The army was a curious collection of regular troops and volunteer soldiers, the latter what would be called ‘Bashi-Bazouks.’  The naval part of the expedition consisted of 1,200 Royal Marines, and a brigade of sailors under the orders of Lord John Hay.  The army (barring the regulars, who were few in numbers) was composed of about 15,000 of the greatest rabble I ever saw, commanded by Sir De Lacy Evans.

For fear any objection or misapprehension be applied to the word ‘rabble,’ I must at once state that these volunteers, though in appearance so motley and undisciplined, fought splendidly, and in that respect did all honour to their country and the cause they were fighting for.

Very soon after we had disembarked I received what is usually called my ‘baptism of fire,’ that is to say, I witnessed ’the first shot fired in anger.’  The Carlists were pressing hard on the Queen’s forces, who were returning towards the sea; it was of the greatest importance to hold certain heights that defended San Sebastian and the important port of Passagis.

The gallant marines (as usual to the front) were protecting the hill on which Lord John was standing; the fire was hot and furious.  I candidly admit I was in mortal fear, and when a shell dropped right in the middle of us, and was, I thought, going to burst (as it did), I fell down on my face.  Lord John, who was close to me, and looking as cool as a cucumber, gave me a severe kick, saying, ’Get up, you cowardly young rascal; are you not ashamed of yourself?’

I did get up and was ashamed of myself.  From that moment to this I have never been hard upon those who flinched at the first fire they were under.  My pride helped me out of the difficulty, and I flinched no more.  For an hour or so the battle raged furiously.

By degrees all fear left me; I felt only excitement and anger, and when we (a lot I had to do with it!) drove the enemy back in the utmost confusion, wasn’t I proud!

When all was over Lord John called me, and after apologising in the most courteous manner for the kick, he gave me his hand (poor fellow! he had already lost one arm while fighting for his country), and said:  ’Don’t be discouraged, youngster; you are by no means the first who has shown alarm on being for the first time under fire.’  So I was happy.

It is not my intention to give in detail the events that I witnessed during that disastrous civil war in Spain; suffice it that after much hard fighting the Carlists were driven back into their mountains so much discouraged that they eventually renounced a hopeless cause; and at all events for a long period order was restored in Spain.

After serving under Lord John Hay for six or seven months, I was appointed to another ship, which was ordered to my old station, South America.

The captain of my new ship was in every sense a gentleman, and although a strict disciplinarian, was just and kind-hearted.  From the captain downwards every officer was the same in thought and deed, so we were all as happy as sand-boys.  It was then that I began to realise a fact of which before I had only a notion—­namely, that discipline can be maintained without undue severity, to say nothing of cruelty, and that service in the navy could be made a pleasure as well as a duty to one’s country.