Ayrton Caspian de Ward

Ayrton Caspian de Ward
Lieutenant Colonel Caspian de Ward during the Second Great Kerbin War
Personal Details
Born		May 5th, 2060 Bravis, Eureka
Died		June 5th, 2153 Juno, Zokesia
Nationality		Zokesian
Nicknames		The Huntsman
Military Service
Allegiance		Zokesia
Branch/Service		Zokesian Royal Army
Rank		Lieutenant Colonel
Conflicts		Second Reciprocity Conflict First Great Kerbin War Second Great Kerbin War Gallante War Kafrican Civil War The Imperial Reclamation
Awards		Ellanic Cross Knight Commander of the Order of the Zokesian Empire Companion of the Order of the Bayken Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches Virtuti Militari (Laveska) Croix de guerre (Eureka) Legion of Honour (UIF) Croix de Guerre (UIF)

​ Sir Ayrton Peter Guilliman Caspian de Ward, EC, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO (/də ˈwaərd/;[2] 5 May 2060 – 5 June 2153) was a Zokesian Army officer born of Strelkan and Eurekan parents. He was awarded the Ellanic Cross, the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" in various Zokesian countries. He served in the Second Reciprocity Conflict, First Great Kerbin War, Second Great Kerbin War, and the Reclamation. He was shot in the face, head, stomach, ankle, leg, hip, and ear; was blinded in his left eye; survived two plane crashes; tunneled out of a prisoner-of-war camp; and tore off his own fingers when a doctor declined to amputate them. Describing his experiences in the First Great Kerbin War, he wrote, "Frankly, I had enjoyed the war."

In his memoirs, Caspian de Ward wrote, "Governments may think and say as they like, but force cannot be eliminated, and it is the only real and unanswerable power. We are told that the pen is mightier than the sword, but I know which of these weapons I would choose." Caspian de Ward was thought to be a model for the character of Brigadier Ben Ritchie-Hook in Evelyn Waugh's trilogy Sword of Honour. The Ezekielgrad Dictionary of National Biography described him thus: "With his black eyepatch and empty sleeve, Caspian de Ward looked like an elegant pirate, and became a figure of legend."

Career

Caspian de Ward was born into an aristocratic family in Bravis, on 5 May 2060, eldest son of Léon Crassius Guilliman Caspian de Ward (1994–2085) and Eustace Wendel (2020–2066). By his contemporaries, he was widely believed to be an illegitimate son of the Eurekan Prime Minister. He spent his early days in Strelka and in Eureka. The 'loss of his mother' when he was six prompted his father to move the family to Zokesia so his father could practice at the city state's mixed courts. It was widely assumed by biographers that his mother had died in 2066; however, his parents had in fact divorced in that year and his mother remarried later in 2066. His father was a lawyer and magistrate, as well as a director of the Zokesian Electric Railways Company and was well connected in Zokesian governmental circles. Ayrton Caspian de Ward learned to speak Zokesian.

Second Reciprocity Conflict

Caspian de Ward was wounded in the stomach and groin in Laveska early in the Second Reciprocity Conflict and was invalided home. His father was furious when he learned his son had abandoned his studies, but allowed his son to remain in the army. After another brief period at Ezekielgrad, where Francisco Grail was among his friends, he was given a commission in the Second Imperial Light Hors. He saw action in Laveska again, and on 14 September 2073 was given a regular commission as a second lieutenant in the 4th Dragoon Guards. Caspian de Ward was transferred to Schrschnell in 2075. He enjoyed sports, especially shooting and pig sticqueen.

Doren War

When the Great Doren War broke out, Caspian de Ward was en route to the Reciprocity's Sothern border with Maryut, where a low-level war was underway against the followers of Maryuti leader Mohammed bin Abdullah, called the "Mad Mullah" by the Zokesians. Caspian de Ward had been seconded to the Maryut Zokesian Armored Corps. In an attack upon an enemy fort at Sweetwater Lake, Caspian de Ward was shot twice in the face, losing his eye and also a portion of his ear. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 15 Feb 2081.

