MPs and sons also died in war
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THE lives of MPs and their sons who were killed in the First World War are to be revealed in the latest work by a Runcorn author.
Led By Lions: MPs And Sons Who Fell In The First World War, written by former Thomas ‘Todger’ Jones VC statue campaigner Neil Thornton, uncovers the bravery displayed by the politicians of the day and seeks to dispel the myth that they remained at home while ordering others to do the fighting.
The book also contains another Runcorn link in the form of Walcot Harmwood-Banner, whose family lived at Aston Hall in Preston Brook.
Neil, who enjoyed success with his previous book Rorke’s Drift: A New Perspective Hardcover published last year, was welcomed as a guest by MPs to the House Of Commons for the Led By Lions launch, which was due to take place on December 18, several days after its release date on December 14.
The event has been organised by John Bercow, Speaker Of The House Of Commons, and Ian Paisley MP, who both contributed to the book with a foreword and introduction. ● written by Runcorn author Neil Thornton, was launched in Parliament on December 19. The book is about MPs and their sons who died in the First World War
It will take place in the Speaker’s State Rooms and will be attended by MPs, past and present military, press and fellow authors.
Neil said he hopes the book will put the record straight in the public perception of politicians’ contribution to the war.
He said: “It is a common misconception that the country’s politicians sat at home and had an easy war whilst sending thousands of men – other people’s sons – to their deaths without a care.
“They are often slated and called cowards and the remark ‘the politicians should have done the fighting’ is a very familiar ● one.
“The truth is the politicians did do the fighting and many of them were decorated for gallantry, killed, wounded, and captured.
“Some of them pulled strings to get to the front and, when designated to staff roles behind the lines, protested that they should be fighting and dying with the men.
“As well as the MPs themselves who were fighting, scores of MPs also lost their sons in the war.
“This flies in the face of the belief that they did not suffer or feel personal loss in the conflict.
“I wanted to write the book to show that these men suffered and shared the same hardships as those they represented.
“In fact, the serving Prime Minister Herbert Asquith had two sons wounded, one of whom lost his leg, and another, Raymond, died after he led his men over the top on the Somme.
“He had been given a staff job but insisted on leading his men into battle. Also, the Chancellor Bonar Law lost two sons within six months, whilst another politician Frederick Cawley MP for Prestwich lost all three of his sons who served.
“One of them, Harold, had also had a staff job but mithered for a fighting role and within two weeks of getting it was killed.”