Men who have gone through the horrors of war say little about them, but I have learnt many strange things from rare remarks here and there. To show how human life becomes of no account as the fighting grows, here is an instance. A soldier was executed at dawn one day for “cowardice.” An officer who had acted at the court-martial met a private of the same regiment as the dead man’s that day, who remarked to his officer that all he could say about his dead “pal” was that he had seen him perform an act of bravery three times which would have deserved the V.C. “My good man,” said the officer, “why didn’t you come forward at the trial and say this?” “Well, I didn’t think of it, sir.” After all, to die one way or another had become quite immaterial.
One of the most important of my water colours at the second khaki exhibition, held in London in May, 1919, was of the memorable charge of the Warwick and Worcester Yeomanry at Huj, near Jerusalem, which charge outshone the old Balaclava one we love to remember, and which differed from the Crimean exploit in that we not only captured all the enemy guns, but held them. I had had all details—ground plans, description of the weather on that memorable day, position of the sun, etc., etc.—supplied me by an eye-witness who had a singularly quick eye and precise perception.[20] I called it “Jerusalem delivered,” for that charge opened the gates of the Holy City to us. “The Canadian Bombers on Vimy Ridge” was another of the more conspicuous subjects, and this one went to Canada.
But I must look back a little: “Monday, November 11th, 1918.—Armistice Day! I have been fortunate in seeing London on this day of days. I arrived at Victoria into a London of laughter, flags, joy-rides on every conceivable and inconceivable vehicle. I had hints on the way to London by eruptions of Union Jacks growing thicker and thicker along the railway, but I could not let myself believe that it was the end of all our long-drawn-out trial that I would find on arrival. But so it was. I went alone for a good stroll through Oxford Street, Bond Street, and Piccadilly. People meeting, though strangers, were smiling at each other. I smiled to strange faces that were smiling at me. What a novel sensation! The streets were thronged with the true happiness in the people’s eyes, and there was no “mafficking” no horse-play, but such fun. The matter was too great for rowdyism and drunkenness. The crowd was allowed to do just as it pleased for once, yet I saw no accidents. The police just looked on, and would have beamed also, I am sure, if they had not been on duty. They had, apparently, thrown the reins on the public’s neck. I saw some sad faces, but, of course, such as these kept mostly away.”
In deepest gratitude I felt I could be amongst the smilers that day, for both my own sons, who faced death to the very end in so many of the theatres of war to which our armies were sent, had survived.
The boat that took me back to Ireland eventually had no protecting airship serpentining above us. We could breathe freely now!
INDEX
[A], [B], [C], [D], [E], [F], [G], [H], [I], [J], [K], [L], [M], [N], [Œ], [P], [R], [S], [T], [V], [W].
Abbas II., Khedive, [228].
Aberdeen, Marchioness of, [308].
Agostino (cook), [5].
Aix-la-Chapelle, Germany, [29].
Albaro, Italy, [6], [54], [230].
Aldershot, review at, [236].
Alexandra, Queen, launches Queen, [288] seq.
Alexandria, Egypt, [202] seq.
Alma Tadema, Sir L., [154].
Amalfi, Italy, [255].
Amboise, France, [300].
Amélie (nurse), [2], [3], [5], [10].
“An Eviction in Ireland,” [199].
Angers, France, [300].
Antonelli, Cardinal, [74].
Arcole, Italy, [224].
Armistice Day, 1918, [332].
Atfeh, Egypt, [216].
Avignon, France, [178].
Bagshawe, Father, [105].
“Balaclava,” composition, [138];
copyright sold, [151];
exhibited, [152].
Bâle, Switzerland, [179].
Barberi races, [85].
Beatrice, Princess, [301].
Bellucci, Giuseppe, [60], [66], [148].
Beresford, Lord Charles, [221].
Birmingham, [126].
Blois, France, [300].
Bonchurch, Isle of Wight, [12].
Bonn, Germany, [19].
Boppart, Germany, [24].
Broome Hall, Kent, [265].
Browne, Colonel, [120].
Bruges, Belgium, [16], [270].
