An Australian farewell to Sherlock, Register 1927

On Sherlock's purported birthday, January 6, I thought I'd post this delightful article written in 1927 by an Adelaide (Australia) columnist. It provides a delightful, and very Sherlockian, overview of the final stories written by Doyle.

The article touches on a lot of points we still discuss, but gets a few things wrong.

The author laments the loss of Holmes: "In some humble corner of such a Valhalla Sherlock and his Watson may find a place." Funnily enough, the journalist also discusses Doyle's lament that he is not better known for his literary works, but concludes "It is safe to say that 'The White Company,'' "Sir Nigel," and Brigadier Gerard will be remembered when the scientific Holmes will be famous only as the forerunner of the detective novel." Remarkable!

Enjoy!

The Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929) 

Sat 6 Aug 1927

MEN, WOMEN, AND BOOKS,
BY AULDANA.

VALE SHERLOCK HOLMES.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle so dexterously snatched Sherlock Holmes from the jaws of death which had apparently seized him in "The Memoirs" that it would be a brave coroner who would pronounce on his remains; but in his latest volume of short stories, 'The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes" (John Murray, London), Sir Arthur has relieved the coroner of his task by giving us the last glimpse of the hero in a setting of triumph, with all flags flying and marvelous faculties unimpaired. With the certainty of a theatrical advertisement, Sir Arthur assures us that this is positively the final appearance of Mr. Holmes, who must go the way of all flesh. He likes to think that there is some fantastic limbo for the children of imagination; some strange impossible place where the Beaux of Fielding may still make love to the belles of Richardson. Where Scott's heroes may strut, and Thackeray's worldlings continue to carry on their reprehensible careers. In some humble corner of such a Valhalla Sherlock and his Watson may find a place.

Holmes began his long career in the very heart of the later Victorian era, marched brilliantly through the short reign of Edward VII., and still leads the growing company of valiant super men who have rallied to defeat the ends of crime in fiction. It must be with a tear that Sir Arthur says good-bye to his hero, who has not, after all, prevented his creator from pursuing, with his customary vigour, such varied branches of literature as history, poetry, the drama, and psychic research, although he fears that Holmes may perhaps have stood a little in the way of the recognition of his more serious work. Alas for the vanity of human wishes. Southey has been doomed to posterity as the author of the Battle of Blenheim, and Sir Arthur, who would be known as poet, historian, and play wright must rest on the laurels of Sherlock Holmes. But Sir Arthur is pessimistic. It is safe to say that 'The White Company,'' "Sir Nigel," and Brigadier Gerard will be remembered when the scientific Holmes will be famous only as the forerunner of the detective novel.

THE FAITHFUL WATSON.
In bidding adieu to the inimitable detective it is only fitting to give the faithful Watson his due. The last rites would not be complete without a tribute to the helpful doctor, and it is only fitting that Holmes himself should be chosen for the task. In "The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier" he tells his own story, in the absence of his 'dear Watson.' Speaking of his old friend and biographer, he might be Johnson talking of Boswell — 

"I would take this opportunity to remark that if I burden myself with a companion in my various little inquiries it is not done out of slentiment or caprice, but it is that Watson has some remarkable characteristics of his own, to which his modesty he has given small attention amid his exaggerated estimate of my own performances. A confederate who foresees your conclusions and course of action is always dangerous, but one to whom each development comes as a perpetual surprise and to whom the future is always a closed book, is, indeed, an ideal helpmate."

But Holmes is more human when, in "The Three Garridebs," Watson is wounded by a desperate criminal. Watson, indeed, feels that the years of single-minded service to his idol culminate in the moment of revelation when Holmeg cries: "You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt! The clear, hard eyes were dimmed for a moment, and the firm lips were shaking." 

Watson's own view of himself in relation to Holmes is that he is one of the great man's habits.

''As an institution I was like the violin, the shag tobacco, the old black pipe, the index book, and others perhaps less excusable. I was a whetstone for his mind. I stimulated him. He liked to think aloud in my presence. His remarks would hardly be said to be made to me — many of them would have been appropriately addressed to his bedstead— but none the less, having formed one habit, it had become in some way helpful that I should register and interject. If I irritated him by a certain methodical slowness in my mentality, that irritation served only to make his own flame-like intuitions and impressions flash up the more vividly and swiftly."

