by Peter Watt
Amongst the crowd of onlookers stood Ian Steele wearing civilian clothing. He could not explain to himself why he had chosen to come today, but here he was. A hush fell on the waiting crowd as the new bride and bridegroom exited the synagogue to step into an open coach drawn by a set of fine greys. Ian experienced an emptiness as he gazed at Ella. She was beautiful and radiant, and Nikolai handsome. Why had he dared hope that he could have been with Ella when everything was against them?
‘It was never meant to be between you and my princess, Captain Forbes,’ came the voice of Ikey Solomon. Ian had not seen him leave the bridal party.
Ian turned to face the big, bearded man dressed in a very expensive suit and wearing the traditional Jewish skullcap.
‘Your daughter is the picture of a beautiful bride,’ Ian replied.
‘She certainly is,’ said Ikey. ‘I have always known that my Ella was sweet on you, but we both know it could never have come to anything.’
Ian nodded. ‘You are right, I know.’
‘I saw you from across the street and wanted to speak with you,’ Ikey said. ‘You have always been an honourable and honest man with me, so I am asking a favour of you.’
‘If it is within my ability to grant it, I will do so,’ Ian replied.
‘My new son-in-law has accepted my offer to join the family business, and I want you to promise me that no animosity will arise between you and him. If you can grant me that promise, I can assure you I will return the favour if you ever ask.’
‘I can promise you that there will be no animosity between us, Mr Solomon,’ Ian said, feeling the bone-crushing grip of the big man’s hand.
‘Thank you, Captain Forbes . . . or should I say, Captain Steele,’ Ikey said, releasing his hand. ‘I value good men in my life.’
Ian watched as Ikey walked back across the road. It seemed half of England knew who he really was. It was a revelation that made him deeply uncomfortable.
He hailed a hansom cab and directed it to take him to the barracks in London. There he was obliged to meet with Colonel Jenkins, who had resumed his command of the regiment. He was riding on the tributes showered on the regiment for its courageous service in India. The fact that he had not been with his men under fire but instead lounging at staff college in England seemed to be overlooked by the press, who hailed his service to the public anyway.
Already the rumour was spreading through the officers’ mess and the barracks rooms that the regiment was to be shipped to China or Africa to confront the enemies of the empire. Another war in another country. As the hansom cab clopped through the streets of London, Ian reflected that his life was destined to be lived or lost in the far-flung parts of the British Empire, leading his riflemen. Love and marriage were but an idle dream for a man such as he, certainly until his agreement with Samuel came to a conclusion or was exposed.
He consoled himself with the fact that he had accrued a small fortune from his military enterprises. He could disappear back to the Australian colonies and establish himself as a rich and successful man.
Yet his beloved company of infantrymen was as close to a family as he had ever had, each and every man like a brother to him. Leaving them behind was something he could not imagine. It seemed he was destined forever to be travelling from one battlefield to another until his time for travel in this world was ended once and for all.
Author Notes
Captain Ian Steele’s regiment is purely fictional, but the events portrayed in The Queen’s Tiger are real. I have been fortunate that many of the historical sources have been preserved in books, now reproduced on the internet, as the original manuscripts are almost non-existent.
As such I was able to refer to Memoirs of Major General Henry Havelock K.C.B by John Clark Marshman, originally published in London in 1867 by Longmans, Green & Co, for the material concerning the obscure Anglo-Persian war. The reproduction originated from the University of California Libraries network. It was interesting to discover within the pages of that biography that the Persian referred to themselves as belonging to the land of Iran.
The Indian Mutiny is better known, but to Indian historians today it is viewed as the first revolutionary war of independence from the British colonists. It is also my amateur opinion that what started as a military mutiny soon turned into an Indian rebellion for independence. Its failure to do so appears to be the lack of overall agreement between Hindus and Moslems for a united country. That would be an issue echoing down the years leading to the partition of India and Pakistan in the twentieth century.
For background to the sepoy mutiny I referred to the memoirs of Colonel A.R.D MacKenzie CB, from his biography published in Allabadad in 1891 by Pioneer Press, titled Mutiny Memoirs: Being Personal Reminiscences of the Great Sepoy Revolt of 1857. This was found through the University of Pittsburgh. Colonel MacKenzie was an eyewitness to the events that unfolded at Meerut, and the character of Lieutenant Craigie is a real person.
The events at the siege of Lucknow are taken in part from the diary of a truly remarkable woman, Lady Julia Inglis, wife of the military commander, who held out against overwhelming odds until relieved as portrayed in The Queen’s Tiger. I recommend going on the net and searching for A Celebration of Women Writers to read her full account of the Lucknow siege and her vital role in assisting her husband.
The private investigator in this novel, Charles Field, is a portrayal of the real Charles Frederick Field, who was once a noted detective inspector with the Metropolitan Police and friend of Charles Dickens, and who became a noted private investigator after leaving the police force. I doubt that Inspector Field would have approved of the character of Charles Forbes in his real life.
It is worth mentioning that the Enfield rifled musket, and its projectile, the Minié bullet, would feature heavily in the American Civil War and change the course of history for both the British Empire and the Union of the United States.
Something that stood out in my research was the competency of two British generals, Havelock and Outram. Both men are largely overlooked by military historians, who continue to concentrate on Wellington. The event of my fictional characters rescuing General Outram is based on an actual incident – although the original account did not explain why he did so, so I have filled the gap to explain the general’s gratitude to Captain Steele.
