Trench Visitor

[PhilB]

Can you identify this prominent person visiting the trenches? Phil B

[PhilB]

Here`s a little help. Phil B

[Steven Broomfield]

Descendant of W E Gladstone?

[PhilB]

He was a self-proclaimed Soldier`s Friend! And there are currently echoes of his claim to fame. Phil B

[Desmond7]

Horatio Bottomley? Whom I have also seen described as 'the odious'!!

[PhilB]

It is indeed Horatio. A VERY colourful character! Phil B

He then turned his attention to the matter of recruiting. His famous recruiting speech was first delivered on 14 September at a huge rally when five thousand people filled the London Opera House and fifteen thousand waited outside hoping to get tickets. Of course he had a high opinion of his own talents in this respect: "Professional politicians are useless for this purpose. I’m going to be the unofficial Recruiting Agent of the British Empire."

Early in 1915 he made the following promise at another massive rally: "When the time comes I will not hesitate ... to insist upon the trial by court martial of every man who has taken advantage of his country’s troubles to line his filthy pockets with gold at the expense of the State."

He became much sought after as a speaker at recruiting meetings, and appeared in theatres throughout the country, usually supported by a chorus of wounded soldiers and hospital nurses. At one venue (he claimed) a thousand men joined up as a result of his oratory.

At straightforward recruiting meetings he charged only £25, but made his money at 'patriotic lectures' where he took most of the takings - there were well over 300 of these during the last three years of war.

He was virulently anti-German, and believed that the whole race should be hated and shunned. He gave the readers of John Bull some advice for when the war ended: "If by chance you should discover one day in a restaurant that you are being served by a German waiter, you will throw the soup on his foul face."

The truth is that few serving soldiers felt the same hatred for the enemy as those on the Home Front - they were after all both victims of war. The Wipers Times mocked Bottomley mercilessly, giving him the name Cockles Tumley.

[gporta]

Phil,

You have made me curious, so I just found and read the article on him in the Aftermath WW1 site.

He seems one of these people to whom "patriotism is the refuge of scoundrels" (someone please give the right sentence?) is a fitful description. Personally I dislike those who make profit out of waving a flag while others bear the burden.

Gloria

[DaveBrigg]

'Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel' - Dr Johnson (1709 - 1784) As true now as it was then...

[gporta]

Sadly, it is

Thanks for the right quote, Dave.

Gloria

[Guest Simon Bull]

He was a self-proclaimed Soldier`s Friend! And there are currently echoes of his claim to fame. Phil B

Enlighten us re these echoes!

[PhilB]

I have to admit I had him confused with Maundy Gregory. But the following passage is somewhat reminiscent of Jonathan Aitken`s finest hour. Phil B

The Victory Bond Club was one risky venture too many, and he was eventually convicted in 1922 on charges of fraud.

Never one to miss a captive audience, Bottomley stood in Bow Street Court, pointed to the sword of the figure of justice, and turning to the jury he said, “That sword would drop from its scabbard if you gave a verdict of guilty against me.” The sword did not fall and the jury took only 25 minutes to deliberate a guilty verdict. He received a seven-year prison sentence for “fraudulently converting to his own use sums of money entrusted to him by members of the public”.

[Guest Simon Bull]

I understand.