LAST GLIMPSES.
Bulldog Drummond may set his jaw, Nelson Lee wrack his brains, Arsene Lupin juggle under the eyes of the police, but it takes Sherlock Holmes to deduce everything from nothing. For 40 years we have found him ''huddled up in his armchair with updrawn knees, his pipe in his mouth, and his brow furrowed with thought, clearly in the throes of some vexatious problem.  Coming with a start from the familiar reverie, he still greets Watson with a simple question that astounds the obliging doctor.

"A dog, my dear Watson," he says, "reflects the family life. Whoever saw a frisky dog in a gloomy family, or a sad dog in a happy one? Snarling people have snarling dogs, dangerous people have dangerous ones. And their passing moods may reflect the passing moods of others." "Surely a little far-fetched,'' says Watson, for —

A primrose of the river's brim,
A yellow primrose is to him,
And it is nothing more.

But "The Creeping Man," the story of a dog suddenly alienated from his master, whose nature has inexplicably changed, inexplicably, that is, until Holmes comes on the scene, proves the scientist's contention, and through the behaviour of the dog he disentangles another knotty thread.

THE LAST POST
We meet old friends in Professor Moriarty, Col. Sebastian Moran, and the redoubtable Austrian murderer Baron Gruner, whom Holmes tackles with no weapon but his wits, and the denouement comes with as complete a surprise to us as it does to Watson. In "The Lion's Mane," a mystery which baff1es the leading men of Scotland Yard, Holmes, through his amazing memory, picks up a tiny clue which would have meant nothing to the ordinary man, saves an innocent man from probable execution, and many lives from possible death. It is with a touching note of generosity that the great man makes his final appearance on the printed page, and it is with as much, if not more, regret than Sir Arthur, whose word we must take, that we shall see no more of his hero, that we say good-bye to the Holmes Saga.

Announcing the Bowery Ruffians

I'm starting a scion - The Bowery Ruffians! 

The Bowery Ruffians will meet in January for the first time, but can meet any other time when two or more Sherlockians gather. The rules? A meeting requires at least two Sherlockians (sorry ), and the meeting must take place in the Bowery, and the only toasts can be to those nefarious criminals and ne'er-do-wells in the canon. I believe Madeline Quiñones will toast our friend Moriarty.

The Bowery features in the only mention of New York in the Canon, in the Red Circle: "Gennaro was able to do a service to an Italian gentleman--he saved him from some ruffians in the place called the Bowery, and so made a powerful friend."

The rules? It takes at least two, and the meeting must take place in the Bowery, and the only toasts can be to those nefarious criminals and ne'er-do-wells in the canon. I believe Madeline Quiñones will toast our friend Moriarty.

I have pins - and if you meet us in the Bowery I'll give you a pin. Shout-out to Kyle Brimacombe for designing the pin.

When and where? Thursday Jan 16th 1025, 3:15 - 5 pm, very informal, at The Wren (344 Bowery) not far from McSorleys.

If you are free, come join the ruffians!

The Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual modern series

The Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual is a special issue that covers a single topic. I've previously posted about the first generation of Baker Street Journal Christmas Annuals published from 1956-1960. The final Christmas Annual in 1960 was produced with material prepared by Edgar W Smith prior to his death that year. The BSJ lived on, but from 1960 till 1997 the Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual was not produced, till it re-emerged again as a fine tradition in 1998.

Each Christmas Annual from 1998 onwards is effectively a monograph authored on a topic. The BSI page helpfully provides details of each Annual (1998-current).

Here is my set:

Below I've created a brief list of each Annual, the title and author(s). Many can be purchased through BSI, and copes come up for sale through resellers.

1998: "Entertainment and Fantasy": The 1940 BSI Dinner. By Jon L. Lellenberg, BSI. 

1999. The Best of the Pips Volume II: More Papers on the Sundial. Edited by Albert M. Rosenblatt, BSI. 

2000. History of the Silver Blaze. By Wayne B. Swift, BSI.

2001. On the Shoulders of Giants: Jack Tracy and the Encyclopaedia Sherlockiana by Christopher and Barbara Roden, BSIs.

2002. Tilting at Windmills: Denis Conan Doyle and the Baker Street Irregulars by Richard Lancelyn Green, BSI.

2003. "The Strength and Activity of Youth": The Junior Sherlockian Movement. By Stephen Clarkson, BSI.

2004. Dubious and Questionable Memories: A History of the Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes. By Susan Rice, ASH, BSI, 2s.

