Basil
Blackwood, the third
son of the Marquess of Dufferin, was
born in 1870. He became a close friend of Hilaire
Belloc, while the men were students at Oxford
University.
Although Blackwood became a solicitor, he also illustrated several
of Belloc's books including The Bad Child's
Book of Beasts (1896), More Beasts
(1897), The Modern Traveller (1898),
A Moral Alphabet (1899),
Cautionary Tales for Children
(1907) and More Peers (1911).
On the outbreak of the First World War, Blackwood
became a Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards. Basil
Blackwood was killed in action in 1917.
(1)
Basil Blackwood, letter to Hiliare Belloc
(15th October, 1915)
Many of the German guns have a range of eight miles, shells fall so
impartially they can't be dodged, one must simply wait with resignation
what fate has in store. The most horrible scene I have witnessed was
one that followed the explosion of two shells of the largest calibre
on our billets killing 24 and wounding 20. I was on the spot and helped
to remove the shattered debris. I shall never forget the hateful sight
or the long drawn out melancholy business of digging graves and giving
the 18 bodies of the others Christian burial - nor shall I forget
the idiotic address of the military chaplain who was brought up from
the neighbouring hospital for the purpose.
I must tell you that your articles in Land and Water are enormously
appreciated here by soldiers and it occurred to me at once to suggest
to you that it might be worth your while to get the job of writing
the official history. I expect it would be a gold-mine and one of
the works which will live for ever.
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