I have a great deal of material relating to my grandfather including a war diary from 1918 when he was serving in East Africa.
My grandfather was an extraordinary man; the son of a welsh missionary he was born in Nevis & St Kits in 1896, he trained as a barrister in Canada returning to the UK to serve his country in 1914.
He served in France where he was injured and awarded the Military Cross, he returned home to recover and married in October 1917 then went to East Africa in January 1918 from where he was stretchered out suffering from seizures resulting from the injuries incurred in France. He returned to service in 1919 fighting the Bolsheviks where he received the Bar to his MC for his part in an attack on Seltso.
On finally returning to the UK he settled down to married life and practice as a barrister in south Wales. He and Gwladys had a son on 12 August 1921.
He also established a Territorial Army unit in Maesteg which he gave a lot of time to. While on parade with his unit in August 1922 his horse bolted down the main street in Aberystwyth colliding with a lamp post and throwing grandfather unconscious to the ground. Although he did regain consciousness, he died a few days later on 10 August - 2 days before his sons first birthday.
His funeral was a major event in his home town of Maesteg. He was just 26.
His was an amazing life - the outline sketch above just giving a flavour of his story. It is both gallant and romantic and ultimately tragic.
I have a great deal of material - including citations, war records, photos, birth, death & marriage certificates, newspaper reports of his death etc....
I have tried to write this all down but these are simply not my skills, so I am looking for someone who might be interested in bringing this material to life.
I'm not sure how this process works but I will look out for any responses. Happy to talk if you are an interested writer or if you have any advice for me.
Thanks
Allison,
I'd LOVE to talk with you directly about your story.
My website has all you need to know: http://altheghostwriter.com/
Let's set up a Skype session if you think we can work together. Otherwise: best of luck!
No Problem Alison, As i'm interested in the story i expressed my willingness. My best wishes for the work!!
Thank you Jeff and Lorraine - as you can gather, I am totally new to this so all your knowledge is very welcome.
I am currently having his war record researched in more detail through his regiment and I have also undertaken a considerable amount of research myself with regard to some of the detail around the East Africa Campaign.
Jeff it would be helpful if we could have a chat as Lorraine suggests - not sure how that happens but if possible it would be helpful. Having said that, I would like to leave it for a week or two while I consider what I want to ask! You know when your knowledge base is so low you don't even have the questions, well that's where I am. Your helpful comments are moving me forward.
Sudarsan - thank you for troubling to reply but I hope you will appreciate that I need to have a much clearer idea in my own mind before I start speaking with writers. I am also afraid that your experience to date may not be what I am looking for. I feel I need to be able to see and read more than you are currently able to offer, unless I have not understood your 'CV'. I don't think it would be best if we were both literary virgins! But I am very grateful for your bothering to respond and do wish you well.