2005. Once a Week in Baker Street: The Boucher-Green Years by H. Paul Jeffers, BSI.

2006. Quartering in the Fifties: The Sherlockian Correspondence of Colin Prestige by Nicholas Utechin, BSI.

2007. Rathbone Returns! A Misadventure Called Sherlock Holmes by S.E. Dahlinger, BSI & Glen Miranker, BSI. 

2008. Reading the Signs: Some Observations and Aperçus on Film and Television Adaptations of The Sign of the Four. By David F. Morrill, BSI.

2009. "Did you notice nothing curious about that advertisement?" By Peggy Perdue. 

2010. From Piff-Pouff to Backnecke: Ronald Knox and 100 Years of “Studies in the Literature of Sherlock Holmes” by Nicholas Utechin, BSI.

2011. First Lady by Mary Ann Bradley. Lenore Glen Offord was the first woman to be invested in the Baker Street Irregulars.

2012. Barrymore in Baker Street: “The Great Profile” Meets “The Great Detective,” and They Both Get Their Names Up in Lights by Sonia Fetherston.

2013. Disaster at the New Century. Sherlock Holmes: A New Play in Three Acts by Ouida Rathbone.

2014. The Only Actor Who Ever Got It Right: Douglas Wilmer as Sherlock Holmes. Edited by Elaine & Jonathan McCafferty. 

2015. Together Again for the First Time: Forty Years of The Seven-Per-Cent Solution. By Steven T. Doyle, BSI. 

2016. The Day after Christmas: First Encounters with Gillette's Silent Sherlock Holmes. Edited by Russell Merritt, BSI.

2017. "A Woman of Mystery": Helene Yuhasova, Poetess Laureate of the Baker Street Irregulars. 

2018. The Exhibitionists: Sherlock Holmes in London 1951 and New York 1952. By Mattias Boström and Nicholas Utechin. 

2019. Baring-Gould of Baker Street: The Life and Footprints of William S. Baring-Gould. By Julie McKuras, Timothy J. Johnson, Richard J. Sveum, and Gary Thaden. 

2020. The 100-Year Adventure of The Unique Hamlet. Edited by Richard Sveum.

2021. “The Dean of British Sherlockians”: A Celebration of the Life and Works of S. C. Roberts. 

2022. “A Lady Ventures into the Sacred Precincts”: Women on the Periphery of the BSI, 1940–1960. By Julie McKuras and Sonia Fetherston.

2023. John Bennett Shaw Remembered. Edited by Jim Hawkins.

Continuing to build the BSI library

I think in my very first post I stated that:

"my niche passion is books published by the 'Baker Street Irregulars'. This includes books published by the Press, earlier books published under that name, and the Baker Street Journal. I am often frustrated at small print runs and out of print books, and hope to share what I learn about BSI books and their content. I'll share the journey of bringing together all BSI books - of course it might never happen."

Little did I realise that it would be so difficult - I was naive - and as this blog will attest I have enjoyed other collecting goals that can provide satisfaction. A full list of books published by BSI can be found here. 

The latest two books have been tricky to find:

Left: Fifty Years in Baker Street. 2010. Jens Byskov Jensen provides a "50-year history of The Cimbrian Friends, a Danish scion society". 

As a side-note, this book has a non-ideal feature... on the cover an. 'owners label' has been affixed (why on the cover??). The owner was Mr. Charles Creager of Ohio. IMDB shows Creager acted as Inspectort Ferguson in "Sherlock Holmes" (2011) - Peter Blau tells me it was a re-make of Rathbone’s “The Women in Green”. No other Sherlockian connections to Creager are known. As an aside, I seem to recall being told by someone in Danish circles that there were 80 copies of this book published.

Right: Peter E. Blau: A Festschrift. 2018. "In celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of his receiving the Irregular Shilling, several friends of Peter banded together, under the editorship of Les Klinger, and produced this Festschrift in his honor. Printed in a very limited edition, it contains biographical information, photos, and reminiscences of Peter and his many contributions to The Baker Street Irregulars". I believe about 150 copies of this book were published - on the BSI page some books have the number of copies published, others like this have a statement like 'very limited edition', and others state nothing.

I'm certainly getting there in collecting it all, but it will take time. I also just finally completed the collection of all BSJ Christmas Annuals, and will post on that soon.

So here's where things stand... the bottom two shelves shown are all BSI publications, the upper shelf is not (with one exception, which is why I didn't crop it).

