Rail to the Rescue - Part 3
was no realisation of any potential benefit in getting his stores up to the Divisions without problems. James next went to meet Sir Colin Campbell, to beg for men; the Scotsman was enthusiastic about the whole project and asked when the railhead would reach Kadikoi; three weeks after we start work, was the confident reply. However he was faced by an increase in Cossack patrol activity and could spare no one. Finally the 39th Regiment came to Beatty's rescue. Recently arrived from Gibraltar, they were currently in Balaklava waiting to move up to the line. Captain Park from the regiment had been on the Board of Officers. Impressed by the project and its scope, he had managed to secure the services of at least 100 men plus two lieutenants from his CO.
At last Beatty could make some sort of start, and work began on clearing the garden area, slicing a flat area into the hillside for the navvies' huts, and clearing the appalling human and animal detritus away from the Railway Quay. Then on the morning of 2nd February, a dramatic development. The sounds of 'Cheer Boys Cheer' wafted into the harbour, preceding the bow of Wildfire easing into view around Castle Point with navvies clinging from every inch of rigging. And then shortly after she had anchored, a huge bonus; Hesperus arrived in the harbour. This meant 180 men instantly ready for work, which was just as well as the 39th reported that they were moving out the next day. They had done sterling work, creating a large flat metalled compound in the garden area which meant that stores could be loaded off both ships without problems.
Kellock had arrived on the Hesperus. Beatty thought he looked somewhat distant and subdued, and found out that the problem had been the navvies' behaviour during the voyage. At Gibralter they had been allowed ashore, where they had drunk themselves stupid, and clambered all over the Rock, trying to catch the apes. They quickly expended any store of goodwill they might have possessed with the military authorities. So on arrival at Malta they were allowed on shore, but only without any money. Once landed in Valletta, they organised a series of public prize fights amongst themselves and charged admission to the general public, until they had enough money for everyone to get drunk again. They staggered back covered in cuts and bruises from scraps amongst
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