Beresford and Fripp

Isandula's latest addition to the library of Captain Lord William Beresford VC prompts me to post a passage from Melton Prior's "Campaigns of a War Correspondent". It is about a "coming together" of Beresford and Fripp and demonstrates just what a fiery little character our artist was. The altercation takes place after the reconnaissance by Buller over the White Umfolosi (before Ulundi) where Beresford had rescued a wounded man.

" Those who watched the brave little band return declared that it was touch and go whether they would get across safely. However they succeeded in doing so and just as Colonel Buller was going to return to camp some one calmly informed him that a man was left behind. Looking through his glasses he did discover some one calmly standing on the enemy's side of the river sketching...........He called out to him to come back immediately or he would have him fetched and sent as a prisoner to the rear.

This energetic little man who had been sketching turned out to be Charlie Fripp of the Graphic. And he was most indignant about being ordered about by anyone!

Fripp came up to us, he was fairly foaming with rage. Seeing Lord William Beresford he rode over to him and demanded to know who the man was who had spoken to him in that insulting manner. To which Lord William, who was still smothered in the blood of the man whose life he had saved replied, "You know Mr Fripp quite well without my telling you."

I don't, replied Fripp and I desire to know who it was. Unfortunately he spoke in such an offensive manner that at last Lord William said in a quiet sort of way "If you don't speak more politely I'll pull you of your horse and thrash you." That was quite enough for Fripp who was a plucky little devil and without more ado he jumped of his horse and squared up to Lord William. And he was going for him in rare style when, in self defence, Beresford had to show fight. It was quite exciting for the moment that it lasted and Fripp certainly showed that he could use his fists, but Lord William, who was a notorious bruiser and all round sportsman, did not want to hurt him, but with a straight one from the shoulder pushed rather than knocked him down.

Fripp was so excited and in such rage that he up with his foot and kicked Lord William, whereupon it was most amusing to see the latter dance round roaring with laughter and saying "Oh he kicked me! Take him away: I'm frightened. He's kicked me!"

In another moment Archie Forbes and myself had caught hold of Fripp, who fought like a perfect little demon, and we tore his coat to pieces before we could haul him away to his tent."


Moral - Don't mess with an artist!  

I will never view his Isandhlwana painting in quite the same way again.

Steve

Steve,

Don't forget that Charles Fripp was a member of the Artists' Rifles. Later in that unit's history they would become 21st S.A.S.

John Y.

"
Though Time Goes By... by David Rowlands. (GS)


The 50th Anniversary of the SAS 1947-1997. Depicting 21 SAS. The Artists Rifles was raised in London in 1859 as a Volunteer regiment, and comprised professional painters, musicians, actors, architects and others involved in creative endeavours. The unit's badge, designed by William Wyon, shows the heads of the Roman gods Mars and Minerva in profile. It served in the Boer War and the 1st World War, when it suffered higher casualties than those of any other battalion, including 2,003 killed, 3,250 wounded, 533 missing and 286 prisoners of war. Members of the regiment won eight Victoria Crosses, fifty-six Distinguished Service Orders and over a thousand other awards for gallantry. During World War II it was an officer training unit, but was disbanded in 1945. The Special Air Service (SAS) was formed in 1941 by David Stirling as a commando force operating behind enemy lines during the war in North Africa and Europe. It was officially disbanded on 30th November 1946. In 1947 the Artists Rifles was re-raised as the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles). 21 SAS was active during the Malayan Emergency and in many subsequent conflicts. In 1952, members of the Artists Rifles who had been involved in special operations in Malaya formed 22 SAS. For much of the Cold War the role of 21 SAS was to provide stay-behind parties in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion of western Europe. This painting was commissioned to mark the first 50 years of the 21st Special Air Service Regiment (Artists Rifles). The scene depicts a meeting, bridging time between SAS soldiers of 1947 and 1997 as they share a brew of tea. The theme is the constant truth that, though times change, the man, in most respects, stays the same. 21st SAS enjoys a long historical affiliation with the Royal Academy, and this painting was unveiled at a cocktail reception there on Friday 6th December 1996, to mark the unit's Golden Jubilee."