[Transcriber's note: WARNING: some words and language in thisbook may be offensive to modern readers.]
He dashed the stone into the dying embers.
HOW JACK MACKENZIE
WON HIS EPAULETTES
By
GORDON STABLES, M.D., C.M.
THOMAS NELSON AND SONS
LONDON, EDINBURGH, DUBLIN
AND NEW YORK
1906
PREFACE.
There is a glamour and romance about war that appeals to theheart of every young man worthy of the name in these islands.This is as it should be. We are a nation of sailors, it is true,but many a blood-red field can bear witness that we are soldiersalso, when we have the right man to lead us.
A weapon, however, that is left too long in its scabbard is aptto rust therein. This was the state in which we found the Britishsword when the fiery cross was sent round in 1853. We had notbeen at war for forty years before this, and even many of ourgenerals had forgotten all about the art. Hence the terriblemuddle and mismanagement witnessed in the Crimea. Our poorfellows were positively sent off as empty-handed as if going to agrand parade or soldiers' picnic, and indeed but for individualcourage, and good luck, the invasion would have ended innational disaster and disgrace, for us as well as for our braveallies the French.
I have no desire to dispel the romance that surrounds as witha halo the noble and necessary art of war. But I think everyyoung fellow should know that to be a real soldier it is necessaryfor him to be not only a fighting man and a brave man in thefield, but a perfect camp's-man also; and he can never learn tobe so in barracks, but on the tented field, in times of peace.
It is for this reason that the sailor, if I may be allowed to saya word in favour of the service to which I belong, makes the bestsoldier. Captain Peel's brigade proved this in the trenches.
In the second book of this story, the youthful reader will findfighting and bloodshed enough, and horrors too. But the tale isall true, sadly, terribly true. Hear what Sir Evelyn Wood says:"It may be asked, Why recall these dismal stories? Because...... to the present generation our hideous sacrifice of soldiers in theCrimea is but little more known than the sufferings of ourtroops at Walcheren and in the Peninsula. I believe in theadvantage of telling those who elect parliamentary representativeswhat has happened and what may happen again, unless a highstandard of administrative efficiency is maintained. This cannotbe attained unless the necessary departments are practised intheir duties during peace."
* * * * * *
"Peace hath her victories, no less renowned than war."
In my first book, then, I have endeavoured to give a sketch ofthe sailor's life in the piping times of peace, and most of thesketches and little adventures and yarns are drawn from the life.Dr. Reikie, who is constantly in the pursuit of science underdifficulties, was a real character. So were Sturdy, Gribble, Fitzgerald,Captain Gillespie, and the marine Paddy O'Bayne.
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