`A grandfather we never knew'

The inscription on the grave reads: "Write me as one who loved his fellow men"

The Strachan brothers and their wives at the grave of their grandfather on Diwali day (17 Oct, 2009) They made this emotional trip, visiting the church in Mussoorie where he was married before coming to Lucknow where he died in 1923 at the early age of 42.

An extract of Andrew Strachan's letter to me in May 2009.

"I'll refer to my Grandfather as Crichton as we all know him by that name even though we never knew him.The Strachan name probably originates from a village in the North of Scotland near Aberdeen, however Crichton's father and his father were doctors in a place called Dollar just North of Stirling. There is a famous school in Dollar (Dollar Academy) and there is even a Strachan Crescent. Anyway in that part of Scotland its pronounced Strawn or actually more like Straahn without the w sounding. In many parts of Scotland it is pronounced Strackan (like bracken) Crichton was one of 13 children, his brother George was already in India working in or around Syhlet, for Findlay Muir the tea people, so in 1908 approx Crichton got a job with the B&NW Railway. The B&NW was unusual in that it was built in 1882 from private money with no Government guarantees. It was one of the first metre guage railways and was headquartered in Gorakhpor, went North to Bareilly and Dehredun and west to Lucknow. Like all the railways at that time they were owned and run from the UK and I believe that a Dollar family was behind the original investment. Anyway Crichton met my Grandmother in India, she was the daughter of tea planters and born in Shillong. Her sister was married to George. Crichton and Dorothea were married in Mussoorie in October 1909 and we shall be there 100 years later. I believe that Christ Church Mussoorie is one of the oldest Christian churches in India. Dorothea's mother, a widow by this time was living in Mussoorie. As you know Crichton died in 1923 and Dorothea and the 5 children incl my father, the oldest returned to Dollar. George's family also returned at some point although I do not know when. There was another brother Arthur, who published a book in 1933, "Mauled by a Tiger" detailing his exploits shooting tigers in Bengal for sport. Anyway one of the tigers got him back and Arthur lost one arm and part of one leg. I assume he returned to UK after that! As an Assistant traffic manager Crichton was posted in many places on the line including Samastipur and Bareilly.

We know a bit more but this is a summary. I have been in India before (Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai) but never to see any of the family history. My wife and my brother and his wife have never been, so it will be a real experience for all of us. I don't really know how I will feel at the grave. Neither I or my brother are really religious as such but it will still be strange and humbling, I am sure, to visit where he is buried. I will try and find out about Strachey! Anyway, bye for now

Andy

Guava gardens