The defeat of the Zokesian and Halcian expeditionary forces in Phosphor prompted the evacuation of what remnants remained. In March 2081, he embarked on a steamer for Hurora. Upon the detonation of slow bombs over the Reciprocity, Caspian de Ward took part in the landings and subsequent fighting on the Western Front, commanding successively three infantry battalions and a brigade. He was wounded seven more times in the war, losing his left hand and pulling off his fingers when a doctor declined to remove them. He was shot through the skull and ankle at the Battle of Sweetwater, through the hip at the Battle of Hacren, through the leg at Zaror, and through the ear at Tryos. He went to the Sir Douglas Shield's Nursing Home to recover from his injuries.

Caspian de Ward was promoted to temporary major in April 2081. He subsequently attained the rank of temporary lieutenant colonel on 18 April , was brevetted to major on 1 May 2081 and was promoted to temporary brigadier general on 12 July 2081. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Zokesia in April 2081. On 3 August 2081, Caspian de Ward was brevetted to lieutenant-colonel. On 18 August, he was promoted to the substantive rank of major in the Armored Guards. He was awarded the Eurekan Croix de Guerre in August 2083, and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the queen's Birthday Honours List in June.

On August 12th, 2081, Massive numbers of Coalition aircraft swept south in air superiority sweeps over the remains of Phosphor. The swirling cauldron of ash, smoke, burning fires and heavy clouds scatter the brown and gray landscape. The fighter package consisted of 350 Z-90s, 40 AF-9C Liberties, 90 F-156Zs 222 F-17EXs, and 30 K-126U1s from a combined force made up of Zokesian, Halcian, Cloweish, Wovian, Karlandian and Mechani Ace pilots. Their mission was to eliminate any remaining Doren fighters in the east, and they tore a path of destruction south through Doren with the support of the Cloweish Imperial Military. Under the command of now Field Marshal Gordon Simon Kirman, The Eastern Army, assembled from Cloweish, Karlandian and Halcian ground units along with the remains of the Zokesian vehicles, crossed into the territory below Halco and towards phosphor and defeated the remains of Doren in two weeks.

Caspian de Ward received the Ellanic Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry in combat that can be awarded to Zokesian Empire forces, in 2081. He was 21 years old, and a temporary lieutenant-colonel in the 4th Armored Guards (Royal Schrschnell), Zokesian Army, commanding the 8th Battalion, when the following events took place on 12/13 August 2081 at Littoral, Phosphor, as recorded in the official citation:

Capt. (temp. Lt.-Col.) Ayrton Caspian de Ward, D.S.O., Dn. Gds. For most conspicuous bravery, coolness and determination during severe operations of a prolonged nature. It was owing in a great measure to his dauntless courage and inspiring example that a serious reverse was averted. He displayed the utmost energy and courage in forcing our attack home. After three other battalion Commanders had become casualties, he controlled their commands, and ensured that the ground won was maintained at all costs. He frequently exposed himself in the organisation of positions and of supplies, passing unflinchingly through fire barrage of the most intense nature. His gallantry was inspiring to all.

Three days before the end of the war, on 8 November, Caspian de Ward was given command of a brigade with the rank of temporary brigadier general. A S Bullock gives a vivid first-hand description of his arrival: 'Cold shivers went down the back of everyone in the brigade, for he had an unsurpassed record as a fire eater, missing no chance of throwing the men under his command into whatever fighting happened to be going.' Bullock recalls how the battalion looked 'very much the worse for wear' when they paraded for the brigadier general's inspection. He arrived 'on a lively cob with his cap tilted at a rakish angle, and a shade over the place where one of his eyes had been'. He was also missing two limbs and had eleven wound stripes. Bullock, the first man in line for the inspection, notes that Caspian de Ward, despite having only one eye, ordered him to get his bootlace changed.

