James Bourchier: He Was Also Gay

Sir, It is good to see James Bourchier among the great correspondents in your supplement (Britain at War, Aug 4). One of the most knowledgeable correspondents in the Balkans, he was on good terms with kings and presidents, and admired by their peoples, despite being astringent in his criticisms of their follies.

His efforts to get the victorious allies to behave less punitively towards former enemies in the Balkans were largely ignored. Later generations had cause to regret their wilful dismissal of his counsel.

He was a man whom, a century later, we can appreciate, admire and like: Irish (not English), of course; warm in his sympathies for peoples under the cosh and their aspirations for self-determination; espouser of unpopular minority causes; unafraid of stating unpalatable truths to those rulers with whom he enjoyed close relations. He was also gay.

He was a decent pianist. But he was very deaf: for a journalist, having to conduct confidential briefings at the top of his voice was a handicap — especially with Princess Clementine the Queen Mother of Bulgaria. She, too, was deaf, so their private conversations were eavesdropped by all kinds of courtiers, charlatans and spies, glued to keyholes. Some of his confidants took the precaution of insisting they spoke only in remote spots outside, so that their bellowed exchanges could not be overheard.

The Times was variable in supporting its correspondent. After the Great War the paper was clumsy in retiring him and lukewarm in appreciation of his gifts. Allegations of “localitis” or even disloyalty to the allied cause circulated.

You mention his love of Hellenic history, but neglect to mention that he retired to Bulgaria, the country in his beat that he knew best, whose errors during the war brought him unhappiness, and, by association, some cost. He was buried at his own wish beside Rila Monastery, where he was known to locals as “Uncle James”. Only the last Exarch of the Bulgarian national church had a more magnificent funeral.

Bourchier lies still at Rila. The present British ambassador and his wife, conscious of Bourchier’s gifts as reporter and as a quasi-diplomat, took their family and guests on pilgrimage to the grave in June. That coincided with their commemoration of the opening of the British residence in Sofia 100 years ago.

Sir Edward Clay

(Second Secretary in Sofia, 1973-5)

Epsom, Surrey

The Times.