Kevin Darling survives The Great War, at what cost? Everything belongs to Mr. Curtis, Mr. Elton and the Beeb.
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April 1923, Major Kevin Darling DSO had survived the war without a scratch. He returned home to his beloved Doris and got married, they had twin sons called Edmund and George. He was assistant manager of Pratt and Sons and Captain of the Croydon Gentlemen's Cricket Club.
He came down to breakfast one Saturday morning, as usual 'The Times' was waiting for him. As his wife poured him a cup of tea he opened the newspaper and said "Good Grief, Melchett!"
The headline read FIELD MARSHAL MELCHETT MURDERED.
The article read "One of the most prominent leaders of His Majesties Forces in The Great War, Field Marshal Earl Melchett of Cambridge KG GCB OM, was murdered by one of his servants whilst hunting yesterday..."
Doris said "What was that my dear?"
"The old fool is dead at last, good riddance, I wish I had had the courage to kill him myself. You know I served in France in the war. For reasons best known to itself The Army put me at HQ for the duration, a long way from the fighting. In 1916 I found myself on the staff of General Melchett. At first I was happy to be there, even though Melchett was completely round the bend. I was content to do my duty, I must have helped Melchett send thousands of men to senseless deaths but as the bodies mounted it started to get on my mind. Then in 1917 there was yet another "Big Push", thousands more died. One of the dead soldiers was Captain Edmund Blackadder. I didn't like Blackadder, he was just another soldier who crossed my path, he was always trying something to get away from the front but, unlike me, he was doomed. He was killed with his men 10 yards into No Man's Land. When I heard that Blackadder was dead something inside me snapped. I was never the same again after that. Fortunately for me I got promoted from Captain to Major two months later and moved away from Melchett to another part of HQ.
I was one of the lucky ones, I survived and returned home to you my beloved Doris. I hadn't thought of Melchett for 4 years but seeing the news brings back all the bad memories."
Doris said "don't worry my dear, the war is over now, I am here for you."
"Thank you my dear, I need to head off to the office, I should be back for lunch."
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Two hours later Doris answered the telephone
"Hello is that Mrs Darling, my name is Jonathan Pratt. I am afraid there has been a terrible accident..."