The search continues!!

Phosphorus and the Making of a Hellhound

I was going to write a blog post Sherlock Holmes @ 50 meeting in Minneapolis MN during July 2024. But really, I instantly saw SO MANY people sharing their experiences that I felt I couldn't add a great deal. What I decided to do instead in this long post is to discuss the topic of my talk at the meeting, and the subsequent article.

Some key points do need to be made about Sherlock Holmes @ 50. Summary: This meeting put professional organizations to shame. The structure of the meeting was wonderful, zero hiccups with IT, plenty of seating and food, and plenty of time to interact with others. Huge credit to Richard Sveum the Conference Chairman, Timothy Johnson who curates the UMN collection, and all the committee members.

The conference was organized by the Norwegian Explorers scion in partnership with the UMN libraries, and they do so every three years. 200 people descended on Minneapolis for the conference, which ran from Friday July 26 in the Givens Suite of the Andersen Library, with The Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections Annual Meeting held on late Friday afternoon, presentations and a banquet on the Saturday, and concluded on Sunday, July 28. In amongst all of that, there were tables selling books, art, and other goodies.

Before I go on I need to add a couple of my favorite photos of the time in MN:

At the Sherlock @50 exhibition created by the University of Minnesota Library collection, among other things there are FOUR Beeton's Christmas Annuals displayed together here. Truly remarkable.

At the Sherlock @50 exhibition created by the University of Minnesota Library collection, a Sidney Paget original illustration. "All afternoon he sat in the stall", created for The Red-Headed League.

At a wonderful Friday evening dinner at Dick Sveum's home. L-R: Max Magee, Glen Miranker, Peter Blau, the blog author, and Will Walsh.

45th Annual Saturday with Sherlock Holmes at the Pratt, 2024

TLDR: The event was streamed this year and can be watched at the Youtube link down the page!

Each year since 1980, Sherlockians have gathered in November at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore to hear presentations. It was originally called the 'Weekend With Sherlock Holmes' with the first day for Sherlockian presentations and the second day for a Sherlock film screening and discussion. Over time it evolved into Saturday-only, and that is the current format. 

This year the Saturday with Sherlock Holmes returned, the 45th event, produced and hosted by Andy Solberg BSI. Each year a theme is introduced as a guiding principle, and this year it was "Arthur Conan Doyle, Dr Watson's Literary Agent".

This is the poster advertising the 2024 Saturday with Sherlock Holmes, and the speaker agenda is shown below. The agenda included Daniel Thomas BSI who has presented at all but one of the 45 meetings held to date! 

Agenda for the meeting. Chair: Andy Solberg, ASH, BSI

Peter Blau, BSI - Conan Doyles I Have Known

Daniel Thomas, BSI - Conan Doyle and the British Divorce

Matt Hall - Who Was R T Norman?

Carla Coupe, ASH, BSI - Born to be a Man of Action

S. Brent Morris - Conan Doyle and Spiritualism

Daniel Stashower, BSI - Conan Doyle and Howard Thurston

Karen Wilson, ASH, BSI - Conan Doyle and Cricket.

Ah yes, I spoke. Who Was R T Norman? Well, watch the Youtube recording here to find out.... I have an article coming out on the topic and will post more then.

The good news for both my readers is that a long description of the symoosium presentations is not required.... as it can be watched here! Peter Blau's tales of meeting Conan Doyle relatives were quite gripping. Karen Wilson entertained with a wonderful Sherlockian song! 

To the recording:

Timestamps (to allow people to jump to a specific talk)

Andy Solberg Introduction: 0 min 0 sec

Peter Blau: 15 min 35 sec

Daniel Thomas: 31 min 25 sec

Matt Hall: 51 min 45 sec

Carla Coupe: 1 h 6 min 15 sec

S. Brent Morris: 1 h 21 min 15 sec

Daniel Stashower: 1 h 58 min 15 sec

Karen Wilson: 2 h 12 min 15 sec

To round out this record of a wonderful Sherlockian day, Daniel Stashower shared some photographs of speakers.

Peter Blau, BSI

The author

Carla Coupe, ASH, BSI

S. Brent Morris

Karen Wilson, ASH, BSI

Till 2025... 

Sherlock Holmes Society of Western Australia

In sifting through some books I purchased at an Australian auction, the set included a small number of random Sherlockian papers related to scion activities. The papers included some mail-outs sheets from the Sherlock Holmes Society of Western Australia. I think this is worth transcribing to share some background on the scion, as they do not currently have an active web page (though they do have a Facebook page).

