By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes (Glasgow, 1911)

Rawnsley writes that ‘it will be seen that many of the walks herein described were taken in the Spring of the year.  This has been done with a purpose.  I have long felt that the outside public do not realise the extreme beauty of the colouring of the Lake District at this season’.

The book is dedicated to:

 Her Royal Highness

The Princess Louise

President of the National Trust

Who Gave The Summit of Grange Fell In

Memory Of Her Brother, The Late King Edward VII.

And By Her Public Spirit Was Instrumental In

Helping Great Britain To Obtain The Most

Beautiful Part Of Borrowdale For

The Enjoyment Of The People

Contents

Past and Present in the Keswick Vale (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 1-19)

Morning and Evening at Crosthwaite (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 20-26)

Skating on Windermere (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 27-35)

March Marvels at the Lakes (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 36-46)

A Crack about Herdwick Sheep (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 47-72)

An April Walk to Westmoreland (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 73-84)

Sexton Joe (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 85-91)

An Evening Walk in Wythop (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 92-99)

Up Fairfield, in June (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 100-111)

A Lesser Known Worthy of the Lake District (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 112-123)

The Olympia of Wrestling in the North (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 124-132)

To Easedale Tarn (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 133-155)

Buck Castle—A British Stronghold (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 156-166)

A Pilgrimage to Irton Cross (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 167-175)

A Spring Wald Up Skiddaw Dodd (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 176-186)

The Hermitage Chapel on Cartmel Fell (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 187-207)

The King’s How in Borrowdale (By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pp. 208-233)

Hits: 3249

Ballads of Brave Deeds (London, 1896)

Hardwicke was obsessed with heroes and heroism, whether on the battle-field or in everyday life.  His first published work was a poem titled, ‘The Miner’s Rescue’, and was dedicated to those ‘who helped in the heroic rescue of their imprisoned fellow-men, in the Tynewydd Pit, April 20, 1877’.    

His first book, A Book of Bristol Sonnets, includes a number of examples of personal bravery.    His last poetry volume was titled The European Wae 1914-1915: Poems, and includes numerous poems on the heroic actions of individuals.  Even his juvenile unpublished poetry contains poems on this theme.  Although many of his writings on heroes and heroism are in the form of poems he also wrote articles on the subject.  An example is the series ‘Heroism in Common Life’, published in the Sunday Magazine, and intended to be read by parents to their children on a Sunday evening. 

Sir John Franklin, the naval officer and Arctic explorer, was Hardwicke’s great-uncle, and undoubtedly influenced him in his fascination with heroic exploits.  However, the ultimate exemplar of self-sacrifice for the common good is, of course, Jesus Christ, and Hardwicke fervently believed that heroes were following in the Lord’s footsteps.

Ballads of Brave Deeds is dedicated to the painter G. F. Watts and Mary Fraser Tytler, his second wife, who were great friends of Hardwicke and his wife, Edith.  Watts was the instigator of the ‘Memorial to Heroic Self Sacrifice’, a public display of ceramic tiles, each one commemorating ordinary people who sacrificed their lives that others may be saved.  The monument is in Postman’s Park, London.  In his Prefatory Note to Ballads of Brave Deeds, Watts wrote:

These poems were inspired by deep and reverential admiration for affecting and splendid self-sacrifice, even unto death, and for brave endeavours to save the lives of others, often unknown, and in no way connected save by the brotherhood of need.  This sublime sympathy, in the highest degree and beyond all else human, receives only the transient record in the daily papers, and is forgotten!

We pay the tribute due to those who distinguish themselves so nobly when duty calls, in the field and in the dangers that beset active life, and who receive the just reward of their devotion and service, in honours and dignities and permanent record in the annals of the nation, but our admiration is especially called for, when life is risked and given, not exacted by duty in the ordinary sense, not amid the tumultuous rush of comrades, not even in the forgetfulness of momentary excitement, but with the calm deliberateness of what may without exaggeration be called divine sympathy, undaunted by certain peril and often in the face of repeated failure that might justify abandonment of effort.  The known history of the world affords nothing more worthy of profound admiration.  These deeds, happily far from uncommon, will more than anything else constitute in the far future our claim to be considered a noble people.  When our material successes may be more than rivalled by peoples and states now undreamed of; inspired by the highest human impulse, by the secret of these deeds, the beating of the great heart of the nation will vibrate through all time.