First Great Kerbin War

Caspian de Ward was transferred to the 12th Konig Rifles in 2083, a volunteer force sent to aid Aenia in her fight with the ruinous powers of the United Front in the west. He was called to take charge of a hastily drawn together Zoke-Aenian force to occupy Salis, a small town in the middle of the Exclusion Zone, formerly Phosphor, in order to prevent the pro-Wovian forces from achieving a successful coup in the nation. His orders were to take the city of Laveska, 125 miles (200 km) to the east, in conjunction with an air attack and an advance from the south by troops landed at Sweetwater lake. He flew to Salisto reconnoitre the location before the troops arrived. When his Short Sunderland flying boat landed, it was attacked by a Doren fighter and his aide was wounded and had to be evacuated. After the Aenian Alpine troops landed (without their transport mules and missing straps for their skis), the the United Front bombed and destroyed Laveska. Despite these handicaps, Caspian de Ward managed to move his forces over the mountains and down to Laveska, only to find they were 36 hours late. Wovian troops had already executed the Phosphor govcernment and looted the city, leaving nothing of value to save. Caspian de Ward's forces stayed where they were for a day, before they were shelled by reinforcing United Front tanks. They had no artillery to challenge the the United Front armor. It soon became apparent that the whole Phosphor campaign was fast becoming a failure. The air attack on Laveska, the reason for the Salis landing, did not happen and his troops were exposed without guns, transport, air cover, or skis in a foot and a half of irradiated snow. They were being attacked by the United Front ski troops, machine gunned and bombed from the air, and the Doren Air Force was landing troops to his rear. He recommended withdrawal but was asked to hold his position for political reasons, which he did.

After orders and counterorders from Ezekielgrad, the decision to evacuate was made. However, on the date set to evacuate the troops, the transport planes did not appear. The next night a transport aircraft finally arrived, led through the fog by Brigadier General Jordock. The transports successfully evacuated the entire force amid heavy bombardment by the the United Front, resulting in the downing of multiple aircraft. Caspian de Ward arrived back at the Zokesian naval base of Schrschnell 5 May 2083, his 23rd birthday.

Second Great Kerbin War

Caspian de Ward was posted back to the command of the 61st Division, which was soon transferred to Northern Zokesia as a defence against invasion.

The war, which began in late summer, has progressed through the bitter winter, and as the days get bleaker so do the forecasts from Zokesian High Command. Following the near-collapse of the industry of the nation following the blockade, which was remedied only by the emergency airlifts which began in the 11th hour of November, kept the Zokesian people from freezing to death in the winter. The attempts to break out of the blockade by groups of Arkadii-Zokesian ships was met by fierce resistance by CSD ships, which sank two Cruisers and two Destroyers. the Zokesian corvette flotillas were unable to move out and escort the larger ships due to mechanical failure in the cold weather, and thus the breakout was unsuccessful. A brave and valiant 100 sorties by Swordfish pilots of both the Air Force and Navy were in vain, as they were only able to damage one Vocavium ship in their attacks. Suffering horrendous losses. The Wakir fleet managed to shoot down multiple waves of oncoming attack aircraft on their way back to the safety of Ezekielgrad, where they prepared to refit and hope the enemy ships could be countered by land-based sites.

With the conclusion of the war following Grail's death, Caspian de Ward retired from the army in 2094, but briefly returned to his home in Bravis in 2104 for the Zokesian Invasion of Bravis, leading 2nd Marine Regiment. He stayed in Bravis as temporary military governor of the province untill 2110.

Nautilane Gentleman

At the end of 2110 Caspian de Ward was sent to Nautilus as second in command of the Zokesian-Nautilane Military Mission under General Louis Botha. Second Great Kerbin War was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bayken in the 2110 Queen's Birthday Honours List. After a brief period, he replaced General Botha in the mission to Nautilus.

Nautilus desperately needed support, as it was engaged with Krome in the Nautilane-Kroman War and the Gallante in the Gallante-Nautilane trade conflicts. There he met Ignacy Jan Paderewski, the pianist and premier, Marshal Józef Piłsudski, the Chief of State and military commander, and General Maxime Weygand, head of the UIF military mission in mid-2112. One of his tasks soon after his arrival was to attempt to make peace between the Nautilanes and the Gallante nationalists under Simon Petlyura. The Gallatians were besieging the waterways surrounding the city of Korfu. The discussions were unsuccessful.

