One foot in the grave

. . . after all, the old man was in his nineties, and it must be a great ordeal to have to make his way, even being driven, through all the bustle of London on the brink of hostilities. But a glance across the table reassured him — one foot in the grave he might have, and shockingly ravaged he might look, but Sir Harry appeared in no need of consideration. His flushed satyr face was grinning contentedly, his glossy white whiskers and mane shone in the lamplight, which glinted on the mass of bronze and silver and gold miniatures on his breast, and on the orders which hung on ribbons over his massive shoulders.


Mr American, pp.517-18, Pan Books, paperback edition 1982.


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Time for a little something

       I suppose Cardigan’s “Walk—march—trot!” at Balaclava is the most memorable battlefield command I’ve ever heard, but J.B.'s order for breakfast at Harper’s Ferry runs it close.


Flashman and the Angel of the Lord, p.283, Harper Collins, 1995.


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Scrubbing away

      I was scrubbing away, whistling “Drink, puppy, drink”, when I heard a hand-bell tinkle, in the boudoir. You’ll have to wait a while, my dear, thinks I, but then I heard voices and realized she had summoned Mangla, and was giving instructions in a dreamy, exhausted whisper.
      “You may dismiss Rai and the Python,” murmurs she. “I shall have no need of them today . . . perhaps not tomorrow . . .”
      I should think not, indeed. So I sang “Rule Britannia”.


Flashman and the Mountain of Light, p.155, Fontana Paperback edition, 1991.


Tags: Flashman, Flashman quotes, indeed.

Tremendous trim

…a few fire-arrows had come over and been promptly stifled by the invalids, who were in tremendous trim, bawling orders to each other and striding about like Nelson on the quarterdeck.

Flashman and the Redskins, p.105, Pan Books edition, 1983.

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Learned as an officer

…for one thing I’ve learned as an officer is never to give an order unless there’s a good chance of its being obeyed.

Flashman in the Great Game, pp.142-3, Pan edition, 4th printing, 1979.

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Flashman, Flashman quotes, officer, order.

Their heathenish slogans

‘Damn your eagerness!’ cries he. ‘Stand fast! Reload!’
   They dropped back, snarling like dogs, and Campbell turned and calmly surveyed the wreckage of the Russian ranks.... they began to laugh and cheer, and yell their heathenish slogans…

Flashman at the Charge, p.85, Pan edition, 5th printing, 1979.

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Flashman, Flashman quotes,Colin Campbell, Crimean War, 93rd Regiment of Foot,The Thin Red Line.