Dear Mr Cornwell

 

At the age of 44, I fear I may be about to embark on that sport of retired (in military terms only!) soldiers – writing rambling letters to journalists.

 

I am delighted that Uhtred lives to fight another day at the end of ‘The Empty Throne” – thank you for another thoroughly enjoyable read.  Santa was particularly generous this Christmas, (my mother keeps a close eye out for your books), so I hope you will be glad to hear that my knowledge of the Waterloo campaign is now rather more coherent!.  Again, thank you.

 

Whether Uhtred, Thomas Hookton or Derfel, I must confess to being a life-long fan -romantic tales of glory and high adventure have never failed to catch my eye, and I suppose this is the reason why most young men join armies.  In about 1982, I remember my father had 2 paperback books on a side-table.  A Rifleman himself, it seemed only logical that he might have bought “Sharpe’s Eagle” and “Gold”.  I fear it’s the last he saw of them – and they still sit amongst my collection!  Although I am a 4th generation soldier, having followed my dad into The Royal Green Jackets, and its recent successor The Rifles, I am of course very biased – Richard Sharpe remains very firmly primus inter pares!

 

Sean Bean’s excellent Sharpe (albeit 5’8”ish and Yorkshire, rather than 6’3” and cockney, sadly) was of course compulsive watching when I joined the regiment in 1993, and when I left 4 years ago I am glad to report that The Rifles continued to bask in his reflected glory.  We loved Sharpe, although (as a 6’3” Rifleman myself) I must confess that Daragh O’Malley’s Patrick Harper, whilst good theatre, was a less credible soldier and not a patch on your original!

 

Like all my contemporaries, I played a small part in ‘Blair’s Wars’ – not Britain’s finest historical hours I fear, but we played the hand the Army dealt us, I suppose.  I therefore have a row of medals which may look impressive to the uninitiated, but is really closer to military ‘air miles’ – nothing to compare with those who fought in 2 world wars, or indeed the occasionally savagery of Napoleonic campaigning.  However the Army’s ‘mark of Cain’ means I have been fortunate to have had experiences not all can enjoy, and more poignantly made friendships whose depths can only be forged in adversity of some sort – albeit sadly some of our ranks did not come home.

 

As I drafted this letter I was staring out across horizontally blown snow in a Scottish glen.  With our Independence referendum recently decided, but the issue very far from resolved, it makes me wonder whether your eye will ever look ‘north of the border’.   Perhaps the history of the 1689, 1715 and 1745 uprisings has been picked bare, but I suspect not.  I was always rather proud that our Regimental museum had a set of bagpipes from the Highland Company – presumably the sons and grandsons of catholic Highlanders – from when the 95th Rifles were formed in 1800.   10 regiments each produced a company of their best, to create the new regiment and exploit the latest military technology – the rifle.    So I suppose Sharpe would have known them … if they could have understood one another, or perhaps his French son may have met their descendants in the American Civil War.

 

I also remember that you mention General Sir John Moore in “The Fort”.  A copy of the well-known picture of General Moore takes pride of place in the Officers Mess in Edinburgh Castle (I now work for the Army’s charity in Scotland, so occasionally visit the Mess).  Arguably Scotland’s greatest soldier, his statue stands in Glasgow’s central George Square.    Moore’s legacy on modern soldiering is of course the sight of camouflaged soldiers, working in pairs, using their initiative and firing rifles.  Although replaced by radios, I am glad to report that our bugles still travel on operational tours!  Strongly-held views of course continue to fuel irregular warfare, as Moore must have seen in North America.  Today’s savage religious extremism perhaps proves that some things don’t change; maybe Uhtred is right – ‘fate is inexorable’.

 

Apologies, a long and rambling ‘letter’ – I really just wanted to say thank your for many years enjoyment.  May your prolific ‘buckle’ continue to be ‘swashed’! I look forward to the next installment.

 

Yours sincerely

 

Charles Dunphie