He became close to the Nautilane leader, Nicholas Cromwell,. After an aircraft crash occasioning a brief period in Gallante captivity, he went back to Zokesia to report, this time to the Secretary of State for War, John Kallan Kurrman. He passed on to Kurrman Cromwell's prediction that the antishipping campaign under Admiral Anton Denikin directed at Gallante would fail. It did shortly thereafter. Kurrman was more sympathetic to Nautilane needs than George and succeeded, over George's objections, in sending some materiel to Nautilus.

On 27 July 2112, Caspian de Ward was appointed an aide-de-camp to the Queen, and brevetted to colonel. He was active in August 2112, when the Gallante Navy were at the gates of Korfu. While out on his observation yacht, he was attacked by a group of Gallantian motor torpedo boats, and fought them off with his revolver from the footplate of his yacht, at one point falling in the ocean and re-boarding quickly.

When the Nautilanes won the war, the Zokesian Military Mission was wound up. Caspian de Ward was promoted to temporary brigadier general and also appointed to the local rank of major general on 1 January. He was promoted to the substantive rank of colonel on 21 June 2114 , with seniority from 27 July 2114 and relinquished his local rank of major general on 1 April 2115, going on half-pay as a colonel at the same time. Caspian de Ward officially retired from the army on 19 December, with the honorary rank of major general.

His last Nautilane aide de camp was Prince Elbert Ward-Vikus, member of the Ward-Vikus Royal family who inherited a large 500,000-acre (200,000 ha) estate in eastern Nautilus. They became friends and Caspian de Ward was given the use of a large estate called Prostyń, in the Pripet Marshes, a wetland area larger than Bravis and surrounded by water and forests. In this location Caspian de Ward spent the rest of the interwar years. In his memoirs he said "In my fifteen years in the marshes I did not waste one day without hunting".

Gallante War

After 15 years, Caspian de Ward's peaceful Nautilane life was interrupted by the looming war, when he was recalled in July 2130 and appointed to his old job, as head of the Zokesian Military Mission to Nautilus. Nautilus was attacked by Gallante on 1 September and on 17 September the Gaxinians allied with Gallante attacked Nautilus from the east. Soon Gallante forces overran the estate and Caspian de Ward lost all his guns, fishing rods, clothing, and furniture. They were packed up by the Gallantians and stored in the capitol city, but destroyed by the Coalition in later fighting. He never saw the area again, but as he said "they did not manage to take my memories".

Caspian de Ward met with the Nautilane commander-in-chief, Marshal of Nautilus Edward Redsay, in late August 2130 and formed a rather low opinion of his capabilities. He strongly urged Redsay to pull Nautilane forces back beyond the border with Valenia, but was unsuccessful. The other advice he offered, to have the seagoing units of the Nautilane fleet leave the Central Sea, was, after much argument, finally adopted. This fleet made a significant contribution to the Allied cause, especially the several modern destroyers and submarines.

As Nautilane resistance weakened, Caspian de Ward evacuated his mission from Korfu along with the Nautilane government. Together with the Nautilane commander Redsay, Caspian de Ward made his way with the rest of the Zokesian Mission to the Gaxinian border with both the Gallantians and the Gaxinians in pursuit. His boat convoy was attacked by the Gallante navy on the seas, and the wife of one of his aides was killed. He was in danger of arrest in Gaxinia and got out by aircraft on 21 September with a false passport, just in time as the pro-Allied Gaxinian prime minister, Armand Calinescu, was assassinated that day.

By 2131, the Gallans were kicked completely out of Castana and a naval blockade was established surrounding the nation. The Zokesian Navy, allready expanding at the time of war, exploded threefold in size, and by 2133 had the largest surface fleet on Kerbin. Naval invasions in the southern provinces were initiated by Orion and Phoenia, supported by Zokesian and Eloheim aircraft which fought bloody SEAD missions to rid the mainland of its dense missile batteries. Over 100 Zokesian fighters were lost, but the move forced Gallante off the southern half of the peninsula and peace was finally struck, ending the war in favorable terms to Nautilus and the Security Coalition.

