Historian’s 14s. a Week

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 980, 24 May 1930, Page 18

Historian’s 14s. a Week

The romantic sacrifice of Lady Fortescue, one of the most beautiful women in Society, is revealed by her husband. Sir John Fortescue. Sir John, who was formerly librarian at Windsor Castle, has lee* engaged for years on a monumental “History of the Army.” The fimucHl reward of the great task is practically nil, but in order that her huslaiu should pursue his work free from financial icorry, Lady Fortescue becam r a dress designer, and her beautiful home at Hampstead became her salon. How successful she was in her self-chosen profession is revealed by Sir John's dedication of his book, “with loving thankfulness ” to his tcifi.

F T E R indefatigable labour stretching over 30 years, Sfr John Fortescue, ex-King’s Librarian at Windsor

Castle, has completed his tremendous “History of the British Army,” and now offers the public the thirteenth and last volume of the work. His achievement hides a wonderful story of persistence, romance, and love. To Sir John, the research and writing have been a labour of love, since he has always delighted in military history. The work had also the special affection of Lady Fortescue. Sir John had a slender purse, and in order to help him to be free to pursue his task, his wife became a fashionable dress designer, trading under the name of “Cintra,” and directing operations from their home at Hampstead. Flowers and Music Setting Wonderful creations were designed by Cintra,” and society women flocked to “The Admiral’s House,” Hampstead, where a hidden orchestra used to play classical music while dresses were viewed to a background of banks of flowers. In the last sentence of the preface to his last volume, Sir John proudly dedicates his history “with loving thankfulness to my wife,” who, as he points out, was “but a child, of whose existence I was for many years to remain unaware,’” when he began the work at the beginning of the century. Sir John also permits a-glance at a more private side of the romantic story.

His wife, he places on record, “fought incessantly to win for me the leisure for completion of my task,” in defiance of pain and sickness.” The author has made but little money out of his history. i n the first 25 years he did not make £I,OOO. As it grew volume by volume, the most it added to his income was 14s a week.

Had not King Edward made him rarian at Windsor in 1905 he woulc have been compelled to hare given q the work. Despite his limited mean.-, the author got great joy and atbeiture from his task. He found it necessary to travel Europe to visit the sites of bygone battles, and at some places he made extraordinary discoveries. Or the field of Vittoria, for example, be found a sheer cliff, mentioned by no Jj. writer, and shown on no plan oi tin battle, yet a topographical detail tin: materially affected the campaign. Mr. Herbert Cribb, who from the K beginning drew the maps for the toe tory, was as intent on accuracy *• Sk » John. Rivers had altered courses or we” j canalised, coast lines had changes, marshes were drained, forests teller land was reclaimed or else abandonee to the sea, villages either absorbed ■ towns or obliterated —all this pened during the six centuries U’’ ered by the work. Whether overwhelmed by piles £ . records, old and new, or faced wit \ crude early maps and rude scribblingoit documents, Mr. Cribb produced tee maps as demanded. Then the enthusiasts would eked maps and text, fighting excitedly tt* battles and attacks not once, but sew ral times. There w-ere always at letf two checks—and sometimes more, jj* in the case of a Buenos Ayres site’ quoted iu the last volume's preS# Sir John writes: With immense difficulty I got tojjj of three or four plans and chart*? the <-ity, and worked out aU the det*of the attack. . „ We had read and checked it at -O distinct stages, when Mr. f'neb pw duced a new survey and told me: ”

• orientation of ail your plan? * s , V §j what you have called north * ! “Altogether we checked that . atta.-k on seven different «... re®? ' The new volume, which deal*^ the Crimean War, the Indian * yr and lesser campaigns, takes tory of the army up to 187(k Ik