Posted by Mountaineer on October 27, 2008 at 08:02:30 user Mountaineer.
In Reply to: What did you do in the War, Uncle Jim? posted by Alison on October 26, 2008 at 21:54:28:
We know that Uncle Jim was considered a "black sheep" of the (apparently somewhat distinguished) Turner family. He dropped out of College (there's something about that in Missee Lee, I think) and was sent to South Africa.
Probably by 1914 already in his mid-twenties and sailing on merchant vessels or otherwise roaming the globe I'd expect him to serve some time in the Royal Navy without ever gaining particular distinction. (He's not the one for obeying orders...)
It has been speculated that Bob Blackett died in the war (or maybe shortly later, with the flu epidemic). That would mean that his daughters, probably born 1917 and 1918, never knew him (and he may not have lived to see Peggy). Rather sad, but we don't know anything about him. So he certainly must have died while the Amazons were rather small.
I also suspect that Bob Blackett was of somewhat lower social class than the Turner family, there are hints of that in SD, when the GA says something mean about him or his influence.
Beckfoot obviously is a property of the Turner family.
Johannes