THE STORY TOLD IN THE BOOK
In 1992, seventy-seven
years after John Kipling was reported Missing at the battle of Loos, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
named a previously unknown soldier buried in St
Mary's ADS Cemetery in France as John Kipling.
Kipling himself was devastated at the loss of
his only 'man-child' and determined to find his
final resting place. Despite his influential position
and a lifelong search, he never succeeded in his
quest.
Intensive research led the authors to the conclusion
(reinforced by the opinions of four qualified
professionals reproduced at the end
of this book) that the Commission's 1992 decision
was unsound.
.
Portrait of John Kipling in Irish Guards
Uniform and behind the new Headstone in St Mary's ADS CWGC Cemetery,
Loos
If it isn't John then who is it?
In an Appendix to the latest edition of the book the authors identify a missing Lieutenant of the London Irish who is a much better 'fit' to the evidence presented to the CWGC.
This book was described by the Honorary Secretary of the Kipling Society thus - 'as compellingly readable as one could wish and is as memorable as the best of other Kipling biographies.'
A biography, a detective story and an invitation to the reader to say who they think is buried in the 'Kipling grave' - 'My son Jack?' |