04 Peking Nightmares (The Earl’s Other Son Series, #4)

by Andrew Wareham

  An hour and Knowles had completed his calculations and had decided he must accept promotion if it came. He was still of an age to make post-captain in his mid-thirties having achieved commander in the field. That would give him a good chance of rear-admiral and a possibility of vice before retirement. If there should be a major war, then he would be ideally placed. There were any number of lieutenants in the squadron who had been in the landing parties and their captains would be pushing their claims, so the chance of promotion was not that high, but he could not refuse it if it came.

  Magnus was called to the admiral next day. He chose to attend dressed in best sea-going uniform, not in scraper and frockcoat, making the point that they were in a state of war and it was not the time to be concerned with looking pretty.

  The Admiral was attended by his flag-captain and assorted bodies, including Commander Craddock.

  “Good to see you again, Eskdale. Unwounded, unlike so many of your people. I know you were at their front, so don’t look indignant – you were lucky! I have the Japanese commander’s despatch here, in which he names you for a brave attack which much reduced the Chinese artillery. Obviously, I have Craddock’s report as well, also naming you for gallantry and your ship and crew for high efficiency. On top of that, I have your report, from which I gather that your juniors did all of the work while you just tagged along and gave the occasional order! Just the sort of thing we have learned to expect from you, sir! Your youngster, Mulligan, did very well, it seems.”

  “He did indeed, sir, and he is little more than a boy. Came aboard as a stoker and has shown that he wants to progress in the service. I hope to see him a junior ERA before too long and will push for him to take his courses. He is the sort of bright youngster who will make a first-rate Engineer-Lieutenant in a few years, sir. Add to that, a wild bravery such as I have heard of but not myself seen before. Howling like a wolf and at the very front of his pack!”

  Admiral Bruce smiled his pleasure.

  “One can ask for little more of a youngster! Or of an old man! I shall put him in for a Cross, Eskdale. We want to see young men making a career out of the new Navy. No use for rum-soaked, hard-handed old salts – we need able, thinking youngsters to join up with the intention of serving for twenty-five or more years and retiring with skills they can use as civilians. We want to see the Navy as a respectable career, not the last resort of the failure. A lad like Mulligan on the front pages will make many a youngster wonder if he should not spend his life afloat in a respectable occupation.”

  “He is the type you want then, sir. A boy who wants to make something of himself and has found that the Navy will take him out of the Pompey slums and turn him into an officer and a gentleman.”

  The Admiral smiled again. He had said the same thing more than once in the past.

  “Well said. Don’t tell him that he has been put up for a Cross – no more than half a chance he will get one and it might disappoint him to be turned down.”

  “Good for the ship and all of the engine room if he does, sir.”

  “It will also be good for you to have one of your crew earning a Cross at your shoulder. Is your man Knowles capable of command?”

  “He is, sir. Young enough for a destroyer. Sensible enough for a sloop or river gunboat where he would be out on his own.”

  The Admiral signified his pleasure.

  “I shall send him back to Hong Kong, to the destroyer Brave, next month. Her owner has been seconded to Naval Intelligence – he did Hawkins a service recently.”

  “I know, sir. I was present on the occasion.”

  Bruce scowled, having read the unexpurgated account of the action with King Yuan.

  “Not to be mentioned outside this cabin, gentlemen, the captain of Brave has been moved on because I don’t want him under my command at sea.”

  There were too many present in the cabin for the comment to remain private. As Bruce knew, some mouths would certainly open after a gin too many. The grapevine would pass the word of his displeasure.

  “Knowles to go as Commander, of course. You may tell him to put the stripe up, Eskdale.”

  “I shall be very pleased to, sir. That will leave me two lieutenants down, sir. Can I have a mid and a sub or a full lieutenant?”

  “Two mids?”

  “Provided one has some seniority, very willingly, sir.”

  “Make it so, Flag-Captain.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “My report on the Taku Forts will go on the wire from Wei-Hai-Wei to London. You are named, obviously, Eskdale. I can do nothing for you, of course – I have no power to promote a commander – but I should imagine that my report may erase certain parts of your early record, my lord!”