Brussels, Belgium, [31].
Buller, Sir Redvers, [284].
Burchett, Mr., [39], [41], [42], [44], [48], [50], [101].
Butcher, Dean, [232].
Butler, Elizabeth, Lady, birth and education, [1];
visits to Italy, [3], [54] seq., [147] seq., [159] seq., 252 seq., [279] seq., [306], [311] seq.;
taste for drawing, [4];
early sketches, [7];
commences Diary, [7];
artistic training, [10], [14], [39] seq., [60] seq., [77];
German experiences, [19] seq., 179 seq.;
visits Waterloo, [31];
taste for military subjects, [46];
early exhibits, [50];
sells water-colours, [96];
first military drawings, [98];
conversion to Catholicism, [99];
first Academy picture, [99];
photographs, [114];
at Lord Mayor’s banquets, [122], [139], [153], [193];
present from Queen Victoria, [125];
visits Paris, [127] seq.;
proposed election as R.A., [153];
marriage, [168], Irish experiences, [169] seq., [199], [304];
tour in Pyrenees, [175];
paints “Rorke’s Drift” for Queen Victoria, [187] seq.;
life at Plymouth, [191];
Tel-el-Kebir picture, [194];
residence in Egypt, [196], [202] seq.;
in Brittany, [198];
paints 24th Dragoons, [199];
tour in Palestine, [221];
Aldershot life, [234] seq.;
residence at Dover, [260];
in South Africa, [275];
at Devonport, [277];
tour in France, [298];
“one-man” shows, [303], [318], [321], [329], [331].
——, Martin, [321].
——, Patrick, [321] seq.
——, Richard (Urban), at Downside, [297];
enters Benedictine Order, [302];
ordained as priest, [311];
presented to Pius X., [315];
as army chaplain, [321];
war experiences, [330].
Butler, General Sir William, marriage, [168];
German tour, [179] seq.;
Zulu War, [183];
friendship with Empress Eugénie, [185], [241], [257];
at Plymouth, [191];
at Lord Mayor’s banquet, [193];
Egyptian campaign (1882), [193];
Gordon expedition, [194];
Wady Halfa command, [196];
receives K.C.B., [199];
Alexandria command, [200];
Aldershot command, [234], [284];
Dover command, [260];
South African command, [275];
attacks on, [276];
Devonport command, [277];
tour in France, [298];
asked to stand for Parliament, [303];
on Royal Commission, [303];
speeches in Ireland, [309];
death, [310].
Cairo, Egypt, [196].
Cambridge, Duke of, [131], [218], [235].
“Canadian Bombers on Vimy Ridge,” [331].
Canterbury, opening of church in, [132].
Cap Martin, France, [251], [257].
Capper, General, [327].
Capri, Italy, [254].
Carcassonne, France, [178].
Castagnolo, Italy, [161].
Cette, France, [177].
Chapman, Sir F., [110].
“Charge of the Dorset Yeomanry at Agagia, Egypt,” [329].
Chatham, Kent, [120].
“Cistercian Shepherd,” [305].
Coblenz, Germany, [21].
Collier, Mortimer, [192].
Cologne, Germany, [19].
Connaught, Duke of, [235].
Corpus Christi procession, [119].
Cruikshank, George, [123].
“Cuirassier’s Last Réveil, Morning of Waterloo,” [320].
d’Arcos, Madame, [258].
“Dawn of Sedan,” [111].
“Dawn of Waterloo,” [244].
“Defence of Rorke’s Drift,” [187] seq.
Delgany, Ireland, [199], [225].
Denbigh, Earl of, [117].
“Desert Grave,” [198].
Devonport, [277].
Deyrout, Egypt, [217].
Diamond Jubilee, 1897, [266].
Dickens, Charles, [9].
Dinan, France, [198].
Dordrecht, Holland, [181].
Dover, Kent, [38], [260].
Du Maurier, George, [107], [154].
Dufferin, Marquis of, [140].
Durham, [144].
Düsseldorf, Germany, [180].
Edenbridge, Kent, [4], [185].
Edinburgh, [145].
