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The Right Stuff
Major John Hay Beith (Ian Hay) (1876-1952) from Edinburgh, Scotland was a soldier, novelist, and playwright. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and St. Johns College, Cambridge.
He was a second-lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was in France in April of 1915 and was one of the first 100,000 of Kitchener's Army. He was awarded the Military Cross. He was Director of Public Relations at the War Office (1938-1941).
The First Hundred Thousand (1916) is his best-known work and is marked by the same sharp sense of humour as his other work: "War is hell, and all that, but it has a good deal to recommend it. It wipes out all the small nuisances of peace-time."
He was a second-lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was in France in April of 1915 and was one of the first 100,000 of Kitchener's Army. He was awarded the Military Cross. He was Director of Public Relations at the War Office (1938-1941).
The First Hundred Thousand (1916) is his best-known work and is marked by the same sharp sense of humour as his other work: "War is hell, and all that, but it has a good deal to recommend it. It wipes out all the small nuisances of peace-time."
314 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1912
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About the author
Ian Hay
194 books6 followersJohn Hay Beith was a Scottish schoolmaster, soldier, playwright, and novelist.
He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and St. Johns College, Cambridge. He was a second-lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was sent to France in April 1915 where he was awarded the Military Cross. He was later Director of Public Relations at the War Office (1938 - 1941).
As "Ian Hay", he was also a novelist and playwright.
He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and St. Johns College, Cambridge. He was a second-lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and was sent to France in April 1915 where he was awarded the Military Cross. He was later Director of Public Relations at the War Office (1938 - 1941).
As "Ian Hay", he was also a novelist and playwright.
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January 1, 2026
Robert Chalmers Fordyce is the son of a Scottish farmer who becomes the secretary to Adrian Inglethwaite, a minor Conservative minister. As his new employer remarks of his unlikely new underling, he's "rather Scotch."
Of course he proves to have the right stuff of the title, so he soon begins to prove his worth, helping to write speeches, prepare briefs and make a positive impact on the election trail.
More importantly, he helps at home by entertaining the Ingletwaite's young daughter, Phyllis. The domestic cosiness is further enhanced by identical twin sisters-in-law called Dilly and Dolly, who only Robert is able to tell apart.
A gentle, heartwarming mixture of drollery and kindness.
Of course he proves to have the right stuff of the title, so he soon begins to prove his worth, helping to write speeches, prepare briefs and make a positive impact on the election trail.
More importantly, he helps at home by entertaining the Ingletwaite's young daughter, Phyllis. The domestic cosiness is further enhanced by identical twin sisters-in-law called Dilly and Dolly, who only Robert is able to tell apart.
A gentle, heartwarming mixture of drollery and kindness.
Displaying 1 of 1 review