View source for Fierce-Eyed Infantry


''Fierce-Eyed Infantry'' is an article written by Julian Ralph published in the [[Daily Mail]] on 10 april 1900, reproducing an excerpt of the article [[A First Impression]] written by [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] (published initially in [[Friend]] magazine on 6 april 1900).


== Fierce-Eyed Infantry ==
[[File:Daily-mail-1900-04-10-p5-fierce-eyed-infantry.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Daily Mail]] (10 april 1900, p. 5)]]

'''Dr. Conan Doyle paints a Brigade on the march.'''

(From Our War Correspondent.)

Bloemfontein, April 6.

Dr. Conan Doyle sends to to-day's "Friend" "A First Impression."

<span class="q">"It was only General Smith-Dorrien's Brigade,"</span> he writes, <span class="q">"but if it could have been passed, just as it was, down Piccadilly, it would have driven London crazy.</span>

<span class="q">"I watched them — ragged, bearded, fierce-eyed infantry — struggling along under their cloud of dust. Who could conceive, who has seen the prim soldier [in time] of peace, that he could so quickly transform himself into this grim, virile barbarian?</span>

<span class="q">"Bulldog faces, hawk faces, hungry wolf faces, every sort of face except a weak one. Here and there a man smoking a pipe, here and there a man who smiled; but the most have their swarthy faces lean a little forward, with eyes steadfast and features impassive but resolute.</span>

<span class="q">"Here is a clump of Highlanders with workmanlike aprons in front and keen faces burnt black with months on the veldt; and honoured name that they bear is on their shoulder-straps.</span>

<span class="q">"'Good old Gordons', I cried as they passed me. A sergeant glanced at dirty enthusiasm in the undershirt. 'What cheer, matey?' he cried, and the men squared their shoulders and put a touch of ginger into their stride.</span>

<span class="q">"Here is a clump of mounted infantry, a grizzled fellow like a fierce old eagle at the head of them. Some are maned like lions, some have young, keen faces, but all leave an impression of familiarity upon me; yet I have not seen irregular British cavalry before.</span>

<span class="q">"Why should it be so familiar with this loose-limbed, head-erect, swaggering type? Of course! I have seen it in an American cowboy over and over again. Strange that a few months on the veldt has produced exactly the same man that springs from the western prairie!</span>

<span class="q">"But these men are warriors amid war. Their eyes are hard and quick. They have a gaunt, intent look, like men who live always under a shadow of danger. </span>

<span class="q">"Here and there are other men again, taller and sturdier than the infantry line, grim, solid men, straight as poplars. There is a maple-leaf, I think, upon their shoulder-straps, and a British Brigade are glad enough to have those maples leaves beside them, for the Canadians are the men of Paardeberg.</span>

<span class="q">"And there, behind their comrades in glory, come the Shropshire Light Infantry, slinging along with much spirit after their grand sporting colonel."</span>














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* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle:Complete Works|Back to Complete Works]]
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle|Back to Conan Doyle]]