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From A Clear Blue Sky: Surviving the Mountbatten bomb
Winner of the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Award, and nominated for the PEN/JR Ackerley prize.The powerful memoir of a Mullaghmore bombing survivor___________________________________On the August bank holiday weekend in 1979, 14-year-old Timothy Knatchbull went on a boat trip off the shore of Mullaghmore in County Sligo, Ireland, with many members of his family.By noon, an IRA bomb had destroyed the boat, leaving four dead.The author survived, but his grandparents, a family friend, and his 14-year-old twin brother did not. Lord Mountbatten, his grandfather - and uncle to the Duke of Edinburgh - was the target, and became one of the IRA's most high-profile assassinations.In telling this story for the first time, Knatchbull is not only revisiting the terrible events he and his family lived through, but also writing an intensely personal account of human triumph over tragedy. It is a story of recovery, not just from physical wounds but deep emotional trauma. Knatchbull and his parents were too badly injured to attend the funerals of those killed, a sadness that intensified their profound sense of loss.Taking place in Ireland at the height of the Troubles, it gives a compelling insight into that period of Irish history. But more importantly it brings home that although tragedy can strike at any moment, the human spirit is able to forgive, to heal and to move on. It will resonate with readers the world over.___________________________________'From a Clear Blue Sky is a minute by minute story of what happened that day, and what happened afterwards. It is a proper four-hanky bawler, and the exactitude of the story is what makes it so moving ... He provides a convincing account of the extent to which he has been able to accept, forgive and move on. His narrative power is such that the reader can't always share his equanimity. It is a book that is as saddening as it is sad - but much more angering than it is angry' Daily Mail'This is an extremely moving book. Beyond providing a phenomenally detailed evocation of his own family's trauma, Knatchbull has lots of wise things to say about how we survive horrors - of all kinds - in our lives. He writes with great tenderness and an admirable lack of sentimentality' Zoe Heller'Affecting and intimate' Mail on Sunday'Testament to a remarkable, benevolent soul ... With this public love letter he has found a way to say goodbye' The Sunday Times
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
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June 29, 2020
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This is quite a gruelling read. In August 1979, 14-year-old Timothy Knatchbull was seriously injured when the IRA blew up his grandfather’s boat; his parents were also seriously injured, but survived; his maternal grandfather, his paternal grandmother, a teenage boy who was helping out on the boat, and also Timothy’s twin brother Nicholas were all killed. This would be a shocking enough event no matter who the victims were, but the boys’ grandfather was Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, whose nephew Philip was and is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. It was a direct attack by the IRA on the British royal family, and it succeeded.
That same day, eighteen British soldiers were killed in two bomb attacks at Narrow Water Castle, County Down, and their colleagues mistakenly shot and killed a civilian in the belief that they were returning fire. It was one of the worst days of the Troubles, with the biggest single loss of life for the British army. Of the two events on 27 August 1979, the Narrow Water attack hit much closer for me. Roger Hall, whose family still owns the castle, was a close friend of my father's, and their sisters, Moira Hall and my aunt Ursula, shared a house in London for many years where we were always welcome.
But everyone has their own story, and Timothy Knatchbull tells his very eloquently. Many people have suffered violent bereavement, but very few lose an identical twin, and Timothy carefully unpacks the nature of his relationship with Nicholas, and his adaptation to life without him. Getting closure was a long process; Timothy was too badly injured to attend the funerals, and only years later did he uncover the post-mortem reports and photographs of his brother's body being recovered from the sea, which were crucial for his coming to terms with the past.
As one might expect, Knatchbull's relationship with Ireland is very complex. It was a magical place of childhood holiday memories, which turned to horror in an instant. He is fulsome in his tributes to the people who rescued him and his parents, and the Sligo medical team who saved their lives. Most of the Irish people who he quotes deplored the attack on his family. But not all. He looks in detail at the Garda investigation and subsequent trial - Thomas MacMahon, who was convicted of planting the bomb, had actually been arrested two hours before it exploded, which rather clearly indicates that he was not the only person involved. There is a tangible suspicion that not every stone was left unturned. Knatchbull twice quotes a senior Irish politician to the effect that this was the biggest crime in the history of the State. (Actually I would dispute that on behalf of Kevin O'Higgins, whose killers were never arrested, even though it is now well known who they were.)
