Fanny Duberly facts for kids
Frances Isabella Duberly (born September 27, 1829 – died November 19, 1902) was an English woman who traveled with her soldier husband during two major wars. She kept a detailed journal of her experiences in the Crimean War and the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Her husband, Captain Henry Duberly, was a paymaster for the 8th Royal Irish Hussars, a cavalry unit in the British Army. Frances Duberly's journal about her time in Crimea was published as Journal Kept During the Russian War in 1856. It shared not only what she saw but also the rumors and gossip among the soldiers.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Frances Isabella Locke was born in Devizes, Wiltshire, England, in 1829. Her parents were Anna Maria Selina Powell and Wadham Locke, a banker. After her mother passed away, Frances moved to live with her older brother, also named Wadham Locke, at Ashton Gifford House in Wiltshire. She married Henry Duberly (1822–1890) in 1845. This happened shortly after her brother got married for the second time.
Adventures in the Crimean War
Frances Duberly went with her husband to the Crimea in 1854. She stayed with him throughout the war, even though some commanders, like Lord Lucan, didn't want her there. She was the only officer's wife at the front lines, which made her the center of attention.
People described her as a "splendid rider" who was "witty, ambitious, daring, lively, and friendly." She seemed to have the strength and tough attitude needed for war. Soon after arriving in Varna, Bulgaria, on the way to Crimea, she wrote that she "was awoke by the reveillée at half-past two; rose, packed our bedding and tent, got a stale egg and a mouthful of brandy and was in my saddle by half-past five."
She often learned about planned attacks beforehand. This allowed her to find a good spot to watch the battles. For example, at the Battle of Balaclava, she traveled from her camp to meet Henry and watch the fight. She got very close to the enemy lines. Even though her husband survived (he was on other duties), many of her friends did not. She wrote, "Even my closed eyelids were filled with the ruddy glare of blood." Being so close to the front line in one of the first "modern" wars helped Mrs. Duberly understand the true horrors of war, unlike many people back home. When her husband asked if she wanted to see what happened after the Battle of Inkerman, she said no. She explained that "the thought of it made me shutter [sic] and turn sick."
Frances Duberly's adventures were not always accepted by everyone in society. She was ignored at a special review of her husband's regiment after the war. Her published journal was meant to be dedicated to Queen Victoria, but this was not allowed, which upset her. However, the soldiers liked her and called her "Mrs. Jubilee." Many people in England also admired her. Her journal became quite popular, and pictures of her taken by Roger Fenton sold well.
Experiences in India
Frances Duberly joined her husband again when the 8th Hussars were sent to India in 1856. They traveled on the ship SS Great Britain, leaving Cork on September 24, 1857, and arriving in Mumbai on December 17. She stayed with him during the last months of the Sepoy Mutiny.
She was determined to go with the troops on their missions. She told her sister that she would "stain my face and hands and adopt the Hindoo caftan and turban" rather than stay behind. In June 1858, at Gwalior, she was watching a cavalry charge begin. Her horse suddenly ran after the others. Instead of holding back, she told her husband, "I must go!" and galloped away.
Married Life and Support
The Duberlys did not have any children. Frances was a great friend and supporter of her husband. He never seemed to be jealous that his wife was often the center of attention in the all-male army environment. She described her husband as "a friend I am obliged to support."
When it was time to land in Crimea, Henry was ill. Frances told her sister that "Lord Cardigan intends him to land with the troops, but I don’t intend him to do so." The Duberlys sometimes had different ideas about military life. When Lord Lucan ordered that she must be sent ashore at Constantinople, she wrote that "Henry looks upon the order as a soldier; I as a woman, and laugh at it."
Later Years
The Duberlys returned to Britain in 1864. Frances remembered her war experiences, but when asked to talk about them, she would say that "those days are best forgotten." Still, she kept her adventurous spirit. In 1896, she complained to a nephew, "I cannot stand dullness for long, and life gets duller and duller as one gets older."
She passed away in Cheltenham in 1902 at the age of 73. She was buried with her husband in the churchyard of St Peter's church in the Leckhampton area of that town. Her husband, who had become a Lt. Colonel in the Army Pay Department, had died in 1890.
Frances Duberly in Fiction
Frances Duberly appears in two books about a character named Harry Paget Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser. These books are Flash for Freedom! and Flashman at the Charge. Fraser describes her as Fanny Locke, "a damned handsome eighteen with the shape of a well-developed matron." He notes her prettiness, fair hair, and blue eyes, and praises her riding skills. In the books, Flashman is jealous of Duberly's husband, calling him a "muff" who sits outside the room "like a blasted water bailiff" when on guard duty.
Mrs. Duberly is also mentioned in Queen Victoria's Bomb by Ronald W. Clark (1967). This story is about Professor Franklin Huxtable, who invents a powerful weapon in the 1850s. He hopes this weapon will make war impossible. The bomb is tested in a remote part of India.
Sources
- Barham, John. The Indomitable Duberly, 29 June 2006.
- Farwell, Byron. Queen Victoria’s Little Wars. New York: W. W. Norton, 1985.
- Warner, Philip. The Crimean War, A Reappraisal. New York: Taplinger, 1972.
- Mrs. Duberly's War: Journal and Letters from the Crimea, 1854–1856. Edited by Christine Kelly. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Duberly, Mrs. Henry. Journal Kept During The Russian War: From The Departure Of The Army From England In April 1854, To The Fall Of Sebastopol London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, 1856, at A Celebration of Women Writers.
