From Fortnum’s food to a cave of rats
A Kent aristocrat, who lived in a castle and had luxury Fortnum & Mason food sent to him at the Western Front, was reduced to living in a deep cave surrounded by rats.
A hundred years ago last month the owner of Scotney Castle sailed over to France to fight in the First World War as a Brigadier-General.
He was Arthur Hussey, who commanded the Royal Artillery, 5th Division. Described as a humanitarian Arthur was held in high regard by his men and labourers who worked on his Scotney Castle Estate near Lamberhurst.
He was the son of Edward Hussey III, who built the mansion house now owned by the National Trust.
Now his tale can be told from his diaries, artefacts and personal memorabilia that waited nearly 100 years to be found, near a fireplace, in the castle’s attic room of a maid.
A black metal box was discovered whose contents give a remarkable insight into the period and the contrasting life of men from the village who worked on the estate and later on the front line.
The bloody trench warfare and close fought battles are thrown into sharp contrast with Arthur’s previous gentrified living, even though his concerned sister-in-law Rosamund regularly posted him the best food Fortnum & Mason could provide from its Piccadilly store.
In the black box were the store’s catalogues and bills Rosamund incurred for luxuries like dried vegetables, camp pie, steak and oyster puddings and peaches in syrup.
The revealing finds show the contrast with what Arthur was experiencing at the front. One letter to his sister came from makeshift battlefield headquarters dated April 11, 1917. It reads:
“My Dear Gertrude – For the last four days I have been a cave dweller. We are in a cave 60ft deep...we have little offices and rooms screened off, and are fairly comfortable. But is cold – and such rats.
“The live ones I don’t mind so much as the dead ones, at least. I should think there must be hundreds of the latter from the oppressive smell; at night the live ones hold high revels and are very noisy.”
In another letter to her, dated March 26, 1917, Arthur writes: “What desolation one hears about in re-conquered districts!
“The Germans are indeed laying up for themselves a terrible retribution. I suppose they will hope for peace before that comes, but the French will want a bit of their own back and for every village they burn (the Germans) more retribution or indemnity will be expected.”
In all his letters no place is given, in case they fell into enemy hands.
He often played games with his sister, writing: “You think you may know where I am, but you’re wrong!”
Arthur died on May 27, 1923, in a Singapore hospital from a form of malaria. He was buried in Singapore at Bidadari Cemetery with a military state funeral. Last Post was sounded by the Middlesex Regiment.