. There were two subalterns.
Colonel Lang walked in quickly and immediately sat down. The others waited to see where he wanted John to sit. He signalled John to sit at the opposite end of the table. This started chairs being shuffled to accommodate the rest. He had George sitting next to him and on the other side were two Line officers — William Brown and David James. This made him feel comfortable. The colonel called for the Royal Toast and asked John to propose it. They all rose and John said, “To her Majesty the Queen.”
“To the Queen,” they all responded.
John waited for the toast to the regiment and was most surprised when the colonel ignored this tradition.
John was pleased with the meal; it was more sumptuous than normal mess dinners. He commented to George who shook his head.
“Don’t say anything about the food.”
John decided he needed to have a long talk with George before he left the regiment. There were obviously some things that were done differently here to what he was used to. After the colonel left they all retired for the night but not before John asked George to spare him some time the next day.
Subsequently George took him on a familiarization ride around the district which was the perfect time to glean information about the regiment from him.
George started, “The colonel has seen little service other than a short stint in India. Tragic really. He had his horse shot from under him. It fell on him and broke his leg on the first engagement. He was then sent back to England. He’s had several postings in areas of civil disorder, such as here, but no actual theatre of war since India. However, he did not give up hope and applied to go with the regiment to the Crimea but he was rejected. You brought the letter on your ship.”
John said, “Bad timing, eh?”
George went on. “His wife is a problem, so be careful. Don’t be on your own with her if she has been drinking. The colonel knows but doesn’t seem to care.
“Another issue is the eviction of the Irish tenant farmers. It’s hard to tolerate the distress these families endure. We only attend to ensure that the government officials and constables are not attacked. Regarding the food in the mess, it’s alleged that the colonel and the Commissioner of Constabulary have a black market deal going in return for turning a blind eye to custom fraud. So you say nothing; it’s a no-win situation for you. I intend to say something when I’m back in England. You see, I’m a nephew of Lord Russell.” They continued riding around the outskirts of the town. It was a pretty place with the river and sea views and the green rolling hills. He was to find out later that further north the scene changed dramatically. They completed their riding in time for dinner.
The colonel sent for him on his return. John hoped that this meeting would be more pleasant than the first one but didn’t expect it would be. He knocked and a voice said, “Enter.” He saluted and then removed his helmet.
The colonel immediately started talking. “Hall, I will not have friction between the constabulary and the regiment. We have built up a good relationship over the time I have been here and I will not have a young jumped up upstart like yourself jeopardising it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir,” John replied.
“Good. Dismissed.”
He was glad of George’s briefing, otherwise he would have tried to defend his action and would have made matters worse for himself.
Obviously the colonel and the commissioner were close to each other. Well, John Hall wasn’t going to get involved. He would now be very careful indeed how he handled any problems with the constabulary.
¶
George and his troopers were formed up ready to depart. John bade him farewell and a safe journey. The drummer started and with George’s sergeant’s, “Quick March,” the troop moved out past Colonel Lang, who was taking the salute. John was on his own now; only two of the other officers were line officers. The other officers were assigned to the hospital, quartermaster stores, administration and the colonel’s aide. His duty required that, accompanied by a troop of soldiers, he would attend a schedule of evictions escorting the constabulary. John would travel often, so he and his troop always carried camping gear and food.
John had seen the Keoghs several times during his trips and had stopped to say hello. The Irish did not shun the military as they did the constabulary. The Keogh’s drove past the barracks on their way into town and on the way back to their home. He guessed they enjoyed discussing the weather and other mundane topics with him.
Michael and Maeve always stopped or waved when they saw him.
The evictions were occurring at a regular rate and they were causing John some anguish. He had written to his father, who knew some politicians. Perhaps something could be done to stop this abomination. At one particular eviction he saw Michael Keogh and spoke with him about the situation. Michael became so upset that he had abruptly turned and left.
¶
One morning not long after his arrival, the colonel addressed the morning parade, which was unusual. He announced that the regiment was going to help apprehend a notorious rebel who had escaped while being arrested. It appeared that one Irishman had struck a constable and then escaped. The commissioner was furious at the humiliation. The whole town knew of the escapade. The colonel wanted the three line officers — Brown, Hall and James, with their troopers, to cover three sections of the district. John selected the coastal area and had the troop mounted and set off by noon the same day. They made good progress and were at Liscannor by late afternoon. He had the sergeant set up camp on the harbour. They would operate from there.
John wanted to see Michael and, if the occasion arose, Maeve also. He selected Trooper Miles to accompany him; he knew he could trust him. He was also from Cumberland; his uncle worked on the Hall’s farm. They quickly rode north, across the green fields and only moved to the road when they started to see rocky ground ahead. It was getting dark when they arrived at Michael’s home. Dinner was being cooked and the waft of beef greeted them.
Michael and his father came out to greet the two riders and invited them to share their meal. John and Trooper Miles had some food which they gave to Michael’s father who was doing the cooking.
John said, ”I need to talk with you.”
“Let’s walk,” answered Michael.
They headed up the hill towards Maeve’s home. “I don’t know if you are mixed up in this rebel business but I have to warn you; I’m here to search for him. I’m speaking to you as a friend now but tomorrow I will be here as a soldier.”
Michael just said, “I would expect nothing less from you.” They kept walking so that John would not have to ask him about Maeve; he could ask her himself.
The barking dog brought Maeve outside. She laughed happily when she saw John.
“It’s good to see you. Come in. Can you stay long? What are you doing here?” she asked without stopping.
“Yes, I can stay for a short time. I came to see Michael about a small problem.”
Aunt Jane made tea for them after which she and Michael went to the kitchen. Aunt Jane had been preparing dinner when they arrived. This allowed John and Maeve to sit on the porch by themselves. Their talking was interrupted when Michael interrupted; they had to go back for dinner at his father’s house.
Aunt Jane said, “We will bring our dinner and we can all dine together.”
They managed to fit into his father’s cottage and had a very enjoyable evening. Too soon Maeve and Aunt Jane had to leave.
John and Trooper Miles had to be back at Liscannor before dawn to start a structured search up the coast to the north. They asked if they could sleep indoors near the fire for a few hours and would then head back down the main road.
They arrived back at the camp as the sole trooper on guard was boiling water for tea. John unsaddled his horse and placed the saddle on the ground. He rested his head on the saddle seat and slept until the sergeant shook him by the shoulder to waken him.
The whole camp was awake and having a meal of boiled corn and bread. Not long after, the camp was packed and ready for a day’s riding along the coast of County Clare. They spread out across the fields, moving northwards in unison. The dry stone fences were low but the horses easily jumped them.
Some farmers watched them as they slowly continued their search. The farm dogs barked but kept away; they were not used to large horses. The search was fruitless but John had his orders. He expected it would take another four or five days to reach the Burren at this pace.
The Convict and the Soldier Page 6