Mountbatten was clearly capable of inspiring devotion as a father and grandfather. I still can't warm to him; he flirted with the overthrow of British democracy in 1968, and his botching of the partition of India killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. Oddly enough the latter experience made him more personally sympathetic to Irish nationalism. In any case, the IRA did not kill him because of his colonial and military record, still less his political views; they killed him, and two children and an old woman, purely because of who his nephew had married. The effect in the short term was to harden the positions of both the British and Irish governments against the IRA, and in the medium and long term to deepen suspicion and make peace and reconciliation more difficult. This was not a win in any way. (And today's Sinn Féin supporters need to own that this act of murder was celebrated by SF at the time.)
Knatchbull has found his equilibrium, and welcomes the peace process which has (largely) brought an end to traumas like his. (I don't think I have ever met him, but his last year in Cambridge as an undergraduate at Christ's was my first year at Clare, so we may well have been in the same room on occasion.) He has found a way of making sense of the terrible thing that was done to his family. Many other victims of the Troubles have not been able to do that. A book like this is important as a demonstration that a personal reconciliation with the past is in the end possible, although the necessary resources (time, space and often money) are not equally available to everyone.
This is quite a gruelling read. In August 1979, 14-year-old Timothy Knatchbull was seriously injured when the IRA blew up his grandfather’s boat; his parents were also seriously injured, but survived; his maternal grandfather, his paternal grandmother, a teenage boy who was helping out on the boat, and also Timothy’s twin brother Nicholas were all killed. This would be a shocking enough event no matter who the victims were, but the boys’ grandfather was Lord Mountbatten, the last viceroy of India, whose nephew Philip was and is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II. It was a direct attack by the IRA on the British royal family, and it succeeded.
That same day, eighteen British soldiers were killed in two bomb attacks at Narrow Water Castle, County Down, and their colleagues mistakenly shot and killed a civilian in the belief that they were returning fire. It was one of the worst days of the Troubles, with the biggest single loss of life for the British army. Of the two events on 27 August 1979, the Narrow Water attack hit much closer for me. Roger Hall, whose family still owns the castle, was a close friend of my father's, and their sisters, Moira Hall and my aunt Ursula, shared a house in London for many years where we were always welcome.
But everyone has their own story, and Timothy Knatchbull tells his very eloquently. Many people have suffered violent bereavement, but very few lose an identical twin, and Timothy carefully unpacks the nature of his relationship with Nicholas, and his adaptation to life without him. Getting closure was a long process; Timothy was too badly injured to attend the funerals, and only years later did he uncover the post-mortem reports and photographs of his brother's body being recovered from the sea, which were crucial for his coming to terms with the past.
As one might expect, Knatchbull's relationship with Ireland is very complex. It was a magical place of childhood holiday memories, which turned to horror in an instant. He is fulsome in his tributes to the people who rescued him and his parents, and the Sligo medical team who saved their lives. Most of the Irish people who he quotes deplored the attack on his family. But not all. He looks in detail at the Garda investigation and subsequent trial - Thomas MacMahon, who was convicted of planting the bomb, had actually been arrested two hours before it exploded, which rather clearly indicates that he was not the only person involved. There is a tangible suspicion that not every stone was left unturned. Knatchbull twice quotes a senior Irish politician to the effect that this was the biggest crime in the history of the State. (Actually I would dispute that on behalf of Kevin O'Higgins, whose killers were never arrested, even though it is now well known who they were.)
Mountbatten was clearly capable of inspiring devotion as a father and grandfather. I still can't warm to him; he flirted with the overthrow of British democracy in 1968, and his botching of the partition of India killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. Oddly enough the latter experience made him more personally sympathetic to Irish nationalism. In any case, the IRA did not kill him because of his colonial and military record, still less his political views; they killed him, and two children and an old woman, purely because of who his nephew had married. The effect in the short term was to harden the positions of both the British and Irish governments against the IRA, and in the medium and long term to deepen suspicion and make peace and reconciliation more difficult. This was not a win in any way. (And today's Sinn Féin supporters need to own that this act of murder was celebrated by SF at the time.)