  “Reforming the sinner in the eyes of the Admiralty, sir?” Magnus chuckled. “That may be a task beyond your powers, sir, but my thanks for the effort.”

  There was a quiet laugh through the cabin – the speech was a little daring from a commander to an admiral, but this admiral was prepared to be amused by it.

  “Well said, Eskdale. Your replacement mids will be sent to you from Hong Kong, later in the month. For the while, I want you to join the force that will proceed to Tientsin. A full party of your Obelisks, including all of your Marines. Your Mr Knowles will act in Obelisk in your absence, which will certainly be of some weeks’ duration. If needs be, I shall replace him with one of mine so that he can go back to Brave. Take say four of your lieutenants and a mid or two. You will have command of some part of the relief column. There will be a conference here prior to dinner, commencing at four bells in the Afternoon Watch. You have time to get back to your ship now and get things started.”

  Magnus saluted and fled, running through in his mind who was to go and who must stay. No stokers or oilers this time; Mulligan would remain in the engine room in safety so that his award, if he got it, would not be posthumous.

  “Obelisk, Mr Warren, full speed. I shall wish to return to the flag for the middle of the next watch.”

  “Mr Knowles. I shall be joining the expedition to Tientsin and you will take command in my absence. You are a Commander with immediate effect, very much to my pleasure, and you will take the destroyer Brave when she leaves the Hong Kong dockyard next month. I do not doubt, Mr Knowles, that your feet are firmly on the ladder now – there is a very strong chance that you will overtake me, sir! Well done!”

  Knowles made his thanks, very properly – he owed all to his mentor, he did not doubt.

  “I shall take the Marines – all of them – Mr Pattishall, Mr Geddes, Mr Knuyper and Midshipman Warren with me and a party of fifty or so men. None from the engine room this time. In absolute secrecy, Mr Knowles, the Admiral has put young Mulligan up for a Cross. I doubt he will get it, but he might with even a little luck. Nothing to be said, of course.”

  “He deserves recognition, sir – a wild man in a fight, that one!”

  “Agreed! You will be short-handed, Mr Knowles. There will be a pair of mids from Hong Kong, one at least of some seniority, but you will find it hard to get too much done the while. You know the ropes – do what you can, hide what you can’t!”

  They chuckled and sat down to name the men who could be let go and those whose presence aboard was essential.

  “What of Carter, sir?”

  “Damned good question. He was at my shoulder at the fort, with no difficulty shown. He might feel too old for a long expedition. Carter!”

  “Yes, sir, and I ain’t too old at all, sir. My place is with you, sir!”

  “Sorry. Expect to go ashore in the morning, Carter. Pack socks and boots for me. The rest can go by the board.”

  “I shall pack as is correct for a landing party, sir. Do we know whether Tientsin is to be relieved or retaken, sir?”

  “We do not know that the town has fallen, Carter. That said, we don’t know very much at all.”

  “Nothing changes, sir.”

  Carter retired from the pantry where he had been listening, to the
sleeping cabin to make a selection of clothing for his captain.

  “I made a slight error there, Mr Knowles. I shall have to make amends.”

  “So you will, sir. Very careless!”

  They shook their heads and turned to business.

  “Use the working cabin in my absence, Mr Knowles. You are acting-captain and must make the fact clear. I do not expect you to be called to sail but you must be ready to do so. Do you think I should give Lockhart the opportunity to come with me? He had to stay here while we took the forts, might think he had the right to go on the next outing.”

  “Damned if I know, sir. Do you want me to ask him on the quiet, perhaps?”

  “Maybe… No, ask him to come to me, will you Mr Knowles. I have a conference and then dinner with the Admiral so it will have to be immediate. I have never eaten with Bruce before, what are his dinners like for the ale?”

  Knowles grinned.

  “You won’t be walking straight when you come back, sir. Forget about making any decisions tonight, sir.”

