Granddaddy
The Sorrows of My Great-grandfather, and the Extraordinary Bravery of his Family
Published on 5. December 2020
200 pages
978-1-80046-814-6 (ISBN)
Description
Robert Lee only knew his great-grandfather James Erskine briefly when he was very young. But when, in later life, he inherited a trunkful of old letters and diary entries, he discovered the extraordinary, though tragic, story of the Erskine family.
Brought up in Glasgow in the Victorian era, James lost two children to infant mortality, and his wife to tuberculosis. His two surviving sons, both talented athletes and one a world champion boxer, were killed in the First World War, having showed amazing bravery. In addition, his son-in-law, Robert's grandfather, was killed on the opening day of the Passchendaele offensive, leaving his daughter a widowed mother aged only 20.
After the Great War, James fought a protracted but unsuccessful battle with the War Office to have his son's Military Cross upgraded to a Victoria Cross, and subsequently handled his sorrow by becoming a recluse, living a Spartan life on a Scottish hillside into his 80s.
Brought up in Glasgow in the Victorian era, James lost two children to infant mortality, and his wife to tuberculosis. His two surviving sons, both talented athletes and one a world champion boxer, were killed in the First World War, having showed amazing bravery. In addition, his son-in-law, Robert's grandfather, was killed on the opening day of the Passchendaele offensive, leaving his daughter a widowed mother aged only 20.
After the Great War, James fought a protracted but unsuccessful battle with the War Office to have his son's Military Cross upgraded to a Victoria Cross, and subsequently handled his sorrow by becoming a recluse, living a Spartan life on a Scottish hillside into his 80s.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Market Harborough
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Troubador Publishing
File size
4,83 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-80046-814-6 (9781800468146)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
After a 30 year career as a senior manager in British Airways, Robert Lee inherited his family archives from his father, which revealed some fascinating tales which he decided were worthy of wider circulation. 'Granddaddy' is his second book. The first, 'Letters from Gallipolli', was published in 1915.