Knatchbull has found his equilibrium, and welcomes the peace process which has (largely) brought an end to traumas like his. (I don't think I have ever met him, but his last year in Cambridge as an undergraduate at Christ's was my first year at Clare, so we may well have been in the same room on occasion.) He has found a way of making sense of the terrible thing that was done to his family. Many other victims of the Troubles have not been able to do that. A book like this is important as a demonstration that a personal reconciliation with the past is in the end possible, although the necessary resources (time, space and often money) are not equally available to everyone.
September 26, 2021
Moving, thoughtful survivor's account of the aftermath of the Sligo bombing through the 25 year anniversary.
April 25, 2011
The amazing thing about belonging to a bookclub is that you are exposed to books you would never normally choose to read. I was just 17 when the IRA blew up a boat off the west coast of Ireland, just south of the line separating north from south. Way down at the bottom of the world in New Zealand, I distinctly remember the event, and the international horror and outrage at this act. I gathered the main target was a very important person but no real idea of who he was or what he had done. And that is basically all I remember of the incident.
All the focus, naturally was on Lord Louis, grandson of Queen Victoria, cousin of the Queen, godfather of Prince Charles. As well as being royal, he had a very distinguished naval war career, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia, took Burma off the Japanese and ended up being Admiral of the Fleet. For his service, he was appointed the last Viceroy of India, and was instrumental in the handing over of India back to the Indian government in 1947.
On that boat was a family group out for a day fishing and general mucking about. The principle target, Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed, as were his 13 year old grandson Nicholas, Nicholas's paternal grandmother Lady Brabourne, and a local lad, 14 year old Paul Maxwell. Also on the boat were Lord Louis' daughter Patricia and husband John, and their other 13 year old identical twin son Timothy. These three, due to the quick thinking and actions of the locals, miraculously survived the bombing, and although severely injured did, in their own way, recover.
So a book written by the surviving twin finds itself on the bookclub table and suddenly I feel compelled to read it - the story behind the headlines.
Timothy and his parents were too ill to go to the funerals of their parents/grandparents/son/brother. So there was no real sense of closure for him, and in the days before full scale trauma counselling such as is available today, in many ways he was simply left to get over it and get on with his life. Some 20 years later he decides to confront the past, the result of which is this sensitively written, very forgiving, gracious, and mostly cathartic book. Timothy's story has three parts to it - the family and its history that Timothy belongs to, the events leading up to the bombing and its immediate aftermath; the path of Timothy's life and how he does his own investigation into the bombing, the IRA with personal visits to Ireland; and most significantly the devastating effect of the death of his identical other on his own life. I would say one of the key drivers in his survival and which comes through very strongly in the book, is how close knit and functional this particular family is.
As well as all the family stuff, there is a considerable amount of writing about the conflict in Ireland and the Troubles which reached their peak in the late 1970s. Many people have no sympathy at all for the IRA and its ilk. We would all forgive Timothy if he expressed hate and bitterness for those responsible, but he doesn't. He may not agree with their methods, but he understands their cause. He discovers that his grandfather had been a target for quite some time, and seems to accept that it was really only a matter of time before something happened.
A most interesting and emotional read about a troubled time in recent history and how there really are no winners in any of these conflicts.
All the focus, naturally was on Lord Louis, grandson of Queen Victoria, cousin of the Queen, godfather of Prince Charles. As well as being royal, he had a very distinguished naval war career, Supreme Allied Commander of South East Asia, took Burma off the Japanese and ended up being Admiral of the Fleet. For his service, he was appointed the last Viceroy of India, and was instrumental in the handing over of India back to the Indian government in 1947.
On that boat was a family group out for a day fishing and general mucking about. The principle target, Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed, as were his 13 year old grandson Nicholas, Nicholas's paternal grandmother Lady Brabourne, and a local lad, 14 year old Paul Maxwell. Also on the boat were Lord Louis' daughter Patricia and husband John, and their other 13 year old identical twin son Timothy. These three, due to the quick thinking and actions of the locals, miraculously survived the bombing, and although severely injured did, in their own way, recover.
So a book written by the surviving twin finds itself on the bookclub table and suddenly I feel compelled to read it - the story behind the headlines.
