With a collection of anecdotes from Arthur Walton, my Grandad, filed in my head, I knew one day I needed to record them in some way. He died in 1972 (I was 11). Lockdowns created time for the project. I started writing without knowing what would emerge and without the intention of a book for publication. I had a beginning, August 1914, and an end, 1920, which gave me a timeline. I needed to fill the gap.

The outcome evolved into far too many words for one book; detailed research into a forgotten part of British History with 'Churchill's Intervention', and a fascination with the Allied involvement in the Russian Civil War.

My dad was a professional soldier and I was too; in the Royal Artillery, like my Grandad. I left the army in 1987 to work in financial markets for 25 years, travelling extensively to the great city's of the world. I was at school in South East London, I studied Economics at Warwick University, and later for a Master of Business Administration. After a City career in 2006, I co-founded a technology development business.

Having disliked composing imaginative stories at school, I now find inspiration everywhere. My writing weaves fiction within the historical facts of real events throughout WW1 and after in Russia.

I'm on the Western Front Association's speaker list and have spoken at conferences. Other groups I've presented to include u3a, Family History and Writers groups, The Royal British Legion, Regimental Veterans, Rotary and Probus clubs. These all a combination of screen presentations or informal, after-lunch talks without notes. A recent comment; "Thank you for an excellent lecture today, Andy. Very well constructed, and it was presented in a clear and entertaining manner. I've been attending Historical Association talks for many years, and I can't remember one better than yours." https://www.andystuart.net/