A Professional Soldier.

The son of a gardener, James Duncan enlisted in the 17th Lancers in 1842.

Promoted from the ranks during the winter hell of the Crimean War, he went on to fight in the Indian Mutiny, before becoming the Fort Major of Edinburgh Castle, and retiring as an Honorary Colonel.

He is the subject of my new book, ‘A Professional Soldier’, which examines the everyday existence of a 19th century cavalryman, as he rises through the ranks from Private to Colonel. Exploring the routines, drills, tactics, and ideals, which would have made up Duncan’s daily life, and defined him as a career soldier.

(While hopefully proving that far from being blunderers, most Crimean War soldiers were competent professionals.)

Read a review of 'A Professional Soldier' here.

Read An Excerpt Here.

Read a summary of James Duncan's life here.

See Pictures From The Book Here.

BUYING the book.
A Professional Soldier is available as a perfect bound paperback:

If you are in Europe, click here to buy from Lulu.com

If you are in Oceania, send an email to the author directly at:
de-scribemedia@outlook.com

Cheers,

Matthew Perry.

(Member C.W.R.S.)

Crimean War Transport Number 109: The Edwin Fox.

Built in India in 1853, the Edwin Fox was hired by the British government during the Crimean War. (1854-55) She was employed carrying troops and supplies, for both campaigns, in the Baltic and Black Seas.

After the war, she spent the next twenty years carrying convicts to Australia, goods to India, and immigrants to New Zealand.

Towards the end of the 19th century, she was fitted out with refrigeration, and was retired as floating storage for mutton, at various ports around New Zealand.

A century later she has been dry docked in Picton, New Zealand, by the Edwin Fox society.

Along with the S.S. Great Britain, she remains one of only two surviving Crimean War vessels in the world.

Know more: Edwin Fox Society