Lord Lytton had arrived in India knowing nothing of it “except its myths,” but was hard at work learning more, being somewhat puzzled but greatly interested. Amongst other matters, such as famine and irrigation, there was the ever-troublesome question of our geographical boundaries amongst the Afghan mountains, requiring close study and attention. It would be pleasant to follow the work done on this tour and its far-reaching results, but it has no place here except as far as Lord William was connected with it, so I pass on, simply stating that after a long and careful study of the famine question, Lord Lytton satisfied himself that periodical famines must be expected, and provision must be made for such distressful times during the country’s prosperity. He appointed a famine commission to enquire into it and report thereon, as to means of irrigation and any other measures possible to adopt. This report was issued in 1880, the year of Lord Lytton’s return to England, and was the foundation of the latter-day system of irrigation, developments of communication, and famine insurance, the benefits of these measures to be reaped by his successors.
In September of the same year (1877) His Excellency returned to Simla. In October Lord William had collected a few promising horses and began entering them under his own name. His colours were carried at the Dehra October Meeting by Oliver Twist, Lucifer, and Firetail. Lucifer was a country-bred, on which Captain Chisholme of Lord William’s regiment won two races for him. A little later, at Umballa, he had a good time, Oliver Twist bringing in the shekels by winning the Drawing-room Stakes, ridden by T. Tingey, the chief professional jockey in India at that time. Lord William rode in all the “chases” at the meeting, but scored no wins. He had a fall in the Grand Stand Plate, but was not much the worse, so remounted and rode in another race the same afternoon. The betting and plunging at this meeting amounted to a scandal, especially as many of the losers were more or less penniless. The settling naturally took a long time; indeed, I have heard that some of the winners never got their money at all. This meeting was the beginning of the break up of a very well-known figure in those days, Captain Frank Johnson, one of the handsomest of men, he being one of the heaviest losers.
Lord William’s attention was now turned towards Jowaki, where the Frontier tribes were growing aggressive, and it became necessary to send troops to straighten matters out a little, and he had great hopes of being allowed to accompany them. Lord Lytton complained to the authorities at home that it was somewhat difficult for him, when so little was known of what we called our frontier, as there were no maps to show where our territory really began or ended.
The hill tribes are always rather a problem. All are muscular and warlike, but many of them acknowledge little tribal control or responsibility, which makes it difficult to know whom to deal with. Their chiefs have no control over them, even when they have chiefs, on which point I am by no means clear. The incessant raids on Peshawar and the district could not be tolerated, so Lord Lytton sent troops with instructions to deliver a night surprise, which, for some reason, did not come off until daylight, thereby losing its effectiveness and warning the tribes of our intentions, which was unfortunate. The first stage of this expedition was consequently a failure. After this little miscarriage of justice and retribution, General Keyes was sent with more troops to punish the raiders. This was called the Jowaki Expedition. Lord William begged the Viceroy to allow him to go with General Keyes. Permission being granted he was happy, for this was after his own heart. The General’s instructions were, to cut off the Jowakis from the other tribes, to prevent their neighbours joining in with them. This was successfully accomplished, and a good lesson taught, as the Jowakis’ losses were severe and ours light. After this, there were only about 1500 rebel tribesmen left to deal with. Finding their strongholds destroyed and most of their land in our hands, they gave in, and sent to make terms. Lord William enjoyed himself, as this was his first experience of active service, for which he received the medal and clasp. After several months of climbing mountains in pouring rain, and struggling across torrents, he returned to Simla, where someone asked him the time-honoured question, “What were your sensations when first under fire?” To which he replied, “I don’t remember what I felt like under fire, but I do remember what it felt like under water—dashed unpleasant!”
Under Lord Lytton’s orders the tribal frontiers were thoroughly surveyed and mapped out, also good roads made in every direction, after which the Punjab frontier settled down to peace and quietude.
So many years have elapsed since Lord William was in India, indeed so many since he died, that I am somewhat handicapped by letters and documents dealing with this, and many other parts of his life, having been destroyed. So many of his contemporaries have passed away, also no wife or mother living, with cherished letters and records to help in these Memories. His brothers, though deeply attached to him, were of necessity much apart, each following his own profession, and therefore not in a position to help much about his foreign service.
After the Jowaki Expedition Lord William returned to his duties on the Viceregal staff, keeping one eye on the Russian influence in Afghanistan, hoping he might have a chance of more fighting. He was longing to be back with his regiment, as they were sure to go if there was any serious trouble, and this there was before long. What is now known as the second phase of the Afghan War came after the hasty treaty of Gandamak. The Khyber Pass Force was withdrawn as far as Lundi Kotal, and Sir Louis Cavagnari, a political officer of some repute, was sent with an escort to Kabul as resident, Sir Donald Stewart’s division remaining at Kandahar. As many people expected, this arrangement did not last long, but they were not prepared for the terrible thing that happened.
While the whole country was waiting to hear of the safe arrival of Sir Louis and his escort, news came that he and all with him had been massacred. Thus began the second phase of the Afghan War. Sir Frederick Roberts fought his way up to Kabul and remained there, trying and hanging a number of people, some say wrong ones as well as right, but it was impossible to help it, and no doubt they all richly deserved what they got, so it was just as well. The 9th Lancers were in the thick of the fighting and Colonel Cleland disabled, so Lord William’s old friend, Colonel Stewart Mackenzie, took command. They had great difficulty in saving the guns by getting them across a twelve-foot ditch, the only possible crossing of which had been blocked by a fallen wheeler and the gun stuck fast. Colonel Stewart Mackenzie endeavoured to execute a charge, the second during the day. Meanwhile the officer responsible for the gun gave orders to unhook and spike it. Colonel Stewart Mackenzie’s horse was shot, and, falling on him, he was rescued with the greatest difficulty.
XMAS CARD TO AUTHOR