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The Winter Soldiers
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The Fourth novel in the 'Fancy Jack' Crossman series
After the battle of Inkerman on 5 November 1854 the British Army in the Crimea faces a terrible winter with hopelessly inadequate provisions and clothing. In this grim season Sergeant Jack Crossman and his usual band of grumblers and stalwarts are billeted at Kadikoi village near Balaclava harbour, with instructions to blow up the magazine in the Russian Star Fort. Yet it transpires this is not to be Crossman's main mission. His true task is to spy on a British general accused of corruption, and to bring about his downfall. Crossman does not relish this undercover mission but of course will carry out direct orders to the best of his ability. In the meantime, however, he and his comrades will also destroy an enemy clocktower and a crane, and educate soldiers' brats to stop them from running wild - while on a personal level, Crossman will have to pit his wits against his old flame, Mrs Lavinia Durham, to foil her attempts to wed him to a lady of her choice. In addition to all these special duties Crossman and the 88th Connaught Rangers are to play a key role in two actions that form part of the overall strategy of the war: the taking of Kertch, gateway to the Sea of Azov, and the assault on the Quarries. Scenes of desperate hardship are sharply contrasted with lighter moments in the field, and the brief, thrilling bouts of close combat that will eventually determine the outcome of the war. Set against this bleak historical backdrop Garry Douglas Kilworth brings vividly to life the friendship and the courage of men who have seen long hard service together, and are willing to risk whatever it takes to achieve their ultimate goal. |