Timothy and his parents were too ill to go to the funerals of their parents/grandparents/son/brother. So there was no real sense of closure for him, and in the days before full scale trauma counselling such as is available today, in many ways he was simply left to get over it and get on with his life. Some 20 years later he decides to confront the past, the result of which is this sensitively written, very forgiving, gracious, and mostly cathartic book. Timothy's story has three parts to it - the family and its history that Timothy belongs to, the events leading up to the bombing and its immediate aftermath; the path of Timothy's life and how he does his own investigation into the bombing, the IRA with personal visits to Ireland; and most significantly the devastating effect of the death of his identical other on his own life. I would say one of the key drivers in his survival and which comes through very strongly in the book, is how close knit and functional this particular family is.
As well as all the family stuff, there is a considerable amount of writing about the conflict in Ireland and the Troubles which reached their peak in the late 1970s. Many people have no sympathy at all for the IRA and its ilk. We would all forgive Timothy if he expressed hate and bitterness for those responsible, but he doesn't. He may not agree with their methods, but he understands their cause. He discovers that his grandfather had been a target for quite some time, and seems to accept that it was really only a matter of time before something happened.
A most interesting and emotional read about a troubled time in recent history and how there really are no winners in any of these conflicts.
December 11, 2020
This book was fascinating. If you are a fan of The Crown, and have seen Season 4, Episode 1, you’ll already have some back story on the IRA’s assassination of Lord Mountbatten (a*k*a “Dickie”). This book was written by the one of only 3 survivors in that boat explosion... the surviving twin brother, Timothy Knatchbull.
Knatchbull, now a 55 year old man, has written this incredibly researched and meticulously detailed account of this shocking tragedy and his life-long pursuit to uncover the details of his twin brother’s last moments.
Part True Crime, part History Lesson and part “Psychology”, this book covers it all in a clear and page-turning manner. The depth that Knatchbull manages to retell this terrible moment in his family’s history is courageous and raw. His never ending love for his twin will bring tears to your eyes and make you want to reach through the pages to give this man a hug.
The family are direct descendant of British royalty. Lord Mountbatten was the 2nd cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. In one particularly reveling chapter, Knatchbull describes a visit he and his older sister had to the Queen’s vacation castle Balmoral, shortly after he was released from the hospital several weeks after the bombing. He describes the Queen and Prince Charles (he and his twin’s Godfather), as welcoming them to Balmoral upon their late evening arrival. “We we’re planning to shuffle like mice to our rooms, when suddenly we caught sight of the Queen striding down the corridor. She had the air of a mother duck gathering in lost young. Beside her was Prince Charles... looking every bit as agitated, yet tender and concerned.” Knatchbull continues to describe after being piled with soup and sandwiches, “We ambled down the corridor... knowing the Queen would break off and head in the direction of her room. [She would have] none of it! She shepherded us into our rooms and started to unpack our bags.”
I give you this example of how caring and compassionate the Queen was to this young man. Obviously this is not a Rags to Riches story, but it does show that all families, no matter your demographic or wealth or power, are all the same when it comes to rallying together after a tragedy.
This is one of the most riveting stories that you’ve probably never known. It will give you hope and insight, particularly if you’ve experienced a family tragedy or even lost a sibling (especially a twin).
I give it my full recommendation!
Knatchbull, now a 55 year old man, has written this incredibly researched and meticulously detailed account of this shocking tragedy and his life-long pursuit to uncover the details of his twin brother’s last moments.
Part True Crime, part History Lesson and part “Psychology”, this book covers it all in a clear and page-turning manner. The depth that Knatchbull manages to retell this terrible moment in his family’s history is courageous and raw. His never ending love for his twin will bring tears to your eyes and make you want to reach through the pages to give this man a hug.
The family are direct descendant of British royalty. Lord Mountbatten was the 2nd cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. In one particularly reveling chapter, Knatchbull describes a visit he and his older sister had to the Queen’s vacation castle Balmoral, shortly after he was released from the hospital several weeks after the bombing. He describes the Queen and Prince Charles (he and his twin’s Godfather), as welcoming them to Balmoral upon their late evening arrival. “We we’re planning to shuffle like mice to our rooms, when suddenly we caught sight of the Queen striding down the corridor. She had the air of a mother duck gathering in lost young. Beside her was Prince Charles... looking every bit as agitated, yet tender and concerned.” Knatchbull continues to describe after being piled with soup and sandwiches, “We ambled down the corridor... knowing the Queen would break off and head in the direction of her room. [She would have] none of it! She shepherded us into our rooms and started to unpack our bags.”
