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Email 2001
John Drummond re Drummond VC
From: "John Drummond"
Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2001.
Subject: Drummond VC
Dear Mr Thompson,
I came across your article on
Drummond VC (my grandfather) while browsing the internet this morning.
While I am sure it was not your intention, you paint a picture of my grandfather
that I found flippant and hurtful to his memory, which I would not wish to show
to my father (Drummond VC's son). The majority of the facts about the action at
Ostend seem correct, but you give undue weight to the opinion of some modern
historians about the strategic value of the action. There are also quite a few
mistakes about his personal life, which I would be happy to correct.
The last straw was your statement: "and then his rather sordid death".
He had joined the River Emergency Service and then the Royal Naval Patrol
Service, as the best way to serve his country despite his age and ill health.
The fact that he was prepared to do this as a rating shows his modesty and
strong sense of duty.
I am delighted that you have shown such an interest in my grandfather's story
and I am not asking for an apology. My aim in contacting you is to make you
aware that your article does not do justice to Drummond VC and by association to
Clayesmore School.
I would be most grateful if you could give me the references for the modern
historians that you quote and tell me how you found out about his personal life.
I would be very happy to help you produce a revised version.
Yours,
John Drummond, Commander Royal Navy