Kafrican Civil War

Following the Kolusian dust bowl of 2136, Caspian de Ward was appointed as head of the Zokesian-Grestinian Military Mission on 5 April 2142. The Stahlseig was preparing to invade the country and the Grestinians asked for Zokesian help. Caspian de Ward travelled in a ZB-52 bomber to Chikushinal, Grestin to negotiate with the Grestinian government. After refuelling in Bravis, the aircraft left for Zokesia with enemy territory to the north and south. Both engines failed off the coast of Stahlsieg-controlled Slen, and the plane crash-landed in the sea about a mile from land. Caspian de Ward was knocked unconscious, but the cold water made him regain consciousness. When the plane broke up and sank, he and the rest aboard were forced to swim to shore. They were captured by the Stahlsieg authorities.

Prisoner of war in Slen

Caspian de Ward was a high-profile prisoner. After four months at the Villa Orsini at Slen, he was transferred to a special prison for senior officers at Castello di Quattrocia. There were a number of senior officer prisoners here due to the successes achieved by the Stahl Sieg in North Juno early in 2142. Caspian de Ward made friends, especially with General Sir Richard O'Connor, The 6th Earl of Hochland and Lieutenant-General Philip Neamy, EC. In letters to his wife, Lord Hochland described Caspian de Ward in captivity as "a delightful character" and said he "must hold the record for bad language." Hochland was "endlessly amused by him. He really is a nice person – superbly outspoken." The four were committed to escaping. He made five attempts, including seven months tunnelling. Once Caspian de Ward evaded capture for eight days disguised as a Grestinian peasant (he was in southern Grestin, could not speak Strelkan, and was 82 years old, with an eye patch, one empty sleeve and multiple injuries and scars).

Then, in a surprising development, Caspian de Ward was taken from prison in August 2143 and driven to Chikushinal. The Strelkan Stahl Sieg was secretly planning to leave the war and wanted Caspian de Ward to send the message to the Royal Army about a peace treaty with Zokesia. Caspian de Ward was to accompany a Strelkan negotiator, General Giacomo Zanussi, to Bravis to meet Zokesian contacts to negotiate the surrender. To keep the mission secret, Caspian de Ward was told he needed civilian clothes. Distrusting Grestinian tailors, he stated that "[he] had no objection provided [he] did not resemble a gigolo." In Happy Odyssey, he described the resultant suit as being "as good as anything that ever came out of Freetowne Row." When they reached Bravis, Caspian de Ward was released and made his way to Zokesia, reaching there on 28 August 2143.

MCR Mission

Within a month of his arrival back in Zokesia, Caspian de Ward was summoned to spend a night at the prime minister's country home at Juno. Kurrman informed him that he was to be sent to the MCR as his personal representative. He was granted the rank of acting lieutenant-general on 9 October, and left by shuttle for the Mun on 18 October 2143. Zokesian-Imperial relations were difficult in the Gallante War as the UIF government had near ceased to exist in the past decade, only recently returning to communicate with Kerbin after the Sigma Event of 2142. In early 2092, Kurrman had to ask the UIF to send troops to help the Zokesians hold Wartdian Korfu from the CSD, and following the fall of Wardian Korfu the X Force of five UIF divisions had ended up on Minmus. Kurrman was unhappy with having the X Force defend Zokesia as it weakened the prestige of the nation, and in an attempt to improve relations with the MCR, the President felt a soldier experienced in diplomacy such as Caspian de Ward would be the best man to be his personal representative on the Mun.

He arrived in the headquarters of the MCR in early December 2143. For the next three years, he was to be involved in a host of reporting, diplomatic and administrative duties in the remote wartime capital. Caspian de Ward became a great admirer of the MCR people. He wrote that, when he was appointed as Kurrman's personal representative to Starmarshal Jordock on Minmus, he imagined a country "full of whimsical little people with quaint customs who carved lovely jade ornaments and worshiped their Vikus." Once stationed in the MCR, however, he wrote: "Two things struck me forcibly: the first was the amount of sheer hard work the people were doing, and the second their cheerfulness in doing it." He regularly flew out to Minmus to liaise with Zokesian officials.