I give you this example of how caring and compassionate the Queen was to this young man. Obviously this is not a Rags to Riches story, but it does show that all families, no matter your demographic or wealth or power, are all the same when it comes to rallying together after a tragedy.
This is one of the most riveting stories that you’ve probably never known. It will give you hope and insight, particularly if you’ve experienced a family tragedy or even lost a sibling (especially a twin).
I give it my full recommendation!
November 24, 2020
I was born in Northern Ireland in 1996, two years before the Good Friday Agreement was signed. I spent most of my childhood between Northern Ireland, and across the border at my grandma's house in Donegal and was, for the most part, largely unaware of the situation around me.
I've been wanting to read and learn more about Ireland's history for most of my life; and it is only recently that I have come to appreciate why we couldn't learn about it in school to any real depth. The Troubles were polarising and divisive, and for all intents and purposes, is very much still happening.
Between Covid, and being furloughed I have more time on my hands than I normally would and after researching and looking into books I decided to start here - with the story of the Mountbatten bomb.
I have really enjoyed Knatchbull's writing; he doesn't waste time giving opinions about The Troubles and talking about who was right or wrong (which I find is often what happens). This book felt like it was therapy for Knatchbull to write; he very much celebrates his childhood in Ireland, and goes on to detail his eventual recovery into adulthood from the bomb that would take the lives of those dearest to him.
The impact that this brutal murder had on Ireland, North and South, and the wider world was devastating and had dramatic consequences for Ireland as a nation. Honestly, what surprised me the most was Timothy Knatchbull's forgiveness. It is incredibly challenging to read about as someone who feels deeply the impact of a lifetime of being surrounded by The Troubles; that someone whose twin was murdered by the IRA could get to that life of forgiveness is a humbling reminder that healing can happen if we take the time for it.
This was a humbling place to begin learning about the difficult history of the beautiful country I call home. The peace that Ireland needs is coming someday. I'll finish with a quote from renowned Irish Poet, Eavan Boland;
I've been wanting to read and learn more about Ireland's history for most of my life; and it is only recently that I have come to appreciate why we couldn't learn about it in school to any real depth. The Troubles were polarising and divisive, and for all intents and purposes, is very much still happening.
Between Covid, and being furloughed I have more time on my hands than I normally would and after researching and looking into books I decided to start here - with the story of the Mountbatten bomb.
I have really enjoyed Knatchbull's writing; he doesn't waste time giving opinions about The Troubles and talking about who was right or wrong (which I find is often what happens). This book felt like it was therapy for Knatchbull to write; he very much celebrates his childhood in Ireland, and goes on to detail his eventual recovery into adulthood from the bomb that would take the lives of those dearest to him.
"The purpose of my return to Sligo was to heal old wounds, not open them." (page 269)
The impact that this brutal murder had on Ireland, North and South, and the wider world was devastating and had dramatic consequences for Ireland as a nation. Honestly, what surprised me the most was Timothy Knatchbull's forgiveness. It is incredibly challenging to read about as someone who feels deeply the impact of a lifetime of being surrounded by The Troubles; that someone whose twin was murdered by the IRA could get to that life of forgiveness is a humbling reminder that healing can happen if we take the time for it.
This was a humbling place to begin learning about the difficult history of the beautiful country I call home. The peace that Ireland needs is coming someday. I'll finish with a quote from renowned Irish Poet, Eavan Boland;
We started walking
When we began to talk
I saw our words had the power to unmake history.
- A Dream of Colony
June 8, 2017
Kind of grisly, this is a very in-depth look into the assassination of the Earl of Montbatten back in 1979.
April 23, 2018
A must read for anyone who knows about the murder of Lord Mountbatten at Mullaghmore in 1979. The author was one of the victims; his twin brother died, as did his paternal grandmother and the teenager who served as boatman and family helper. The book has been put together really well. It is intensely readable and deeply humbling in parts.
May 5, 2021
Compelling read ...
especially if you remember!
Tim shares his journey of pain, loss, searching and seeking understanding as he tells his own story of this remarkable family and this terrible event.
especially if you remember!
Tim shares his journey of pain, loss, searching and seeking understanding as he tells his own story of this remarkable family and this terrible event.