The two-sided page is not dated, but is likely from the 1980s, as that is when all the other Sherlockian newsletters are dated from the same collection. Charles Schofield QC, the President of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, died in 1993 aged 91.

The Sherlock Holmes Society of Western Australia

The. Society was started in February, 1983 shortly after a visit to Perth by Mr. Charles Scholefield QC (also known as Professor Moriarty), then President of the Sherlock Holmes Society of London. He has since consented to become Patron of our Society.

To be eligible to join one must profess Sherlock Holmes to be 'the best and wisest man whom I have ever known'. Membership involves attending three Society meetings and passing a short examination on the Canon which is set by the Society. 

The membership fee is $10:00 per person per year; family membership is $15:00. The Society meets on the last Saturday of each month (except December) and these meetings, which are generally informal, are intended to heighten enjoyment of the books.

A quarterly newsletter known as the "Western Flyer" comes out in March, July, September and December each year. This is devoted to articles of interest, puzzles, poetry, parodies and pastiches. There are awards each year for literary merit in a wide range of categories.

On election into the Society, each member selects a pseudonym from the Canon (always excepting Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson) and are generally addressed at all meetings by that name.

The office of president, known as the Buttons-cum-Commissionaire is held for life by Dr. Douglas Sutherland-Bruce. The other committee members are elected or appointed annually.

Each year, in July, the Society celebrates Christmas in the traditional British fashion and in Victorian costume. The meeting at the end of November is a dinner/dance called "The Blue Carbuncle Soiree" where the business of the Society is conducted; membership certificates are presented as new members are inducted and the literary awards are made. Any successful students who may have achieved the Diploma of Holmesian Studies are also awarded their Diplomas.

Other meetings include an annual Croquet Day and other meetings may include viewings of Holmesian films, readings from the stories, debates, games nights, talks by various speakers such as private detectives or lawyers or forensic pathologists.

If you think you might be interested in joining please get in contact with:

The Wiggins,

Mrs. Sutherland-Bruce,

The Sherlock Holmes Society of Western Australia,

P.O. Box 284,

Tuart Hill,

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6060

Who was Maureen Sarsfield?

I've worked on piecing together the life of Dorothy Bowers over the past few years, and recently posted an updated set of information about Dorothy. The reason I took such in interest in Bowers is because her five published novels were of incredibly high quality, and because so little was known about her. 

There is a second unappreciated author I have an incredible appreciation for: 

Maureen Sarsfield

Sarsfield presents something of a mystery. The name is a pseudonym, and she did not reveal her true name during her career. Sarsfield published two spirited mysteries in England with Inspector Parry on the case:

• Green December Fills the Graveyard, 1945
• Dinner for None, 1948 (with the title A Party for Lawty in the US)

Sarsfield also published a third non-mystery novel titled 'Gloriana'. I have original copies of the US editions of her mystery works (one of which is signed by Sarsfield), and a UK print of Gloriana.

The excellent but now defunct Rue Morgue Press (Colorado, USA) republished these novels in 2003, but inexplicably blandly retitled them (!) as 'Murder at Shots Hall' and 'Murder at Beechlands'. 

At the time of re-printing, very little was known of who Maureen Sarsfield really was, as this selection of text from the introduction to the Rue Morgue Press reprints demonstrates:

The Mystery of Maureen Sarsfield

"British writer Maureen Sarsfield had all the tools necessary to make it as a major mystery writer, but after publishing just three novels - two of which were mysteries - between 1945 and 1948, she completely disappeared from the literary landscape. Whether she died young, commenced her short career at an advanced age or simply grew tired of writing life is unknown. The biographical copy on the dust jacket of the American edition of Green December Fills the Graveyard merely identifies her as a new writer, making no comment on her age. Many of the characters in her three novels are in their thirties or forties, and she writes so believably about the sensibilities and attitudes of that age group that she herself probably either belonged to it or had recently entered early stages of middle age.

"There is no evidence that her books... made much of a splash in the US. Other than an appearance in 1950 in Two Complete Detective Novels (a pulp magazine) by Green December, her books seem not to have been reprinted. Her choice of titles for her mystery books may have been partly to blame for what we assume were unimpressive sales. We make no apologies for giving both mysteries some-what more genre-driven titles. All our effort, going back several years, to discover anything at all about Sarsfield have failed. 