Contents

Poems marked with an asterisk had appeared in print prior to their publication in the book.

Michael Hardy (p. 1)

In a Battery (p. 4)

Alice Ayres (p. 10)

The Warriors’ Death-Song (p. 13)

Brave Beresford (p. 17)

Heroes of Chitral (p. 20)

Captain Baird—In Memoriam (p. 23)

A Crosthwaite Hero (p. 25)

Loss of H.M.S. “Victoria” (p. 28)

The Greater Love (p. 35)

A Pearl for our Sea-King’s Crown (p. 37)

The Falling Star (p. 40)

A Ballad of Port Blair (p. 44)

M‘Dermott’s Deed (p. 48)

The Harvest of Courage: A Ballad of the Boston Deeps—August 1895 (p. 53)

“Well Done, ‘Calliope’!” (p. 57)

A River Tragedy: Barmouth (p. 64)

A Brave Bishop: Zululand (p. 66)

The Loss of the “Serpent” (p. 70)

Murphy, the Fireman (p. 74)

A Cumberland Miner’s Story (p. 78)

A Hero of Walhalla (p. 83)

A Modern Viking: Newcastle, Western Australia (p. 91)

The Mate of the “Norham Castle” (p. 94)

Tried in the Fire: The Stewardess of the Iona (p. 99)

The Wreck of the “Ocean Queen”: To the Heroes of Colwyn Bay—Nov. 7, 1890 (p. 103)

Dodd, the Hero of Audley Mine (p. 110)

The Brothers: A Ballad of Schleswig-Holstein (p. 114)

*The Heroes of Rhondda Vale (p. 119)

The Drummer Boy of the Malakand Pass (p. 124)

Harley’s Eight: A Ballad of Chitral—April 16, 1895 (p. 127)

Fletcher’s Fight: A Ballad of Nyasa Land (p. 131)

A Lincolnshire Hero (p. 135)

Jacob’s Well: An Incident in the Skirmish of Doornkop, Transvaal (p. 138)

Hosan the Faithful (p. 140)

Brave Plate-Laying (p. 143)

In Honour of E. A. Hatton, Seaman of the “Dunbar Castle” (p. 145)

The “Aidar’s” Master (p. 146)

  

Hits: 4163

Ballads of the War (London, 1902)

The book records events during the Second Boer War, 1899-1902. It was first published in 1900.  A second edition followed in 1902 that included over 40 additional poems plus many photographs. 

In his Preface, Hardwicke wrote that the book:

Aims at nothing more than being a record in simple verse, of some of the golden deeds and pathetic incidents of the South African War.

The poems have been arranged, as far as possible, in chronological order; the volume therefore becomes a kind of diary, not only of the battles fought, but also of the state of feeling here in Great Britain at various crises in the campaign.

A short Prefatory Note was written by Arthur Conan Doyle.  

Contents

†To Lord Roberts: A Welcome Home (p. 3)

†In the War School: A Recall to the Colours (p. 5)

The Wounded Piper of Elandslaagte (p. 6)

After the Battle (p. 10)

In a Camp Hospital, Elandslaagte (p. 12

Trooper Who Carried the Colonel In (p. 16)

How the Naval Guns Came to Ladysmith (p. 19)

†In Honour of Frederick Greville Egerton, Gunnery-Lieutenant, H.M.S. “Powerful”: Ladysmith, November 2, 1899 (p. 22)

The Leonids and Ladysmith: November 14, 1899 (p. 26)

Death Aboard our Transports: To All Whom It May Concern (p. 27)

To Winston Churchill: Estcourt, November 15, 1899 (p. 28)

An Estcourt Hero (p. 32)

A Hero of Belmont (p. 33)

A Gallant Midshipman: Graspan, November 25, 1899 (p. 37)

Bible v Bullet (p. 39)

At the Grave of Major Scott Turner: Kimberley, November 29, 1899 (p. 43)

Sail Away “Tantallon” (p. 44)

The Black Watch (p. 46)

Carbineers to the Rescue: Arundel, December 11, 1899 (p. 47)

At the Burial of General Wauchope: Modder River, December 13, 1899 (p. 53)

A Timely Confession (p. 57)