January 10, 2023
This book was a beautiful story of forgiveness at the highest levels and the importance of family during trying times. Most importantly, it shows how introspection and self reflection can lead to healing after an insurmountable loss
July 27, 2019
I started this book interested to learn more about something that I remember from when I was young- but got tired of the endless name dropping and did not finish it
April 6, 2020
Well written. Privileged. Moving in places and factually interesting. Just didn’t quite hit the spot
February 22, 2022
So moving and affecting
October 16, 2025
Emotionally amazing. I cannot imagine what it took to write this. Thank you, Timothy!
March 9, 2017
Interesting book about the time Lord Mountbatten's boat was blown up by the IRA in Sligo. Naturally, this book , written by his grandson who had survived the bombing and whose identical twin brother was killed in the explosion, has a very sentimental view of Lord Mountbatten. On a human level , it's very touching, exploring his eventual recovery from the trauma. I had forgotten the depths of hatred some Irish people felt for the British and , in particular, members of the Royal family.
August 30, 2014
This was one of those books added to my list to read several years ago... probably as a result of something heard on the radio but then forgotten. I feel the experience of the book was different for being an audiobook narrated by the author and listened to initially on a trip to London which in itself provided a reminder that there is another 'half' (very much less than a half) who live differently.
The narration was superb, beautifully clear and paced. I was fascinated by the details of upper class life - how much of it is linked so much more closely to our history as hunter-gatherers. There's a good deal of huntin', fishin' and shootin' - umpteen members of your family slaughtered by a bomb? Go blasting grouse to feel better! There seemed to be quite a contrast between the stereotypical physical distance between family members - all those houses, all those fingers in all those pies, nannies, boarding school from a young age... and yet gushing affection in letters and then seemingly a whole month of extended family on holiday together every year... not in one another's pockets but certainly enjoying one another's company. I did find all the darlings and adoring hard going at times.
It is hard to criticise any book which is clearly written for the author themselves as therapy, but it was worthwhile as an outsider to be allowed into the process of recovery and I felt he had plenty fresh to say about living with loss. There was something particular about this one of many atrocities during The Troubles... I hope it is not all because it was about a posh family but I did feel that for Timothy that provided access to routes to recovery which may not have been so readily afforded to more ordinary victims.It was certainly remarkable and moving to hear about the Queen's ability to listen, and to get up in the night and supply soup and sandwiches.
Timothy Knatchbull was the only child to survive the bomb. I read somewhere that he did not feel himself to have suffered from survivor guilt and I'd agree there is little evidence of that - more of something much more intelligent (not that we can chose) and complicated. The discussion with the pathologist after many years about why he survived and his identical twin did not was quite startling. His feelings about the Irish situation were also nuanced.
I don't know if the print copy has maps and photos but I felt I would have liked them.
The narration was superb, beautifully clear and paced. I was fascinated by the details of upper class life - how much of it is linked so much more closely to our history as hunter-gatherers. There's a good deal of huntin', fishin' and shootin' - umpteen members of your family slaughtered by a bomb? Go blasting grouse to feel better! There seemed to be quite a contrast between the stereotypical physical distance between family members - all those houses, all those fingers in all those pies, nannies, boarding school from a young age... and yet gushing affection in letters and then seemingly a whole month of extended family on holiday together every year... not in one another's pockets but certainly enjoying one another's company. I did find all the darlings and adoring hard going at times.
It is hard to criticise any book which is clearly written for the author themselves as therapy, but it was worthwhile as an outsider to be allowed into the process of recovery and I felt he had plenty fresh to say about living with loss. There was something particular about this one of many atrocities during The Troubles... I hope it is not all because it was about a posh family but I did feel that for Timothy that provided access to routes to recovery which may not have been so readily afforded to more ordinary victims.It was certainly remarkable and moving to hear about the Queen's ability to listen, and to get up in the night and supply soup and sandwiches.
Timothy Knatchbull was the only child to survive the bomb. I read somewhere that he did not feel himself to have suffered from survivor guilt and I'd agree there is little evidence of that - more of something much more intelligent (not that we can chose) and complicated. The discussion with the pathologist after many years about why he survived and his identical twin did not was quite startling. His feelings about the Irish situation were also nuanced.
I don't know if the print copy has maps and photos but I felt I would have liked them.
