Harriet and John McDougall were living at Linton House, Sedlescombe when they received the two telegrams, six months apart, telling them the dreadful news that their two younger sons had died. Little information is known about how these tragedies affected this particular couple’s lives, but for Harriet more tragedy was to follow, when her husband, John died on the 26th July 1919. He died at Linton House from heart failure and was buried four days later in St John’s Church, Sedlescombe. Fraser returned home shortly afterwards.
The descriptions of post-war Ypres are broadly accurate: the city was almost completely razed to the ground, with nearly 400-square miles destroyed. Returning citizens were given money to assist in the building of pre-fabricated homes in the Plaine d’Amour area to the north of the former city, while the future of Ypres was being decided. The then chairman of the Imperial War Graves Commission, Winston Churchill, favoured purchasing the entire city and leaving it in its wartime state as a permanent memorial to the dead. In the end, though, the citizens of Ypres understandably chose to have their city rebuilt to exactly that which it had been before the war. Among the new buildings to emerge immediately after the Armistice was Ypres’ first hotel, Hotel Splendid and the brightly coloured British Tavern, situated opposite the ruins of the Cloth Hall.
In Britain, there was a sharp rise in the practice of Spiritualism and communicating with the dead. Arthur Conan Doyle was one of its leading proponents, asserting that he was able to communicate with his dead son, Kingsley.
Harriet Agnes McDougall continued to reside at Linton House for some years. She died on the 2nd March 1933 in Hastings at the age of 80 and was buried with her husband in St John’s Church, in the family’s home village of Sedlescombe. Sadly, no memorial to them exists in the churchyard.
There is more information on the lives of the McDougall and Dengate families on the blog page of my website and a short video on my YouTube channel.
Further Reading:
Among the books, which I found useful in the research and writing of this book, were the following:
Arthur, M., Forgotten Voices (Ebury Press, 2003)
Cave, N., Polygon Wood (Pen & Sword Books, 2007)
Corremans, L. & Reyntjens, A., Traces of the Great War (Great War Books, date unknown)
Ebeneezer, L., Faced with Mametz (Gwasg Carreg Gwalch, 2017)
Ewing, J., The History of the Ninth (Scottish) Division (Naval & Military Press, date unknown)
Foulkes, C.H., Gas! (Naval & Military Press, date unknown)
Garfield, J., The Fallen (The History Press, 2014)
Gordon-Smith, J., Photographing the Fallen (Pen & Sword Books, 2017)
Gray, A., South Eastern Railway (Middleton Press, 1990)
Harrison, G., To Fight Alongside Friends (Harper Collins, 2014)
Lodge, O., Raymond (Forgotten Books, 2015)
Longworth, P., The Ending Vigil (Pen & Sword Books, 2003)
Lucy, B., Twenty Centuries in Sedlescombe (Asselton House, 1998)
Richter. D., Chemical Soldiers (Pen & Sword Books, 2014)
Robsertshaw, A., 24HR Trench (The History Press, 2012)
Van Emden, R., Sapper Martin (Bloomsbury, 2010)
Van Emden, R., Tommy’s War (Bloomsbury, 2014)
Wynn, S., Dover in the Great War (Pen & Sword Books, 2017)
Acknowledgements
I am indebted to several people, who have helped to bring this book to fruition.
My first thanks go to Patrick Dengate for, once again, translating my vague ideas, notions and requests for the cover into something wonderful; the look and feel of the image is precisely what I had in mind. Incidentally, Patrick is Harriet McDougall’s second cousin, four-times removed, tracing back via a common ancestor (whom I also share) in James and Mary Dengate of Wittersham, Kent, England.
I would like to thank John Boeren, a specialist in Dutch genealogy, for his assistance with translations. Take a look at his website for any Dutch genealogy requirements: www.antecedentia.com
Thanks to the Memorial Museum Passchendaele for their assistance in locating the precise place in which Malcolm McDougall was injured and the trenches in which he worked, and to Edward De Santis who provided information about the Pioneers.
My final thanks must go to Robert Bristow for his unwavering support for me and Mrs McDougall.
Further Information
Website & Newsletter: www.nathandylangoodwin.com
Twitter: @NathanDGoodwin
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NathanDylanGoodwin
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/NathanDylanGoodwin
Blog: theforensicgenealogist.blogspot.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/NathanDylanGoodwin
Hiding the Past
(The Forensic Genealogist #1)
Peter Coldrick had no past; that was the conclusion drawn by years of personal and professional research. Then he employed the services of one Morton Farrier, Forensic Genealogist – a stubborn, determined man who uses whatever means necessary to uncover the past. With the Coldrick Case, Morton faces his toughest and most dangerous assignment yet, where all of his investigative and genealogical skills are put to the test. However, others are also interested in the Coldrick family, people who will stop at nothing, including murder, to hide the past. As Morton begins to unearth his client’s mysterious past, he is forced to confront his own family’s dark history, a history which he knows little about.
‘Flicking between the present and stories and extracts from the past, the pace never lets up in an excellent addition to this unique genre of literature’
Your Family Tree
‘At times amusing and shocking, this is a fast-moving modern crime mystery with genealogical twists. The blend of well fleshed-out characters, complete with flaws and foibles, will keep you guessing until the end’
Family Tree
‘Once I started reading Hiding the Past I had great difficulty putting it down - not only did I want to know what happened next, I actually cared’
Lost Cousins
The Lost Ancestor
(The Forensic Genealogist #2)
From acclaimed author, Nathan Dylan Goodwin comes this exciting new genealogical crime mystery, featuring the redoubtable forensic genealogist, Morton Farrier. When Morton is called upon by Ray Mercer to investigate the 1911 disappearance of his great aunt, a housemaid working in a large Edwardian country house, he has no idea of the perilous journey into the past that he is about to make. Morton must use his not inconsiderable genealogical skills to solve the mystery of Mary Mercer’s disappearance, in the face of the dangers posed by those others who are determined to end his investigation at any cost.