Edkou, Egypt, [205].
Edward VII., King (formerly Albert Edward, Prince of Wales), approves of “Roll Call,” [113];
accession, [286];
at launch of Queen, [289] seq.;
lays keel of battleship, [295];
postponed coronation, [297].
Edward VII. (battleship), [295].
Elizabeth, Empress of Austria, [271].
Eugénie, Empress, interview with General Butler, [185];
friendship with the Butlers, [234], [251];
devotion to her son, [237];
recollections of Egypt, [241];
at Cap Martin, [257].
Farnborough, Hants., [235].
Ferguson, Sir William, [110].
“Floreat Etona!” [193].
Florence, Italy, [57] seq., [147] seq., [161].
Fort St. Julian, Egypt, [217].
Frederick, Emperor, [245].
——, Empress. See Victoria, Empress Frederick.
Gabriel, Virginia, [152].
Gallifet, Marquise de, [242].
Galloway, Mr., [111], [131].
Garibaldi, Giuseppe, [6].
Gave, River, [176].
Genoa, Italy, [5], [54], [230].
George V., King, [261].
Gladstone, W. E., [266].
Glendalough, Ireland, [199].
Gormanston, Viscountess (formerly Miss Eileen Butler), [317].
Gormanston, Ireland, [318].
Grant, Sir Hope, [115], [116].
Graphic, [99], [125].
Haden, Seymour, [110].
Hadrian’s Villa, Rome, [280].
“Halt!” [119].
“Halt on a Forced March: Retreat to Corunna,” [225].
Hastings, Sussex, [9].
Heidelberg, Germany, [179].
Henley-on-Thames, [15], [97].
Henry of Battenberg, Princess. See Beatrice, Princess.
Herbert, J. R., [105].
Imperial, Prince. See Napoleon, Prince Imperial.
“Jerusalem Delivered,” [331].
Kitchener, Lord, [221], [272] seq.
Koenigswinter, Germany, [19].
Lane, Richard, [11], [42].
Le Breton, Madame, [257].
Leman, Lake (Lake of Geneva), [179].
Leo XIII., Pope, [257], [280], [281], [315].
Letters from the Holy Land, [278].
“‘Listed for the Connaught Rangers,” [169], [184].
Lothian, Marchioness of, [118].
Louis Napoleon, Prince, [247].
Louise, Princess, Duchess of Argyll, [250].
Lourdes, France, [176].
Luchon, Bagnères de, France, [177].
Luxor, Egypt, [197].
Lyndhurst, Hants., [321].
McKinley, William, [288].
“Magnificat,” [83], [97].
Magro (cook), [219].
Mahmoudich Canal, Egypt, [207].
Malmaison, France, [245].
Manning, Cardinal, [113], [133], [137].
Mareotis, Lake, [203].
Mayence, Germany, [180].
Medmenham Abbey, [15].
Metubis, Egypt, [217].
Meynell, Mrs., [10], [51], [79], [99], [119], [155].
Millais, Sir J. E., [11], [106], [107], [132], [138], [264].
“Missed!” [125].
“Missing,” [168].
Missionary College, Mill Hill, [119].
Monte Carlo, [258].
Monte Cassino, Monastery, [313].
“Morrow of Talavera,” [271].
Mulranny, Ireland, [305].
Mundy, Sergeant-Major, [31].
Naples, Italy, [229], [252].
Napoleon, Prince Imperial, [185], [237].
Naval Review, 1897, [269].
Nervi, Italy, [2], [4].
Newcastle-on-Tyne, [143].
Newcomes, illustrations to, [45].
Nîmes, France, [178].
Œcumenical Council, opening of, [79].
Paget, Lord George, [118].
Paray-le-Monial, pilgrimage to, [99].
Patti, Adelina, [123].
Perugia, Italy, [70], [283].
Pietri, Franceschini, [243], [257].
Pisa, Italy, [161].
Pius IX., Pope, [76], [82], [90], [92], [94].
—— X., Pope, [307], [314], [316].
Podesti, Signor, [85].