March 21, 2015
Enjoyed it. After overdosing on light reading I needed a tonic so I did a 180 by reading this book. I was interested in it because I'd always heard about Lord Mountbatten (LM) being killed by an IRA bomb but I didn't know any of the details and wanted to know them. This book was written by LM's grandson who was on the boat when the bomb exploded. He survived but his twin brother was killed along with LM and their paternal grandmother. This book is an interesting combination of history, personal biography, and grief.
Basically this book is Knatchbull's therapy in finally coming to terms with his twin's death. To reach this place, he researched the IRA and the Irish troubles, he went back to Ireland for the first time and searched out those who had been involved in saving him and the members of his family who were also on the boat, he met with other twins who had lost their other half, and he took a walk through his own memories.
I enjoyed the personal details about his family the most. Everything I'd ever heard about LM was from his place in history. Here we see him in his place in his family. He sounds like he was a well loved grandfather and it was nice to get just the simple details of his interaction with his grandchildren and how he would do things like pick up stamps for his grandson's stamp collections when walking through the streets of Burma with the Queen. And the estate lawyer in me loved the little details about LM's estate and how he didn't have any family money of his own despite being a great grandson of Queen Victoria - it was all his wife's money and when she died, it went to their two daughters, not to him.
I also enjoyed the historical bits with the Irish Troubles. I hadn't realized that LM knew he was a a huge security risk when he vacationed in Ireland and that there were security forces who stayed with LM and his family every time they stayed there. Security was there with the family...and clearly failed...when the bomb exploded. There is no blame in this book, only an attempt to find peace, come to an understanding with what happened, to let go, and move on.
Basically this book is Knatchbull's therapy in finally coming to terms with his twin's death. To reach this place, he researched the IRA and the Irish troubles, he went back to Ireland for the first time and searched out those who had been involved in saving him and the members of his family who were also on the boat, he met with other twins who had lost their other half, and he took a walk through his own memories.
I enjoyed the personal details about his family the most. Everything I'd ever heard about LM was from his place in history. Here we see him in his place in his family. He sounds like he was a well loved grandfather and it was nice to get just the simple details of his interaction with his grandchildren and how he would do things like pick up stamps for his grandson's stamp collections when walking through the streets of Burma with the Queen. And the estate lawyer in me loved the little details about LM's estate and how he didn't have any family money of his own despite being a great grandson of Queen Victoria - it was all his wife's money and when she died, it went to their two daughters, not to him.
I also enjoyed the historical bits with the Irish Troubles. I hadn't realized that LM knew he was a a huge security risk when he vacationed in Ireland and that there were security forces who stayed with LM and his family every time they stayed there. Security was there with the family...and clearly failed...when the bomb exploded. There is no blame in this book, only an attempt to find peace, come to an understanding with what happened, to let go, and move on.
September 12, 2011
On the August bank holiday weekend in the UK in 1979, 14-year-old Timothy Knatchbull went out on a boat trip off the shore of Mullaghmore in County Sligo, Ireland. It was a trip that would cost four lives -- and change his own for ever.
The IRA bomb that exploded in their boat killed Knatchbull's grandfather Lord Mountbatten (cousin of the Queen), his grandmother Lady Brabourne, his twin brother Nicholas, and local teenager Paul Maxwell. In telling this story for the first time, Knatchbull is not only revisiting the terrible events he and his family lived through, but also writing an intensely personal account of human triumph over tragedy.
For thirty years, Knatchbull has lived with the echoes of that day: the death of the twin from whom he had been inseparable; the loss of his adored grandparents, whose funerals along with his twin's he and his parents were too injured to attend; the recovery from physical wounds; and the emotional legacy that proved harder to endure.
In From A Clear Blue Sky Timothy Knatchbull delves into his past, present and future, and reveals a story of courage and fortitude as he, his family, and their English and Irish friends dealt with the shocking assassinations and their aftermath. Taking place in Ireland at the height of the Troubles, it gives a compelling insight into that period of Irish history. But more importantly it brings home that although tragedy can strike at any moment, the human spirit is able to recover and evolve over time.
This book about truth and reconciliation, unflinching in its detail, asks searching questions about why human beings inflict misery on others, and holds lessons about how we can learn to forgive, to heal and to move on. It will resonate with readers the world over.
The IRA bomb that exploded in their boat killed Knatchbull's grandfather Lord Mountbatten (cousin of the Queen), his grandmother Lady Brabourne, his twin brother Nicholas, and local teenager Paul Maxwell. In telling this story for the first time, Knatchbull is not only revisiting the terrible events he and his family lived through, but also writing an intensely personal account of human triumph over tragedy.