A Gunner’s Story: The Battle of Colenso, December 15, 1899 (p. 58)

Another Philip Sydney: Colenso (p. 60)

Resolute (p. 63)

The Sailing of the “Maine” (p. 64)

A Generous Life-Guardsman (p. 66)

An Arm-Chair Critic (p. 68)

A Man of Straw at Ladysmith (p. 69)

Old Mortality: A Sketch at Ladysmith (p. 70)

Home from the Front for Christmas Day (p. 72)

War and the Old Folks’ Creed (p. 75)

To Lord Roberts: On His Departure from England as Commander-In-Chief in South Africa (p. 77)

†The Queen to Lady Roberts (p. 78)

The New Year, 1900 (p. 79)

Britain’s New Year: January 1, 1900 (p. 80)

The Last Question (p. 81)

To the Men of the Border Regiment, Cumberland Sends Thanks and Greetings for 1900 (p. 82)

In Memory of the Late Earl of Ava (p. 85)

†In Memory of Lieutenant Cecil Arbuthnot White (p. 86)

†Gallant Manchester: Cæsar’s Camp, January 6, 1900 (p. 91)

†At Cæsar’s Camp: Ladysmith, Jan. 6 (p. 93)

†To Captain George Kemp, M. P. (p. 94)

A Graveside Memory at Colesberg (p. 97)

The Dead Boy and the Dying Boer (p. 99)

The Day of Intercession: A Village Hymn (p. 102)

The City Imperial Volunteers at St. Paul’s (p. 103)

Mistaken Kindness (p. 106)

†A Hero of Spion Kop (p. 108)

To the High Court of Parliament (p. 113)

A Cry from Cape Town to Westminster (p. 114)

The Bugler’s Wish (p. 116)

†The Relief of Kimberley (p. 119)

To the Hero of Kimberley (p. 122)

Pat O’Leary’s Grave (p. 125)

Love, the Conqueror (p. 127)

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning: A Contrast, February 24-25, 1900 (p. 129)

The Queen at Netley (p. 131)

To Kronje on Majuba Day (p. 132)

The Relief of Ladysmith: To General Sir Redvers Buller, February 28, 1900 (p. 135)

In the Burial-Ground at Ladysmith (p. 139)

To General Sir George White (p. 140)

†Balliol to George Steevens: War Correspondent of the “Daily Mail”; He Died at Ladysmith of Enteric Fever (p. 143)

†Starved to Death: At Ladysmith (p. 147)

†The Horrors of War (p. 149)

†The Star of Chivalry (p. 150)

†A Warlike Spring (p. 152)

†To Rimington, King of the Scouts (p. 154)

†How They Saved the Wagon Bridge at Bethulie (p. 161)

†A Brave Postmistress (p. 165)

†Piet Joubert Dead (p. 166)

†To Major E. J. Phipps-Hornby, V.C., of Battery “Q” (p. 169)

†The Spring that Cannot Cheer (p. 170)

†Wounded on Good Friday, April 13, 1900 (p. 172)

†Light in the Darkness: In Honour of Captain E. B. Towse (p. 174)

†A Border Lament (p. 178)

To Colonel, now General Baden-Powell (p. 181)

†In the Grave-Yard ay Mafeking, May 18, 1900 (p. 183)

†The Dying Charger (p. 184)

†The Gallant Earl of Airlie (p. 186)

†Dead for Joy (p. 188)

†To the C.I.V.—Greeting! (p. 191)

†A City’s Welcome to Her Volunteers, Oct. 27, 1900 (p. 192)

†A Brave Trumpeter (p. 194)

†A Gallant Engine Driver (p. 196)

†At a Soldier-Prince’s Funeral (p. 201)

†To Sir Redvers Buller: A Welcome Home (p. 202)

†The Son Who Lives To-Day (p. 204)

†To Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief of H. M. Forces in South Africa (p. 206)

†To De Wet (p. 209)

†To Paul Kruger: At Marseilles (p. 211)

†To Sir Alfred Milner (p. 212)

†The Choir Invisible: Christmas Day, 1900 (p. 215)

Retrospect (p. 216)

†To the Queen, Jan. 22, 1901 (p. 219)

(† indicates poems added to the 1902 edition)

Hits: 5244

A Sonnet Chronicle 1900-1906 (Glasgow, 1906)

In his Prefatory Note, Rawnsley wrote:

It has been my custom for some years past to keep in sonnet-form a calendar of events that stirred one or seemed of interest to others; and I have ventured to publish a selection of these, in the hope that readers—if there be any found—may care to have their minds recalled to the events they commemorate.