  “Bugger! That means rising at five in the morning with a stinking head to deal with all of the outstanding stuff… Be a good chap, Knowles, get all of the paperwork I must sign ready for me and have a list of any decision I really must take myself. Do everything possible. Inform the officers who are to go and explain to Robbins where Tientsin is and how to put his Marines aboard a railway train. If in doubt, tell him left foot first.”

  Knowles trotted off, to his cabin first where he nodded to his servant to put the extra braid on his cuffs and shoulders. He found there was a coat ready, the changes already made. The grapevine had been busy – one of the stewards on the flagship had overheard and passed the word to the boat’s crew, or that was the normal way it worked.

  Engineer Lieutenant Lockhart presented himself to Magnus within five minutes.

  “Good news for Mr Knowles, sir.”

  “It is indeed. Sit down, Mr Lockhart. I am to take a party to Tientsin, in the expeditionary force. You did not have a chance to go ashore at the forts. Do you wish to come along this time? You are not a seaman officer and it would be entirely proper for you to refuse, Mr Lockhart. It is not your business to be running about with cutlass and revolver, so do not feel obliged to accept.”

  “Will Obelisk be sent to sea in your absence, sir?”

  “Highly unlikely, Mr Lockhart.”

  “Then I have no duty to my engines, sir, and would be very pleased to take an excursion along the railway line. I bought my revolver years ago when I was first commissioned – time to make it more than a piece of ceremonial paraphernalia, sir!”

  “Very good, Mr Lockhart, you are more than welcome.”

  “Thank you, sir. I shall set up a maintenance list for my people in my absence – work for idle hands and all that.”

  “Excellent. Tell them that the stokers and oilers landing party has been named in the Admiral’s report of the action. I am most proud of them but must take only seamen this time.”

  “They will be pleased to know they have been recognised, sir. They are rough men, and the stokers especially not very bright, but many of them, almost all, have good hearts and are Navy through and through.”

  “The Admiral will try to do something for young Mulligan, Mr Lockhart. Say nothing of that until we hear one way or another.”

  “They told me he showed wildly brave, sir…”

  “Just so, Mr Lockhart. Now then, spare boots and several pairs of socks and underwear in your pack. Not too much weight. Cutlass and sixty rounds for your revolver. If you feel enthusiastic, you may borrow a shotgun from one of the sporting men, with loads of buckshot – very useful at close range, so I am told. Take a waterproof groundsheet as well.”

  Lockhart trotted off to equip himself, excited to have the opportunity to play ashore, and aware that a good performance there would do himself a lot of good in the wardroom, would show him to be a real officer.

  “Mr Geddes!”

  Magnus’ shout echoed down the corridor and the Paymaster came running.

  “You are to join me ashore, Mr Geddes. Keep a record, a Captain’s Log of the expedition, if you please. Fully equipped, of course. Bring any of your writers who fancy a vigorous week or two – or more – ashore. Tientsin, first stop. The gwailo community there will be under siege, probably, or we may be too late and simply exact revenge for them. I will be surprised if we cannot lay our hands on prize-money there.”

  Geddes would be more than surprised, he thought.

  “Did you hear that Roger Keyes managed to take the four destroyers, sir? Brought them out to the fleet under tow this morning.”

  “That is a fine officer, Mr Geddes. We shall follow in his wake for the remainder of our careers, I do not doubt.”

  “An admiral in the making, and young, sir. He is little older than you, I believe.”

  Magnus nodded enthusiastically, certain that Keyes would do very well and equally sure that he himself would be lucky indeed if he made post-captain and that even rear-admiral was effectively barred to him.

  ‘Give a dog a bad name… Actually, it was not given at all. I earned it, and most enjoyably.’

  He laughed and made no attempt to explain why.

  “We shall march to Tientsin, I believe, Mr Geddes. The railway is cut in several places and the Boxers will need to be pushed a long way before it will be safe again. We shall find out what is happening when we get ashore.”

  They landed next morning to be informed that nothing was actually happening quite yet.