Needless to say, there are no shortages of campaigns for Captain Steele and his company of riflemen to march to in the many virtually forgotten battlefields trod by the British army in the nineteenth century.
And no, the next in this series will not have the title The Queen’s Corgi!
Acknowledgements
As always, my thanks go to my publisher, Cate Paterson, who has been there from the first book. Completing this project would not have been possible without the work of Julia Stiles, Libby Turner, Brianne Collins, Rebecca Hamilton, LeeAnne Walker, Tracey Cheetham, Lucy Inglis and Milly Ivanovic.
I would also like to acknowledge the following people who have contributed to my writing year: From the USA, John Kounas, in Australia, Kevin Jones OAM and family, Dr Louis Trichard and Christine, Peter and Kaye Lowe, John and June Riggall, Kristie Hildebrand, John Carroll, Rod Henshaw, Geoff Simmons, Mick and Andrea Prowse, John Wong and family, Rod and Brett Hardy, Jan Dean, Betty Irons OAM, Chuck and Jan Digney, Bob Mansfield and all members of the Gulmarrad Rural Fire Service Brigade. I will extend that thank you to all volunteer emergency service volunteers in the Clarence Valley – and beyond.
To my family of cousins; the Paynes and Duffys. To my brother, Tom Watt and family, as well as my sister Lindy Barclay and husband, Jock, and family, Ty McKee, Kaz and family.
Best wishes go to a few of my author mates, Dave Sabben MG, Simon Higgins, Tony Park and Greg Barron.
About Peter Watt
Peter Watt has spent time as a soldier, articled clerk, prawn trawler deckhand, builder’s labourer, pipe layer, rea
l estate salesman, private investigator, police sergeant, surveyor’s chainman and advisor to the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary. He speaks, reads and writes Vietnamese and Pidgin. He now lives at Maclean on the Clarence River in northern New South Wales. He has volunteered with the Volunteer Rescue Association, Queensland Ambulance Service and currently with the Rural Fire Service. Fishing and the vast open spaces of outback Queensland are his main interests in life.
Peter Watt can be contacted at www.peterwatt.com.
Author Photo: Shawn Peene
Also by Peter Watt
The Duffy/Macintosh Series
Cry of the Curlew
Shadow of the Osprey
Flight of the Eagle
To Chase the Storm
To Touch the Clouds
To Ride the Wind
Beyond the Horizon
War Clouds Gather
And Fire Falls
Beneath a Rising Sun
While the Moon Burns
From the Stars Above
The Papua Series
Papua
Eden
The Pacific
The Silent Frontier
The Stone Dragon
The Frozen Circle
The Colonial Series
The Queen’s Colonial
Excerpts from emails sent to Peter Watt
‘I have just finished reading your latest book The Queen’s Colonial. It is without doubt the best book I have read in 2018. I found it absolutely riveting and could not put it down. I can’t wait for the next book!’
‘Just finished The Queen’s Colonial and as usual it was superb. It never ceases to amaze me how you research the details in history and weave them into a fictional story which is so believable. I will be waiting anxiously for the next one.’
‘Just finished The Queen’s Colonial. Excellent detail . . . you haven’t lost your touch! Another enthralling family saga.’
‘I have just finished The Queen’s Colonial. Truly excellent. I have now read all nineteen of your books. I thought the Duffy/McIntosh series was great, the Papua trilogy was fabulous (I have read those three twice) but I feel that the new book is possibly your best book yet. I am looking forward to the next instalment. Keep up the great writing.’
‘Damn you, Peter Watt . . .!! Just finished The Queen’s Colonial and can’t wait to get the next one. Love your work.’
‘A real page-turner. Your source for the Crimean War was inspired.’
‘Just finished this wonderful book. You never cease to entertain me with your fantastic writing. Please keep writing. As always I’m waiting with bated breath for your next book . . .’
‘Just finished The Queen’s Colonial. Thoroughly enjoyed the book. The military history aspect is interesting to me and the storyline intriguing. What a family!’
‘Thank you for taking the time to write the way you do. When I am reading one of your books I am in the scene with your characters.’
‘I have just completed the Papua series. Your writing has been a constant companion and escape . . . It has been an absolute pleasure to immerse myself with the characters in a thoroughly entertaining blend of fiction and well-researched fact.’
‘Another most enjoyable read. Having generally read factual military history most of my life it was pleasurable to read a fictitious work wherein I could not only enjoy the woven stories, but see and feel the characters. Well done!’
‘Thank you so much for the years of storytelling, especially the Duffy/McIntosh saga . . . Your books will always take pride of place on our bookshelf to remind me of the many hours of enjoyment spent reading them. I think I will have to start over and re-read! Thank you again and please keep on writing.’
This is a work of fiction. Characters, institutions and organisations mentioned in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously without any intent to describe actual conduct.
First published 2019 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2000
Copyright © Peter Watt 2019
The moral right of the author to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry is available
from the National Library of Australia
http://catalogue.nla.gov.au
EPUB format: 9781760787929
Typeset by Post Pre-press Group
Map on page viii taken from The Cambridge Modern History Atlas by Sir A. William Ward, G.W. Prothero. Sir S. M. Leathes & E.A. Benians, 1912, copyright Cambridge University Press, reproduced with permission.
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