Contents

Sonnets marked with an asterisk had appeared in print prior to their publication in this book.

My Lady (p. 1)

*The New Year, 1900 (p. 2)

*Ruskin at Rest (p. 3)

*St. George’s Day, April 23rd, 1900 (p. 4)

Love’s Spring-Tide (p. 5)

*To Sir Alfred Milner (p. 6)

In Honour of Abraham Esau (p. 7)

The Choir Invisible: Christmas Day, 1900 (p. 8)

To the Dying Century, Farewell! (p. 9)

A Rejoinder (p. 10)

The Passing of the Queen (p. 11)

To a Dumb Mourner (p. 12)

Love in Death (p. 13)

The Sorrow of the Fleet (p. 14)

*Across the Flood (p. 15)

The Harvest of Love (p. 16)

To the Kaiser (p. 17)

The Way of Peace (p. 18)

The Millenary of Alfred the King (p. 19)

To Mary Wakefield (p. 20)

The Mother of Her People (p. 21)

*Love Triumphant (p. 22)

Christmas Day, 1901 (p. 23)

New Year, 1902 (p. 24)

*Cecil Rhodes (p. 25)

A Dream of St. Francis (p. 26)

*The Angel-Whisper, Peace (p. 27)

The Coronation Bonfires (p. 28)

The Skiddaw Bonfire (p. 29)

To Kitchener of Khartoum (p. 30)

The Crowning of the King (p. 31)

The Coronation (Before) (p. 32)

The Coronation (After) (p. 33)

The Pilot’s Home-Coming (p. 34)

Unveiling of the Rose-Window (p. 35)

Autumn at Brandelhow (p. 36)

Zola Dead (p. 37)

Archbishop Temple (p. 38)

*A Christmas Message, 1902 (p. 39)

*The New Year, 1903 (p. 40)

*The Delhi Durbar (p. 41)

*The Cry of Macedonia (p. 42)

*America to England, Greeting (p. 43)

*In Memory of Edna Lyall (p. 44)

L’Entente Cordiale: July 8, 1903 (p. 45)

The Cry of the Women to Our Church Councillors (p. 46)

Herbert Spencer (p. 47)

The Vision that Helped Sebastian Cabot (p. 48)

A Christmas Thought, 1903 (p. 49)

*The Tide of Love: New Year, 1904 (p. 50)

The Master of the Temple (p. 51)

To G. F. Watts, R.A. (p. 52)

At Hengwrt: April 5, 1904 (p. 53)

St. George’s Day, 1904 (p. 54)

Bradford, Then and Now (p. 55)

Home Memories (p. 56)

*The Home of Rest for Horses (p. 57)

L’Entente Cordiale: April, 1904 (p. 58)

Death, The Angel Friend (p. 59)

The Church of the Free (p. 60)

At the Baptism of the Czarevitch (p. 61)

*The Battle of Liao-Yang (p. 62)

At Bishop Bardsley’s Grave (p. 63)

Unveiling of the Bede Memorial (p. 64)

*The New Year, 1905 (p. 65)

Voices from the Dust (p. 66)

*Red Sunday in St. Petersburg (p. 67)

Four Portraits of the Painter (p. 68)

*Jupiter and Venus (p. 69)

*The Chiff-Chaff (p. 70)

To the River Greta (p. 71)

*Dawn in Greece and Cumberland (p. 72)

*To Admiral Togo (p. 73)

Launch of the Japanese Battleship “Katori” by Princess Arisugawa (p. 74)

At the Unveiling of the Tennyson Statue, Lincoln (p. 75)

L’Entente Cordiale (p. 76)

*To the Mikado (p. 77)

The Spider’s Message (p. 78)

The Garden City (p. 79)

Gowbarrow (p. 80)

In Trafalgar Square (p. 81)

*Nelson’s Last Prayer (p. 82)

The Queen’s Appeal (p. 83)

*Christmas, 1905 (p. 84)

Hits: 3920