  Commander Craddock, who was to lead the British contingent again, was more than a little annoyed.

  “Joint command, Eskdale! Pain in the arse! The Russian admiral is senior but the Americans want parity and Admiral Bruce is trying to keep the peace between them and the Italians and Austrians and the bloody French – who are all trying to take part in the command process. Result? Nothing happening at all. I’m trying to ready our parties here, but none of the others have the least idea what’s going on. We won’t be moving today. Probably not tomorrow. Best take your people back aboard Obelisk. We don’t know what’s happening!”

  “The Americans are joining in the fighting now, you say, sir?”

  “Their admiral, what’s his name, Kempff, says they were expected to defend themselves from Chinese attack and he’s blaming the captain of the Monocacy for not firing on the forts when they shot at him. Covering his arse, that’s all! Kempff lacked the guts to order the Monocacy to join the fight and hoped her captain would get him off the hook. Bloody political admirals! So, he’s actually sending Marines ashore. The Russians are too. They are grabbing trains to get as close to Tientsin as they can. Setting off tomorrow, probably. I intend to follow them, if practical. You will get a two hour notice to join me, so you must be ashore and ready. Thinking on it, bring your people here tomorrow. Leave your ship at first light.”

  “It might make more sense to remain here, sir, ready for immediate action, if the need arises. Better for the men than sending them back and forth for hours at a time in the boats. They can take over the naval barracks by the destroyers’ wharves.”

  “Close to the station as well, Eskdale. You’re right – better for them to move forward than back. Make it so, Eskdale. Keep an eye on that bloody great fort over by the town as well. Don’t know what to do with that. Supposed to be an arsenal but I’ve got no orders for it.”

  They camped out in the deserted area of the wharves, keeping the men together for safety’s sake, not knowing whether the whole population of the town below the forts had run away or had been ordered off by the Boxers to give them a free hand to attack.

  “Like a picnic, sir, a banyan.”

  The younger officers thought it to be great fun.

  They were disturbed by a massive explosion next morning, discovered that the fort, less than a mile away, had blown up. They watched as parts of it came back to the ground too close for comfort. A while later, Roger Keyes and some of his crew ca
me wandering by to pick up a boat they had left at the wharf.

  “Big bang there, Roger?”

  “So it was, Eskdale. My fault, I fear. I was taking a morning stroll with some of my men and I went inside to see if it was as empty as it looked and I think one of us must have dropped a cigarette butt. Very careless!”

  Magnus agreed – the men did tend to be slipshod about such things. He glanced as well at the lengths of fuse hanging out of a knapsack the gunnery officer was carrying. He said nothing.

  “Keeps temptation out of Chinese hands, Roger. Never a bad idea.”

  “Big place, that fort, Eskdale. Would have needed at least five hundred men to garrison it.”

  “Better that it’s gone, Roger. Preserves the peace very effectively.”

  They shook their heads companionably and Keyes left to try to persuade Admiral Bruce to the same viewpoint.

  “Mad bugger, Mr Geddes!”

  “Got to admire him, sir.”

  “Agreed. I’m going to take a walk as far as the railway station. See if there’s anything to be seen. Might be a train or two, perhaps.”

  The Russians and Americans had taken the rolling stock and there was nothing left at the Taku end of the line. Magnus reported his findings to Craddock.

  “Best we start to march, sir, or do we wait for the trains to come back?”

  “Wait – there are orders in the pipeline. A joint expedition. Us and more Russians and the Italians and Germans, I think. There is some contact with Tientsin and the word is that Imperial troops have joined the Boxers and are besieging our people there. Numbers are large, of course – one thing China has got is people!”

  Magnus smiled, reflecting that the one thing the naval force was lacking was soldiers, and the number of sailors was limited.

  “Who will have command of our column, sir?”

  “Me. Commander Beatty will be with us as well. Take your men to the station, Eskdale and lay hands on any trains that may turn up. The Russians and Americans should send theirs back when they disembark. Protect them and load them with coal and water, ready to go again.”