Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries: From Medical Orderly to Cabinet Minister
240
Private Lord Crawford's Great War Diaries: From Medical Orderly to Cabinet Minister
240Overview
This unusual account is written by the 27th Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, an active Lancashire MP for eighteen years until he inherited the title on his father’s death in 1913. In 1915 his sense of patriotic duty drove him to join the RAMC as a Private, although he was married with seven children, head of a large company and well over age. Despite his privileged status in civilian life, he cheerfully served as a humble medical orderly on the Western Front for some fourteen months and was given responsibility for two operating theatres.
A gifted author and diarist, his daily entries provide a fascinating insight into life near the front over this period and, together with his letters home, his writings reflect the stark contrast between his home life and the one he experienced in Flanders. Of particular interest are his astute observations on his contemporaries of all ranks, the conduct of the war, medical services and life in wartime France. Remarkably he never complains at his lot (although often sharply critical of GHQ and politicians) or regrets his decision.
As the author was the only Cabinet-level politician to serve “in the ranks” during the conflict, this is a record without any parallel. In 1916 Crawford was persuaded eventually to return to London and join Asquith’s Cabinet before staying on under Lloyd George until 1922. After the war, he became a director, trustee or advisor of several museums, such as the British Museum, National Gallery and others. The Crawford Papers (his diaries, edited by Prof. John Vincent) describe his civilian experiences from 1892 to 1940 and are seen as an invaluable source for students of politics, art, industry and society in Britain.
The book contains three maps and seventy-five illustrations.
This fascinating book fills a needy gap at a time of unprecedented interest in The Great War.
Praise for Private Lord Crawford’s Great War Diaries
One of The Times “Books of the Year” 2013
“[Crawford’s] previously unpublished war diaries, meticulously edited by his grandson, offer a fascinating glimpse into life at the front and in the upper reaches of politics at home—and contain some frank comments on his former Cabinet colleagues.” —Literary Review
“Lord Crawford was the only Cabinet-level politician to serve “in the ranks” during World War I as a private. A gifted author and diarist, his daily entries provide a fascinating insight into life in the frontline over a fourteen-month period.” —History Scotland
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781473829961 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Pen & Sword Books Limited |
| Publication date: | 01/31/2020 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Pages: | 240 |
| File size: | 31 MB |
| Note: | This product may take a few minutes to download. |
About the Author
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements vii
Abbreviations ix
Timeline xi
List of illustrations xiii
Map: Prelude to the Great War xiv
Introduction xvi
Business as usual
Crawford enlists as a private in the RAMC
the Lindsays
commitment to public service
The Royal Army Medical Corps
one officer worth twenty men
vermilion parasols
Crawford as a war diarist
back to politics
looking back on the war experience
Map: The Northern section of the Western Front 1915-16 xxxii
I 2 May to 16 July 1915 1
Departure from Aldershot
delays at Le Havre
alcoholic temptations
prisoners
letters and parcels
political interlude
venereal disease
journey to Hazebrouck
creating two operating theatres
Tanbes bomb Hazebrouck
promotion to Lance Corporal
nurses
refugees
spasmodic fighting
many casualties
Crawford's first louse
II 18 July to 22 September 1915 25
From lace factory to seminary
fatigue and garden work
Germanic names
court martial
thirty-one officers and nurses lord it over twelve NCOs and men
Colonel's stretcher design
trench fever and neurasthenia
au revoir to the horses
looting and souvenirs
sailors revered
unofficial music
French and British boots
the men's intuition about their officers
loafing at GHQ
French railway guards
great troop movements
Mother McCarthy rattles the nurses
III 25 September 1915 to 2 January 1916 63
Der Leichenfeld von Loos
morale of wounded men
Hazebrouck groans under British occupation
dental red tape
visit of an august personage
hospital crisis
lice, flees and scabies
Churchill's speech horrifies
inspection trip with General Porter
boot problem and foot problem
French cartoons and posters
French replaced by Haig
Crawford granted leave
IV 2 to 12 January 1916 103
A week's leave in Scotland
V 12 January to 23 March 1916 114
Officious military police
clothing reform
NCOs and men will win the war, not officers
follies of GHQ
gathering troops
Crawford proposed as RAMC quartermaster … and Viceroy of India
contradictory routine orders
attack on Ravenna's cathedral and other atrocities
carnage at Verdun
dentistry the pariah of medical services
French press attitudes
British government confusion over conscription
French courage and endurance
VI 24 March to 6 June 1916 146
The Anzacs and Canadians come to town
twelve months in the ranks
Australian indiscipline
second trip with General Porter
Zeppelin over Edinburgh
local currencies
Anzac lung troubles
German brutalities anger America
Dublin shame
Crawford's family want him home
complex accoutrement
preparing for Somme
promotion to corporal
Jutland's stupefying losses
VII 7 June to 9 July 1916 178
Lord Kitchener's death and assessment
his succession
colonel's stretcher plagiarized
colonel's well earned promotion
French press urging British action
Russia's success at Czernovitz peters out
allies bogged down in Salonica
Crawford offered commission in Intelligence Corps
Battle of Somme
Crawford accepts cabinet post, encouraged by his senior officers
Postscript 196
Map: Aftermath of the Great War 198
Illustration Credits and Source Notes 200
Index 201