Before tonight, I hadn’t heard of armoured trains. They were used in 1899 at the beginning of the Boer War, particularly in and around Mafeking. They were like a combination of tank and soldier transport. Given the extent of the rail network in South Africa, it seemed like a better idea than using the appalling roads.
Of course, the Boers attacked them, dug up the railway lines and, generally, made them difficult to utilise. Still, they proved a bit effective at first. I found a fascinating piece about the armoured trains here.
Of course, the big thing about Mafeking was the siege. And the fact that it was where Baden-Powell was in charge. Yes, THAT Baden-Powell. The boy scout founder.
Alongside Baden-Powell was a chap by the name of Charles Fitzclarence. He was created for the army, for fighting, for war.
Early in his life, poor old Charles was stuck behind an army desk because of his weak lungs however, he eventually strode out and became a bit of a legend. So much so that he was called The Demon by all who served with him.
Now, the reason I’m discussing Fitzclarence, is because tonight I attended a WFA webinar given by the amazing Dr Spencer Jones called ‘The Demon saves the day: Charles Fitzclarence and the first Battle of Ypres, 1914.‘
The last time I attended a webinar given by Dr Jones was back in August. I was very keen to see him again. He is alive, sparkling and entertaining, supremely confident and not flustered by tech problems. I reckon he’d be brilliant in a live lecture, not least because he really loves his subjects.
Like Charles Fitzclarence.
He was big on trench raiding. In fact, that’s how he acquired his nickname. During the Siege of Mafeking, he led his men on a night raid and fought like a demon, sabre slashing, decapitating heads, his men taking the day (or night). He was brash and successful. He was awarded a VC for his part in the Boer War. In fact, he only stopped fighting in South Africa because someone shot him through both legs.
After the war he went into training, teaching the new boys what he had learned, but, then, of course, another war came along, and he was ready for it.
The First Battle of Ypres was very important. Had the Germans won, then the channel ports would have been theirs and the war could have finished in their favour. Or, as Dr Jones said, gone on for much, much longer.
And there were many times that it looked like the Germans would win and take Ypres. But they hadn’t reckoned on the insane heroics of men like Fitzclarence.
It was the decisive battle at Gheluvelt Chateau that proved a turning point. The 1st South Wales Borderers were pinned down in the chateau, with the enemy penning them in and threatening to overcome them. Reinforcements were hard to find, with fighting going on all over the surrounding countryside.
Up comes The Demon. He decided that the 2nd Worcestershire Regiment could help. He went to their commander, Major Edward Barnard Hankey (later called Tanky Hankey when he commanded the Tank Corps) and suggested he take his men to the chateau and save it. Hankey had no idea who this officer was. Rather than cause a scene, Fitzclarence took him aside and said something to him. No-one knows what he said.
Hankey had also served in South Africa so, maybe, he’d heard of The Legendary Demon of Mafeking and Fitzclarence merely reminded him. Whatever was said, it did the trick and Hankey decided it was a good idea and led his men to the chateau.
Hankey lost around a third of his men on the race across open farmland but, eventually, he found the cover of the woods before the chateau. The brave Worcesters succeeded in routing the Germans.
Fitzclarence could have gone on to even greater things if it hadn’t been for his love of trench raids.
He led a team of raiders towards a trench on 11-12 November. He didn’t make it. A German shot him in the head, killing him instantly. The Demon would fight no more.
What an amazing man, though I do wonder what he would have done had there been no wars. How unsatisfying would life be for a man perfectly suited for war, if there were no wars?
I would have asked Dr Jones this question except the Q&A session was cut short. The reason for this was because of a technical glitch in the middle of his presentation. It was all fine and Dr Jones valiantly talked us through it, but it did mean fewer questions.
Here’s a couple of extra links: The Battle of Gheluvelt and the Wikipedia entry for Charles Fitzclarence, VC.
