A Duet with an Occasional Chorus (ACD Journal vol. 1 No. 1)
A Duet with an Occasional Chorus [Vol. 1 No. 1] is an article written by David Stuart Davies published in the A.C.D. - The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (Vol. 1 No. 1, september 1989).
This article is a closing editorial commentary column used to share society news, literary queries, and Conan Doyle-related notes of wider interest. It discusses the Society's link with the Alliance of Literary Societies, a query about Lord John Roxton's "Greys," Conan Doyle and the Legion of Frontiersmen, and ends with a welcoming reflection on the new journal's aims.
Article
It is appropriate that Joint Editors should have an outlet for comment at the end of each issue. 'A Duet, with An Occasional Chorus' will also allow us to highlight items which are worthy of wider discussion, and which do not fall under the general heading of Letters to the Editor, which in future editions will appear under the heading 'A Point of Contact'. We thank Arthur Conan Doyle for providing so suitable a title for these items.
The Alliance of Literary Societies
The Arthur Conan Doyle Society has joined The Alliance of Literary Societies which, after doing much useful work in an unofficial capacity for 15 years, has been established recently on a more formal basis with the following objects:
a) To act as a liaison body between member societies, and when necessary as a pressure group.
b) To be a referral body with a centre for enquiries.
c) To assist where desirable and practicable in preserving buildings, places and objects with literary connections.
d) To have the power to issue periodic and other publications.
e) To arrange appropriate meetings, and suitable social activities.
The Alliance issues a regular Newsletter Chapter One and a number of copies are received at the Editorial Office. If you are genuinely interested in receiving a copy of the Newsletter on a regular basis, please forward stamps to cover postage.
We believe that The Arthur Conan Doyle Society is to be featured in the next issue of Chapter One.
Lord John Roxton's Greys
Roger Johnson, known to most of us as the untiring compiler of that highly informative newsletter The District Messenger is looking to help Jack Tracy of Gaslight Publications with a reference which appears in Chapter 13 of The Lost World.
Roger writes: 'In Chapter 13, Lord John says, 'The Last Stand of the Greys' won't be in it. "With their rifles grasped in their stiffened hands, 'mid a ring of the dead and dyin'," as some fathead sings. Can you hear them now?"
What is the reference? Or references? The Head of Archives at the National Army Museum has responded negatively, and so has the Regimental Secretary of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, which incorporates the Royal Scots Greys. I suspect that Lord John's reference is to a music hall song or monologue, but it's certainly not one I recognise. Can anyone help please?"
Editor's Note My own instinct was to check Conan Doyle's own military writings and, sure enough, hiding away towards the end of Corporal Dick's Promotion, a poem included in the 1898 collection Songs of Action is the following stanza:
- "A squadron of British horse that night.
- Galloping hard in the shadowy light.
- Came on the scene of that last stern fight,
- And found the Corporal lying
- Silent and grim on the trampled sand,
- His rifle grasped in his stiffened hand,
- With the warrior pride of one who died
- 'Mid a ring of the dead and the dying."
The poem, subtitled 'A ballad of '82', appears to have been set during the Arab nationalist revolt in Egypt during 1882; but there, my knowledge ends. Can anyone else help with The Greys?
Please write either to the Editorial Office, or direct to Roger at 210 Rainsford Road, Chelmsford CM1 2PD.
The Legion of Frontiersmen
In the first issue of the Society's Newsletter, The Parish Magazine, we published an appeal from Mr. John A. Hogan, Organiser of The Edgar Wallace Society, for help in establishing Sir Arthur's membership of The Legion of Frontiersmen which had been formed in 1909 by Captain Roger Pocock, one of the many irregulars' who flocked to South Africa to help during the South African War.
John Michael Gibson has been able to point to a letter which is included in The Unknown Conan Doyle Letters to the Press. Whilst this letter is not conclusive on the subject of Conan Doyle's membership of the Legion, it does at least show that he was aware of the activities of that body.
The letter to The Times, dated 12th April 1906, is reproduced here:
- Sir, — There is a body called 'The Legion of Frontiersmen' which is at present endeavouring to organise some of those civilian forces in the nation which might be of service in time of war. There is one great body to whom they have. not appealed which could as a matter of fact be easily organised and which might be of vital importance at a critical moment. I mean the motorists of Great Britain. I will suppose such a contingency as a sudden invasion or raid, The news reaches London that a hostile force has established itself on the south or east coast. Everything depends upon swift action so as to prevent any cavalry that force may possess from pushing on in small parties, seizing junctions, cutting wires, blowing up bridges, and generally disorganizing the defence. It might be some days before a sufficient military force could be on the spot, and in the meantime much mischief would be done and the enemy more strongly established.
- My suggestion is that a thousand motorists, a number which I am sure could be trebled or quadrupled, should organise themselves, and should pledge themselves, on the first news of such invasion, to instantly fill up their cars with picked riflemen drawn from their own immediate neighbourhood, and to convey them, with a week's food, their rifles, and their ammunition, to the danger point. Food, rifles, and motor-cars are already to hand, and the only factor missing is the ammunition, 2000 rounds of which should be given by the Government to the keeping of the motorist who signifies his willingness to serve such ammunition to be stored in his garage in time of peace. In this way, within a very few hours, such a fringe of irregular, self-supporting, riflemen would be formed round the enemy that they could not push swiftly on, or collect supplies, without their patrols being cut off, and an immediate line of resistance would be formed behind which the regular defence could be prepared all this without putting any tax upon the railways.
- I recognise, of course, the risk which such improvised troops would run under the laws of war, but I am convinced that such risk would be cheerfully met in so grave a crisis.
- To test the efficacy of such an organisation would be most easy. Let it be formed, and let the War Office telegraph the place of landing upon a given day to every motorist upon the rolls. Let their representatives be upon the spot, and let them count for themselves how many thousand riflemen with arms and provisions would report themselves within five hours.
- I should be much obliged if every motorist who reads of this scheme and approves of it would send a card to that effect to the secretary, Legion of Frontiersmen', 6 Adam Street, Adelphi, W.C.
- Yours faithfully,
- ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE
- Undershaw, Hindhead, Surrey.
The term 'collectors' item' is bandied about all too frequently these days and its coinage has been somewhat devalued, but I think that the term can be justly used in reference to this, the first edition of 'A. C. D. The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society'. I do not consider that having a certain input into the publication disqualifies me from praising its quality, variety and erudition or being proud of the end result. That is because the Journal is mainly due to one man: Christopher Roden. It was he that not only conceived of the idea of this Society, but had the enthusiasm, determination and what seems like tireless energy to convert the idea into reality. His respect amongst Doyleans needs no greater evidence than the list of names who have penned articles at his request.
It is a strange thing, as Star Trek philosophy will have it (without the split infinitive), to go where no man has gone before. Our mission is to learn more and increase others' awareness of a man and his works. This Journal is our first step in that direction.
Letters, suggestions and enquiries are most welcome... A Society cannot function effectively in a void. There is room for all who have an appreciation of Arthur Conan Doyle, from those who have only read the Holmes stories and are just venturing further, to those who have devoured all of Conan Doyle's works and read every available biography.
Welcome: there is a different game afoot!
D.S.D.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