‘If you enjoy a novel with a keen eye for historical detail, solid writing, believable settings and a sturdy protagonist, The Lost Ancestor is a safe bet. Here British author Nathan Dylan Goodwin spins a riveting genealogical crime mystery with a pulsing, realistic storyline’
Your Family Tree
‘Finely paced and full of realistic genealogical terms and tricks, this is an enjoyable whodunit with engaging research twists that keep you guessing until the end. If you enjoy genealogical fiction and Ruth Rendell mysteries, you’ll find this a pleasing page-turner’
Family Tree
The Orange Lilies
(The Forensic Genealogist #3)
Morton Farrier has spent his entire career as a forensic genealogist solving other people’s family history secrets, all the while knowing so little of his very own family’s mysterious past. However, this poignant Christmastime novella sees Morton’s skills put to use much closer to home, as he must confront his own past, present and future through events both present-day and one hundred years ago. It seems that not every soldier saw a truce on the Western Front that 1914 Christmas…
‘The Orange Lilies sees Morton for once investigating his own tree (and about time too!). Moving smoothly between Christmas 1914 and Christmas 2014, the author weaves an intriguing tale with more than a few twists - sev
eral times I thought I'd figured it all out, but each time there was a surprise waiting in the next chapter... Thoroughly recommended - and I can't wait for the next novel’
Lost Cousins
‘Morton confronts a long-standing mystery in his own family–one that leads him just a little closer to the truth about his personal origins. This Christmas-time tale flashes back to Christmas 1914, to a turning point in his relatives’ lives. Don’t miss it!’
Lisa Louise Cooke
The America Ground
(The Forensic Genealogist #4)
Morton Farrier, the esteemed English forensic genealogist, had cleared a space in his busy schedule to track down his own elusive father finally. But he is then presented with a case that challenges his research skills in his quest to find the killer of a woman murdered more than one hundred and eighty years ago. Thoughts of his own family history are quickly and violently pushed to one side as Morton rushes to complete his investigation before other sinister elements succeed in derailing the case.
‘As in the earlier novels, each chapter slips smoothly from past to present, revealing murderous events as the likeable Morton uncovers evidence in the present, while trying to solve the mystery of his own paternity. Packed once more with glorious detail of records familiar to family historians, The America Ground is a delightfully pacey read’
Family Tree
‘Like most genealogical mysteries this book has several threads, cleverly woven together by the author - and there are plenty of surprises for the reader as the story approaches its conclusion. A jolly good read!’
Lost Cousins
The Spyglass File
(The Forensic Genealogist #5)
Morton Farrier was no longer at the top of his game. His forensic genealogy career was faltering and he was refusing to accept any new cases, preferring instead to concentrate on locating his own elusive biological father. Yet, when a particular case presents itself, that of finding the family of a woman abandoned in the midst of the Battle of Britain, Morton is compelled to help her to unravel her past. Using all of his genealogical skills, he soon discovers that the case is connected to The Spyglass File—a secretive document which throws up links which threaten to disturb the wrongdoings of others, who would rather its contents, as well as their actions, remain hidden forever.
‘If you like a good mystery, and the detective work of genealogy, this is another mystery novel from Nathan which will have you whizzing through the pages with time slipping by unnoticed’
Your Family History
‘The first page was so overwhelming that I had to stop for breath…Well, the rest of the book certainly lived up to that impressive start, with twists and turns that kept me guessing right to the end… As the story neared its conclusion I found myself conflicted, for much as I wanted to know how Morton's assignment panned out, I was enjoying it so much that I really didn’t want this book to end!’
Lost Cousins
The Missing Man
(The Forensic Genealogist #6)
It was to be the most important case of Morton Farrier’s career in forensic genealogy so far. A case that had eluded him for many years: finding his own father. Harley ‘Jack’ Jacklin disappeared just six days after a fatal fire at his Cape Cod home on Christmas Eve in 1976, leaving no trace behind. Now his son, Morton must travel to the East Coast of America to unravel the family’s dark secrets in order to discover what really happened to him.
‘One of the hallmarks of genealogical mystery novels is the way that they weave together multiple threads and this book is no exception, cleverly skipping across the generations - and there's also a pleasing symmetry that helps to endear us to one of the key characters...If you've read the other books in this series you won't need me to tell you to rush out and buy this one’
Lost Cousins
‘Nathan Dylan Goodwin has delivered another page-turning mystery laden with forensic genealogical clues that will keep any family historian glued to the book until the mystery is solved’
Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
The Wicked Trade
(The Forensic Genealogist #7)
When Morton Farrier is presented with a case revolving around a mysterious letter written by disreputable criminal, Ann Fothergill in 1827, he quickly finds himself delving into a shadowy Georgian underworld of smuggling and murder on the Kent and Sussex border. Morton must use his skills as a forensic genealogist to untangle Ann’s association with the notorious Aldington Gang and also with the brutal killing of Quartermaster Richard Morgan. As his research continues, Morton suspects that his client’s family might have more troubling and dangerous expectations of his findings.
‘Once again the author has carefully built the story around real places, real people, and historical facts - and whilst the tale itself is fictional, it’s so well written that you’d be forgiven for thinking it was true’
Lost Cousins
‘I can thoroughly recommend this book, which is a superior example of its genre. It is an ideal purchase for anyone with an interest in reading thrillers and in family history studies. I look forward to the next instalment of Morton Farrier’s quest!’
Waltham Forest FHS
Ghost Swifts, Blue Poppies and the Red Star Page 24