By Sam Coull

ISBN 1 84158 024 4, published 2000 by Berlin Limited, price £9.99 Paperback, 222 pages, 3 maps and 10 plates

I was delighted to find this long-overdue modern biography of a valiant soldier. The work is especially valuable in its description of Keith's early life and his temperament. The author has clearly made extensive use of Scottish archive material.

James Keith and his brother George, the last Earl Marischal, were active in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1718, as a result of the failures of which they were obliged to seek their fortunes abroad

James came to prominence in the service of Russia There, his campaigns against Poles, Turks and Swedes assured him of lasting fame Against the Swedes, he excelled in amphibious warfare It may not have been lust for his military talents that he was prized at St Petersburg The author will have us believe that he fled Russia in 1747 not only to escape the intrigues of Count Bestuchef but also the embrace of the Empress Elizabeth

From Russia, Keith took service with the King of Prussia being granted the rank of Field Marshal We are given a pleasing picture of him in discussion with the king and also wargaming with him in the garden with the aid of thousands of castings. I had previously read of this in the 84-page "Memoirs of the life and Actions of James Keith" by Andiew Henderson (published soon after the death of the Marshal) but I cannot recall seeing reference to this elsewhere. Since Henderson is not amongst the listed sources of Sam Coull, he must have another source. Readers of this Journal will certainly wish to know more; were Keith and the King the founder members of this Association?

Keith appears to have been modest in most things, but his relationship with the much younger Eva Merthens gave cause for concern to his brother and to others. Following some indiscretion at a Carnival, Eva was banished from Prussia. For a notoriously "free-thinking" King to take such a step, her indiscretion must have been immense. Perhaps Voltaire, who was at Court at the relevant time, might be able to tell us more. Coull tells us nothing of the event itself although he does drop some hints. Whatever happened, the effect on his hero must have been devastating. Keith chose to stay with the King rather than follow his love. Perhaps he was running out of countries where he would be made welcome, and his health was steadily deteriorating. 

The discussion of the Seven Years War is the least satisfying part of this work. Idiosyncrasies multiply. When, on page 105, I had read of the Polish dissidents gathering in "their camp near Prague", I had assumed simple typo for Praga; later I began to wonder. On page 161, we learn that Britain "sent ships to patrol the Baltic"; how dearly did the King wish that. In 1757, on page 164-165, we learn that "a mixed army of predominantly British troops were facing forces from France, Russia and Sweden" - how dearly would the Duke of Cumberland have wished to have a single British battalion with him.

At Kolin, on page 168, "Prussian reconnaissance confirmed that only Daun's left wing was vulnerable to attack" On page 179, the unthinkable happens: "Seidlitz had capitulated". This gives an indication that the author is the victim of an over aggressive spellcheck package, not recognising Schweidnitz it valiantly searches for the nearest match that has already been used and comes up with the brilliant cavalry general Near Breslau on 6th December, on page 179, we find that the Austrian position "intersected the Prague-Vienna highway" - that would be a long way round! Most curious of all, on page 193, we find that the "Russian army was licking the wounds it had received at Leuthen" Confusion is added with proper names of lesser personalities For example, there are frequent references to the activities of the Duke of Brunswick referring to the Duke of Brunswick-Bevern, more commonly called Bevern to distinguish him from Ferdinand of Brunswick, the brother-in-law of the King.

In an appendix on the Jacobite connection, page 210, we learn of a certain "Marshal of Saxony" - a very literal translation of Marechal de Saxe no doubt, but more commonly simply Marshal Saxe. Confusion is also generated in the chronology. Having taken us up to the eve of the Battle of Hochkirch, page 194-195, we are suddenly dragged back six weeks to find Daun "within 10 miles of the Meissen Bridge" - this may simply be another miracle of modern word-processing transposing paragraphs inadvertently. Although these are easy to pick up if you know the field, they cast a shadow over those parts of the book where one is less familiar with the subject.

In describing the battles, Sam Coull is controversial. For example, having given a good description of the Battle of Lobositz, we find that, on page 156: "Next day, the Battle of Lobositz resumed, raging for seven hours until Browne called his army off the field at 5 p.m." Other commentators have missed this second day altogether. Many will also find the description of Zorndorf a little one sided.

Which brings one to the question why include a very detailed description of Zorndorf - including the front cover picture, when, as Coull acknowledges, Keith was recouping his health in Breslau, far from the scene. Great prominence is also given to Prague, Kolin and Leuthen, when Keith was not present - or was he? On page 179, we learn: "James Keith was not only fighting for the Prussian state but against his own recurring ill health and the fatigues of battle with their attendant stresses and strains. Since Prague there had scarcely been a break from war, with the Kolin aftermath, Rossbach - and soon the bloodbath of Leuthen." The unsuspecting reader might well imply that Keith was present at all those actions. Heroes of the stature of Keith do not to have their contributions multiplied.

Sam Coull also makes curious omissions. Most authorities agree that it was Marshal Keith who was the architect of victory at Lobositz, after the King had retired from the field "to take other measures". Here, the author does not give him due credit. He also fails to notice the defence of Leipzig in 1757, an essential precursor to the Rossbach campaign.

Marshal Keith died "A Soldier's Death" at Hochkirch.

The book includes a number of portraits and also three battle maps: Prague Leuthen and Hochkirch. Curious choice this: Hochkirch obviously, but surely Sheriffmuir and Glenshiel, Lobositz and Rossbach and something from the Turkish and Swedish campaign should have been included in preference to Prague and Leuthen. The maps may seem familiar, although the wording has been reset with one delightful misprint, again attributable to the overzealous spell-check. At Prague we see Browne counter-attacking at the head of a large body of "GREENS" - doubtless waving banners saying "Save our Fishponds".

I am still pleased to have read this book; I recommend it with caution.

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