I understand that Rudyard pulled a lot of strings to get his son in the Army and through the medical and then spent the rest of his life with the guilt. The First World War was seen as a great adventure and many slipped the net. My own Grandfather lied about his age to get there and was there for a while before he got rumbled and sent back home. Things didn't improve by the next war either. I was reading of one lad that joined the RAF and at 15 had flown four bombing missions as a pilot before he got rumbled.
Incidently, I drive past Rudyard lake in Staffordshire quite often. Rudyard's parents used to visit the place regularly hence his name. The neighbouring lake is Tittesworth. Somehow I am pleased that they prefered Rudyard. Lagopus.....
