Blood on the Thistle: The Heartbreaking Story of the Cranston family and Their Remarkable Sacrifice

by Stuart Pearson, Bob Mitchell

A remarkable and tragic true story of one family, devastated by the effects of World War I

The Cranston family was torn apart by World War I. Of the seven sons who fought, four died and two more were horrifically wounded. Only one son, the youngest, came home unscathed. This book is a touching portrait of the sacrifice and heartbreak of their mother Lizzie, and the tragic courage of her last surviving boys. Follow the journey of how a once proud and inspirational Scottish family were devastated by war and how the effects rippled through time and generations. A century later, the tartan threads of this resilient family finally begin to draw together again.

326 pages, Hardcover

First published June 5, 2014

Reviews

[Novelle Novels · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars..
A really emotional book about a family affected by WW1..

[Frederick Colbey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well-written book that's filled with pain but also tons of love.

The real-world story combined with the powerful storytelling makes this book a must-read.

[Shahrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book through a story in a newspaper. It is the true story of the Cranston family's World War 1, as written by one of their descendants with Bob Mitchell. They chose to write the book as a story, with a few made up characters /scenarios to help link the facts and make an interesting and easy to follow narrative. I think they did a very good job. It makes for a very heartbreaking and remarkable tale. When will man kind learn the futility and pointlessness of war! It's utterly shocking reading the battle statistics of Loss and Injury - THOUSANDS! In a single battle, and usually to gain nothing. Can you imagine! I make me think that perhaps the survivors are the real losers, as they had to carry their experiences and memories with them for life, along with any physical scars. I thank and congratulate the authors for telling this story. They put war into perspective and to think the sacrifices this family made sadly occurred to to families all over the world. Although I hope not many families lost so many members.

[Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

A detailed and engaging read of one family's tragic contribution to Britain's fight against Germany in WW1. Written in an enjoyable narrative style which weaves facts about the events in the trenches with the personal lives of a large family from a small Scottish town.

[Sandra McIntier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating book of the history of a Scottish family during World War I. This was heartbreaking and had me in tears. However, it is a heart touching story and deserves to be read. A wonderful book to have on your shelf and makes one feel proud to have Scottish heritage.

[Carol Irvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book! Highly recommend.