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Granddaddy: The Sorrows of My Great-grandfather, and the Extraordinary Bravery of his Family
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.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 3, 2020
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Robert Lee
372 books2 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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December 9, 2020
.A heartwarming diary of tragedy and noble courage
For those with any knowledge about WW1, names like Paschendale, Ypres, the Somme, evoke unbearable sadness even 100 years later. Robert Lee has unearthed letters from heroes in his family who endured with blithe lack of complaint the most appalling conditions and inescapable dangers of trench warfare. In their letters to loved ones were, heroically, hardly any mention of the excruciating conditions and sheer terror that faced them. Readers with any knowledge of1914/18 will marvel at the endurance and heroism of these characters and the too brief light of their young lives. Highly recommended with box of Kleenex! Well done cousin Robert.....
For those with any knowledge about WW1, names like Paschendale, Ypres, the Somme, evoke unbearable sadness even 100 years later. Robert Lee has unearthed letters from heroes in his family who endured with blithe lack of complaint the most appalling conditions and inescapable dangers of trench warfare. In their letters to loved ones were, heroically, hardly any mention of the excruciating conditions and sheer terror that faced them. Readers with any knowledge of1914/18 will marvel at the endurance and heroism of these characters and the too brief light of their young lives. Highly recommended with box of Kleenex! Well done cousin Robert.....
Displaying 1 of 1 review