For thirty years, Knatchbull has lived with the echoes of that day: the death of the twin from whom he had been inseparable; the loss of his adored grandparents, whose funerals along with his twin's he and his parents were too injured to attend; the recovery from physical wounds; and the emotional legacy that proved harder to endure.
In From A Clear Blue Sky Timothy Knatchbull delves into his past, present and future, and reveals a story of courage and fortitude as he, his family, and their English and Irish friends dealt with the shocking assassinations and their aftermath. Taking place in Ireland at the height of the Troubles, it gives a compelling insight into that period of Irish history. But more importantly it brings home that although tragedy can strike at any moment, the human spirit is able to recover and evolve over time.
This book about truth and reconciliation, unflinching in its detail, asks searching questions about why human beings inflict misery on others, and holds lessons about how we can learn to forgive, to heal and to move on. It will resonate with readers the world over.
June 21, 2012
This has to be one of the most moving and humbling books I have ever read. It is particularly poignant for me because I am a lone twin and this book describes the murder of Tim Knatchbull's twin brother, along with his Grandfather Lord Mountbatten, when their boat was bombed off the coast of Ireland in August 1977.
Tim describes growing up with his twin, Nicky, the relationship between them, the events leading up to the bombing and the aftermath. Although a high profile family you realise they were just that, a family on holiday, when their lives were torn apart.
I found myself sobbing a number of times through this book, read it.
Tim describes growing up with his twin, Nicky, the relationship between them, the events leading up to the bombing and the aftermath. Although a high profile family you realise they were just that, a family on holiday, when their lives were torn apart.
I found myself sobbing a number of times through this book, read it.
August 22, 2015
This was much better than expected. I also really liked the fact it was narrated by the author (audio version). It started a little slowly but once Tim started to describe the bombing and it's aftermath, it was incredibly moving. He went on to talk about the issues he faced having lost his brother. In the final section he returns to Ireland to meet those who helped his family and also to learn more about the trial of those accused. I knew very little about the troubles in Ireland and this book gives enough historical context for you to understand the times, without it being a history lesson. It's a very personal and moving story of a boy's loss and coming to terms with tragedy.
September 27, 2010
This is a very open and honest account from a young man who survived an act of terrorisim. An IRA bomb claimed the life of not just his grandmother Lady Brabourne and grandfather Lord Mountbatten but also his twin brother Nicholas and a young Irish lad Paul Maxwell. Timothy's well written account tells of not jut his but his family's will to overcome such a tragedy. It is told without bitterness or hostility just real human emotion.
May 20, 2012
Interesting chronicle of the mental and emotional healing process undertaken by Knatchbull after he survived the bomb that killed his twin brother, his grandfather Lord Mountabatten, his grandmother, and a family friend. Meticulously researched, with many interviews with rescuers, police, medical staff etc. to set the background against which such atrocities occur, and the impact they have on all who come in touch with it.
October 1, 2014
The fact that I live in Sligo may have coloured my opinion slightly but overall this book was so insightful but mostly heartbreaking and at times harrowing, stories such as this are sometimes difficult to take on board as the experience was so "unreal", the mind can not fully comprehend it. The author courageously faced so much of his pain, grief and the trauma of the past while writing this book and I admire him greatly for doing so.
December 20, 2012
I kept forgetting what a privileged kid Knatchbull was and became engrossed in how tragedy resonates for so long and is so personal. It's impressive that he chose to write about his slow and complicated recovery. As a "single," it was very interesting to get some insight into the different experience of twinship.
January 4, 2010
Very interesting to read about the murder of Lord Mountbatten--written by the surviving twin grandson. Nice to see an extremely well off, well-known family do such a great job as parents. They all sound decent.
June 5, 2011
What happen when a twin was separated from his intimate one due to disaster? It is the authentic story of psychological struggles.
June 21, 2012
A really interesting read and very emotional at times and obviously cathartic for the author. Well written.
April 26, 2013
This was a difficult read. Harrowing.
July 21, 2013
Excellent book, read last year----but extremely disturbing, had nightmares for a few nights! Very captivating, like you were there....
November 8, 2013
Interesting and historical. Would like to read more about twins!
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