Sandwich Islands Chapter of the Royal Flashman Society


Trumpeter -- sound the ... thing, whatever it is! Oh the devil! Come on, Flashman! Tally-ho!

Tally-ho! And welcome to the homepage of the Sandwich Islands Chapter of the Royal Flashman Society. The SIC HQ (I love the way that sounds) is located in beautiful downtown Kihei, Maui, Hawaii. There's more info about the chapter below, but first, a word about the organization and our hero and role model.

The Royal Flashman Society is a collection of avid (and sometimes rabid) readers of the books of George MacDonald Fraser, particularly his series of books which follow the exploits of Sir Harry Paget Flashman. Flashman -- British Army officer, reluctant hero, and major horndog -- serves as a firsthand chronicler of the Victorian Age and manages to participate in some of the major military disasters of the 19th Century, including the charge of the Light Brigade, the First Afghan War and Custer's Last Stand (see below for a link to the 7th Cavalry Homepage). (It's my opinion that Old Flashy probably participated in Pickett's charge at Gettysburg as well, but that is just speculation on my part).

NEW!!! The Sandwich Islands Chapter also has a webpage paying homage to Flashman's Ladies. Most of Flashy's favorites (and not-so-favorite) are listed, plus each month (or so) I plan to highlight a particular lady, sort of a chapter sweetheart.

Courage! And shuffle the cards!

Flashy on the web:

Here are a few links to the other chapters of the Royal Flashman Society.

Flashy in the news(groups):

There is a new newsgroup devoted to the works of George MacDonald Fraser. The newsgroup is called alt.books.george-fraser and hopefully your ISP may already carry it. If it doesn't (and my ISP is one of those that doesn't), you can still read the group at Excite's version of DejaNews. Just use your browser to go to http://www.dejanews.com/home_rn.shtml, type in alt.books.george-fraser and hit the Read News button. You can even post to the group through DejaNews if you wish.

...the waiters kept it coming into the small hours,
and steered other patrons clear of us, and roused the cook to bring us ham and eggs at four in the morning --
nothing too good, you see,
for Wild Bill Hickok and his guest....

Flash Harry's stint as a deputy in Kansas under James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok has been mentioned, but never detailed in any of Fraser's books. Hickok, like Carson and Cody, was a legend in his own time based on his exploits in the Civil War and while marshal of Hays City and Abilene (which were somewhat embellished in the penny novels of the time).

The legend finally caught up with Wild Bill at the No. 10 Saloon in Deadwood, South Dakota, when he was shot in the back while playing poker. Strangely enough, even the cards he was holding at the time of his death became a part of the legend -- the dead man's hand: aces and eights.

...and I found the words running through my head that the 8th Hussars had sung on the way to Alma:

Our hearts so stout have got us fame,
For soon 'tis known from whence we came,
Where'er we go they dread the name
Of Garryowen in glory.


Visit the 7th U. S. Cavalry Homepage.

The homepage has the complete history of the 7th Cavalry Regiment from its formation just after the Civil War. For Flashy fans, the site also documents the origin and history of the song "Garryowen" (regimental song of the 7th Cavalry from the time of Custer until the present) including both the traditional and U. S. Army (ca. 1900) lyrics.

A dotard, flown with dreams. A badawi zhazh-kayan (a wild babbler) who talks as the wild sheep defecate, at random, everywhere.

The Sandwich Island Chapters was established in November 1997 by Bill Medeiros, cigar-smoking Portagooser from Maui (and sometimes known in internet circles as The Makule Guy). The idea for establishing the chapter was totally his, and his alone, and was in no way related to any purported e-mail that he may have received from Bret Culpepper of the L.A. Chapter. (Of course, since Bret is also a member of the Single Action Shooting Society, this point may be somewhat negotiable).

Lick up the honey, stranger, and ask no questions.

For information on joining the Sandwich Islands Chapter of the RFS, please contact Bill at makule@maui.net.

...and the torchlight procession staggered into marching order once more, eventually erupting yet again with shattering effect.

Thank'ee and come again soon...

That's about hits since 11/1/97.

And if I remember right, this page was last updated sometime this year.