As with the two previous publications of my grandfather’s stories The Ballad Of Jessie Gray and
Betrayal Of The Trinity Knot, I find it necessary to provide a brief introduction to the narrative so that the reader not only appreciated where the stories came from, but also my motives for seeing them into print.
The Templar’s Silver Seal is just one of many stories that my grandfather wrote during his lifetime that remained unpublished, simply because he considered them to have been written as a pleasurable pastime that in some ways provided a document of his life and should not, for various reasons be seen by anyone other than himself. However this story, although having roots in the eleventh century and the Holy Crusades and which then has links in a world on the brink of WW2, is really an account of a series of incidents in his life that gives a far different perspective to the quiet, gentle man that I knew when I was young but only now have come to really appreciate through his writings.
It was after my father’s death, a number of years ago that a small wooden chest of his came into my possession that contained many of his personal and private items. Amongst the items was a large bundle of manuscripts of stories written by my grandfather but previously kept hidden from the family. I have to say that I cannot provide any reason why they had remained locked in that chest all those years since my grandfather’s death other than my father was simply following his father’s wishes.
On opening the chest I was privileged to read the stories and felt that it had been such a travesty that they had not been made available for others to have access to and enjoy. And even though my grandfather’s wishes have been kept all these years, there is one point I must make in the case of The Templar’s Silver Seal and its predecessor Betrayal Of The Trinity Knot. It is that their concealment was more likely due to my grandfather merely honouring his commitment demanded by the official secrets act and the sensitive nature of the manuscripts content.
However, once again I have taken it upon myself to publish the following story as I feel that it is time that the facts are clearly identified of the contribution my grandfather made to this country. For I am quite certain that there are many files tucked away and gathering dust somewhere in the vaults of Whitehall documenting what my grandfather and I am certain many other unsung heroes for that matter achieved without any fanfare or recognition being given them, during or since that very bleak period of our country’s history.
And so I leave you to continue reading in the hope that you may at least get an insight into the time my grandfather was trying to illustrate in his writings, and writings that I am proud to be associated with
G.S.K
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