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Recipes from Disaster - Conclusion

© John Barham

He landed at Balaklava at the end of March 1856, a week or so after Florence Nightingale. She had criticised him privately in a letter to Aunt May, concurring with what she had heard - that he was called a 'humbug' who never finished anything that he started. The letter had been written on her last trip the previous October shortly after her arrival and in deep depression at finding obstruction and lack of progress at the hospitals. She had asked Alexis to provide additional extra diet kitchens, but he had been prevented from doing so by his illness. Doubtless this was the reason that he was included in the general condemnation. Whether she had said anything to him subsequently or not, his first priority on return was to sort out the extra diet kitchens, and their friendship and cooperation was quickly restored.

With the news that the war was officially over arriving on 2nd April, Alexis decided his remaining time would best be employed in training soldier cooks to use his stoves - sufficient numbers were now available in the right size. He had to make his mark with yet another Commander-in-Chief - Lord Codrington, who agreed the project, on the understanding that no more stoves should be shipped from England, but the existing stock should be distributed on the basis of a minimum of one per regiment.

Perhaps sharing Fred Dallas' doubts about the ability of the soldiers to cook properly, Alexis decided to give selected men, company by company,individual tuition in all aspects of preparation of his simple recipes. In terms of sheer volume, a monumental task and to be carried out with some urgency, because the embarkation plan would shortly be set in motion, and he wanted the detail of his system to be propagated in all regimental depots at home and overseas.

Had Dallas confided his doubts to Alexis? Quite possibly, because Alexis' accomodation base was on Cathcart Hill, and he was dependant on 4th Division; Dallas was ADC to the Divisional Commander, Major General Robert Garrett (both of the 46th Foot). Bon Viveur Fred, initially sceptical towards the somewhat 'over-the-top' personal presentation of the Frenchman, quickly warmed to him on closer acquaintance. On 16th April he wrote 'Alexis Soyer is living with our Division and is great fun. He dined with us last night. He is a most pleasant amusing man, and great friends with my Chief, with the power of whose stomach he is greatly struck. He has known and met such a variety of people, and tells his anecdotes so well, that he is capital company.' By 29th May, their relationship had warmed to the terms of 'We had a wonderful Soireé a few nights ago at old Soyer's....As you may imagine, Soyer is a most popular man and gets on with everybody.' Russell of The Times was present, as Fred related,'a most amusing vulgar Irishman...and sang some very good Irish songs.'