Pollard, Dr., [101], [102], [104], [120], [186].
Pompeii, Italy, [253].
Porto Fino, Italy, [159], [230].
”Quatre Bras,” studies for, [112], [130];
models for, [120];
copyright sold, [124];
correctness of uniforms, [125];
where hung, [133];
success of, [135];
Ruskin’s approval, [146].
Queen, launching of, [288] seq.
Ramleh, Egypt, [204].
Ras-el-Tin, Egypt, [228].
“Remnants of an Army,” [184].
“Rescue of Wounded,” [278].
“Return from Inkermann,” preparations for, [153], [157], [165];
exhibited, [168].
“Réveil in the Bivouac of the Scots Greys on the Morning of Waterloo,” [232].
“Review of the Native Camel Corps at Cairo,” [230].
Rhodes, Cecil, [296].
Riding Together, illustrations to, [48].
“Right Wheel,” [250].
Ristori, Adelaide, [7].
Roberts, Earl, [287].
“Roll Call,” models for, [101];
methods of work, [102];
attention to details in, [103];
success of, [104];
private view, [107];
sale of copyright, [111];
bought by Queen Victoria, [111];
taken to Windsor, [116];
question of horse’s steps in, [118].
Rome, Lady Butler’s visits to, [71] seq., [256], [279], [306], [311] seq.
Rosetta, Egypt, [205], [216].
Ross, Mrs. Janet, [148], [161], [165].
Rotterdam, Holland, [181].
Ruskin, John, [51], [146], [153].
Ruta, Italy, [3], [230].
St. Etheldreda’s Church, London, High Mass in, [154].
St. Peter’s, Rome, functions in, [75], [280], [283].
St. Sauveur, France, [176].
Salisbury, Marquis of, [199], [262] seq.
Salvini, Tommaso, [136].
Savennières, France, [299].
“Scotland for Ever,” [186], [187], [191].
Sestri Levante, Italy, [56].
Severn, Joseph, [78], [84], [107].
Shahzada of Afghanistan, [246].
Siena, Italy, [162].
Sistine Chapel, Rome, [281], [307].
Sori, Italy, [3].
Sorrento, Italy, [254].
South Kensington Art School, [10].
“Steady, the Drums and Fifes!” [261].
Stone, Marcus, [154].
Strettell, Rev. Alfred, [6].
Stufa, Marchese delle, [147], [161].
Super-Bagnère, France, [177].
Syndioor, Egypt, [217].
Tennyson, Alfred, Lord, [155] seq.
“Tenth Bengal Lancers at Tent-pegging,” [278], [287], [297].
Tewfik, Khedive, [208], [226].
“The Avengers,” [239].
“The Colours,” [271].
Thompson, Miss Alice. See Meynell, Mrs.
——, Miss Elizabeth. See Butler, Elizabeth, Lady.
——, Mr. T. J., [1], [2], [14], [49], [84], [191].
——, Mrs. T. J., [2], [3], [9], [12], [51], [58], [83], [84], [143], [310].
Thomson, Dr., Archbishop of York, [117].
Toulouse, France, [177].
Valentia Island, [174].
Vatican Gardens, Rome, [282].
Vecchii, Colonel, [6].
Venice, Italy, [200], [211], [308].
Ventnor, Isle of Wight, [12], [97].
Verona, Italy, [224].
Vesuvius, Mount, ascent of, [255].
Victor Emmanuel, King of Italy, [6].
Victor Napoleon, Prince, [247].
Victoria, Queen, buys “Roll Call,” [111];
commissions “Rorke’s Drift,” [187];
reviews troops at Aldershot, [235], [250];
death, [285].
——, Empress Frederick, [244], [286].
Vyvyan, Miss, [42].
Wady Halfa, Egypt, [197].
Wallace, Sir D. Mackenzie, [248].
Waterloo, field of, [31].
Wellington, Duke of, [33].
Westmoreland, Countess of, [110].
William II., German Emperor, [238].
“Within Sound of the Guns,” [278], [301].
Wolseley, Viscount, [194], [265].
Woolwich, review at, [117].
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