Mud, Blood and Memoirs. Competition now open for :-

1. Serious title (me being pompous)

2. Forum pi ss take (me pulling legs)

3. Funniest title (to give me a laff like)

Anyway, the author wishes to acknowledge the help and encouragement of all you lovely people out there who have kept me tracing the trail of the McCallion family secret. I reckon I am about 75% of the way there. But that could all change, depending on me mood.

To John Hartley - thanks for being a good sport and there's a gilette blue 2 in the post.

Aside from that I will endeavour to ensure that there is not single redeeming feature in your character.

Anyway, again .... I am further indebted to Prof. Mandy Murf Achoo for her in-depth research of the accounts so far. The Prof. kept track of various personalities who appeared and disappeared up to now. And I hope she's still taking notes.

Thanks to her Ypressness, I can now unveil the cast of characters so far.

This post will be updated as I indulge myself in all manner or murder, mayhem and malpractice.

Who’s who in the story.

As appears in the story apart from our author.

Mr Des Blackadder. Our author.

Rifleman Herbert Samuel McCallion, (AKA Bertie) R.I.P. 7th Bn Mudshires.

Rifleman William McCallion, Brother of Bertie. 7th Bn Mudshires.

2nd Lt John Hartley (Later Major). 7th Bn Mudshires.

Mr Chris Baker. Journalist.

Mrs Kate Wills. Great Granddaughter of William.

Johnny Saunders. Friend of Willie.

‘Squirrel’ Johnston. Friend of Willie. R.I.P.

2nd Lt Richard Langley-Baston. 14 Platoon. (later to be Lt).

L/Cpl Murdock & Rfln Evans. K.I.A.

Sgt. Major Reed. 7th Bn Mudshires.

Billy (Swizz) Swinton. R. Irish Rifles. (gave Willie that fateful letter with the words ‘Hartley did it!’

Marina. Newsagent Doll.

Max. The Butler (did he do it?).

Mr Terry Reeves. Librarian.

Mr Baird. He owned the factory before Willie.

Markinbelfast. Forumite.

Mr Terry Denham. The man who knows all about the CWGC.

Lt. Col. Enoch Beard. 7th Mudshires.

Sgt. Tommy Nulty. 7th Mudshires.

Rfln. Andy Lonergan. All round scrounger and ace with a stewpot (later L/Cpl) ‘B’ Coy.

Jenkins. New from the depot (does not like curry!).

Sgt. Fuller. No 8 Platoon.

Sgt’s Bennison & Hamilton. With Sgt Fuller. (Sgt Bennison K.I.A.)

Cpl. Herbison. With Sgt Reed and Bertie. ‘C’ Coy.

Sgt Cunningham. ‘C’ Coy 7th Mudshires

2nd Lt William O’Brien. ‘D’ Coy.

Sgt. McFall. With 2nd Lt O’Brien.

2nd Lt Dickson. ‘A’ Coy. Wounded.

Lt T.G. Haughton. ‘A’ Coy. K.I.A.

Major Peter Beckett. D.S.O. 7th Mudshires.

Mr Harry Betts. I.W.M.

Prof. Malcolm Fergusson and dogs. Psychologist in Edinburgh.

Mr Grafton Elliot Smith. MA, MD, FRCP, DEAN OF faculty of Medicine & Prof of Anatomy.

Mr Tom Hatherly Pear. BSc, Lecturer in Experimental Psychology, Manchester University Medical school.

Co-authors of ‘Shell Shock & its Lessons’.

Captain P. Gutherie. R.A.M.C. Craiglockhart Hospital.

Tommy Swinton. Son of ‘Swizz’ Swinton.

Brian & Lesley Talmer. B&B Owners, Ypres, Belgium.

Aurel. Ex School teacher, Ypres, Belgium.

Richard Mackay. Policeman, Ypres, Belgium.

Amanda Viljoen. Fiancé of Bertie.

Bert Viljoen. Grandson to Amanda’s sister.

Rfln Jim Clay. 7th Mudshires RIP)

Rfln Shayman. 7th Mudshires (a whiz with the cricket ball/Bombs).

Nobby Noble. Wounded in the leg.

Dai ‘Taf’ Macallister. 7th Mudshires friend of Bertie’s.

Vincent Platteux. Owner of the estaminet.

Stilleto. Forumite.

Major Dennis Broomfield. Corps of Military Police. (RIP)

Matron Susan Light. Author of ‘As God is my Witness’.

Ranger Liam Curran. Singer in the estaminet (name change; check edit)

Pte D. Robertson. Jock went A.W.O.L. with Bertie.

Lt Col Graham Stewart. C.O. of Pte Robertson.

Rfn. Andy Hollinger Cycling fanatic and servant to Hartley (first sews seeds of doubt in Bert McCallion's mind)

Rfn. Spike 'Helmut' Morrison General Mr. Fix It; cross between Bilko and the German bloke of out 'All Quiet'.