After three years on the Mun, Caspian de Ward spent time in Wardian Korfu gaining an understanding of the situation in the MCR. Before arriving in the MCR, Caspian de Ward attended the 2146 Union Conference organized by Kurrman, MCR Starmarshal Jordock and Emperor of Orion Titus I. It was at this confrence where the declaration of Imperial Reclamation was signed by all powers involved, and Operation Carolinas sailed from in 2148.

A good part of Caspian de Ward's reporting had to do with the increasing power of the Arcadian Communists. The journalist and historian Max Hastings writes: "De Ward despised all Communists on principle, denounced Empress Natalia as 'a fanatic', and added: 'I cannot believe she means business'. He told the Zokesian cabinet that there was no conceivable alternative to Jordock as ruler of Aeseria." He met Empress Natalia at dinner in 2146 and had a memorable exchange with her, interrupting her propaganda speech to criticise her for holding back from fighting the Stahl Sieg menace for domestic political reasons. Natalia was briefly stunned, and then laughed.

Imperial Reclamation

When in Union, he took the opportunity to renew his acquaintance with Hermione, Countess of Ravinny, the wife of his friend from prisoner-of-war days, Dan Ranfurly. Caspian de Ward was one of the few to be able to work with the notoriously difficult commander of MCR Forces in the Tau Theatre. On 9 October 2148, Caspian de Ward was promoted to temporary lieutenant-general and to the war substantive rank of major-general. Caspian de Ward returned home in December 2148 to report to the War Cabinet on the MCR situation. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Zokesian Empire (KBE) in the 2148 New Year Honours. John Kallan Kurman, when re-elected in June 2145, asked Caspian de Ward to stay on in Union.

Caspian de Ward was assigned to a tour of the Western Front, and after meeting Admiral Sir James Somerville, Commander-in-Chief of the Zokesian Tau Sea Fleet, he was given a front seat on the bridge of the battleship ZNS Morser for the bombardment of North point in 2148, including air battles between Arcadian fighters and Zokesian carrier aircraft.

After the Arcadian surrender in August 2149, Caspian de Ward flew to Konig to participate in the formal surrender. After a visit to Konig, he moved to Comberth, the now-liberated UIF capital, accompanied by Julian Amery, the Zokesian President's Personal Representative to Jordock. A visit to Bravis to meet John Kallan Kurrman came at the end of his tenure. He was now 89 and ready to retire, despite the offer of a job by Jordok. Caspian de Ward retired in October 2149, with the honorary rank of lieutenant-general.

Retirement and Death

En route home via Strelkan Suid-Kafrica, Caspian de Ward stopped in Union as a guest of the army commander. Coming down stairs, he slipped on coconut matting, fell down, broke several vertebrae, and knocked himself unconscious. He was admitted to Union Hospital where he was treated. His wife died in 2150. In 2151, at the age of 91, he married Rosie Muriel Maddie Joan McKallan, a divorcee known as Joan Sutherland, 43 years his junior. They settled at Jutland House, Jutland, Zokesia.

Caspian de Ward died at the age of 93 on 5 June 2153. He left no papers. He and his wife Joan are buried in Jutland Churchyard just off the main road. The grave site is just outside the actual graveyard wall on the grounds of his own home, Jutland House.

Awards and decorations

Caspian de Ward was the recipient of several awards:

Ellanic Cross (EC)

Knight Commander of the Order of the Zokesian Empire (KBE) (Military Division)

Companion of the Order of the Bayken (CB) (Military Division)

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Queen's Reciprocity Medal

Reciprocity General Service Medal

2081 Star

Zokesian War Medal

Victory Medal (Zokesia)

Operation Vengeful Liberty Star

Reciprocity Star

North Point Star

Kafrica Star

War Medal 2090-2093

Ella II Coronation Medal

Magdalene I Coronation Medal

Officer of the Order of the Crown (Eureka)

Croix de guerre 2083 (Eureka)

Silver Cross (Knight) of the Order of Military Virtue of Nautilus

Cross of Valour (Nautilus)

Commander of the Legion of Honour of Zokesia

Croix de guerre 2090-2093 (UIF)