"These two mysteries are a gem of the British school. Both feature the fortyish Lane Parry, a Scotland Yard detective who twice finds evil deeds un the backwaters of Sussex. Parry is a complex and well-drawn character.  

Clearly this matter was resolved to some degree following publication, as the Rue Morgue Press website (which no longer exists) had a note that the author's true name at the time of publication of her books was Maureen Pretyman, and she simultaneously published children's stories under that name. However, like Dorothy Bowers, no biographical summary of Sarsfield's life exists.

So let's rectify that!

As will be shown, Maureen's local newspapers in the mid 1940s reveal that Sarsfield was a pen-name for Maureen Pretyman. However, the general public was unaware that Sarsfiend was a pseudonym. This short article related to the first of her two mystery novels gives a flavor of her character, but also don't provide much solid to work with from a research point of view: 

Daily Mirror

Mon, Dec 31, 1945

This Month's New Author. Maureen Sarsfield, with "Green December Fills the Churchyard" (Pilot Press, 8s. 6d.). By birth she is three-quarter Irish, one-quarter Australian, with a dash of Italian and Viking. Married early, her late husband told her that all wives should earn their own living, no matter what their husbands' finances, so she became serving girl in a dress shop, a buyer, packer ; went on the films, and raced at Brooklands. Plays shove ha'penny as a hobby. 

As for her book this would be a really excellent first detective story (it is fast-moving and with brilliant situations) except for one thing: there is an appalling amount of bad language in it.

Maureen Kate HEARD was born in Surrey, England in 1899 to Edward Severin HEARD and Georgina HEARD. Both Edward and Georgina were the children of senior military officers, and both had been born in India where the British had significant military postings. In the 1901 census Maureen was living in Frimley, Surrey with her parents and an older brother Patrick B V HEARD. Edward was described as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Northumberland Fusiliers (!! for any Sherlockian) and a Professor in Topography at the Staff College. In the 1911 census, Maureen was staying with her maternal grandparents Beauchamp and Manie Magrath in Camberley, Surrey. 

In 1919, Maureen marred George Frederick Pretyman at Holy Trinity Church, Brompton (in London).

At the time, Maureen was living in Collingham Rd London. Maureen was marrying within the senior military network. George's father was General Sir George Tindal Pretyman (1845-1917), who had served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War (!! again for the Sherlockians) aide-de-camp to Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, and continued to serve with distinction in later expeditions, including during the Boer War. 

Maureen's husband himself was no slouch. His Profession was listed as Lieutenant-Colonel in the RAF. George distinguished himself in the Royal Flying Corp, and as a member of 3 Squadron is reputed to have taken the RFC’s first wartime aerial photographs during a September 15, 1914 sortie. In 1915 he received a DSO for bombing a German train he observed to be loading German troops  destined for the front.

There is not a great deal of information about Maureen from the end of the WW1 (i.e., 1919) till WW2 (1939). Following the war George stayed in the RAF. In 1926, George was assaulted in Uxbridge (west of London) where they lived, so severely that it was estimated he could never fly again, and the assailant was jailed. George retired from the RAF in 1929, and at the age of only 45 he died in the village of Alresford, Hampshire. George's death received attention in the English press because of a curious stipulation in his Will:

Gloucester Citizen - Thursday 01 July 1937

AIRMAN'S BURIAL PLAN

"LAND WASTED BY GRAVEYARDS"

"I particularly wish that my body shall not be buried, as having flown over the greater part of the United Kingdom, I have noticed what a large amount of valuable land is wasted for purposes of graveyards."

This was the last wish as disclosed in his will published to-day of Wing Commander George Frederick Pretyman, D.S.O. of Creek House, Alresford, Essex, who died on June 4 last, aged 45, leaving estate of the gross value of L8,719 (net personally L7,093) 

Widowed at the age of about 37, it appears Maureen - not yet an author - moved in with her father. With the initiation of World War 2, a civilian register was compiled in England & Wales, and Maureen was entered as living with her father (a widower) at Friar's Hill House, Battle in Sussex. 

At the start of the war, Maureen and her father purchased an old decommissioned windmill called "Harrow Mill" in the village of Baldslow north of Hastings (it still stands today). Pretyman published her first book for children in 1943 - titled 'They Knew Too Much'. The local newspaper featured an extensive article on Pretyman at the time of her first publication (Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 02 October 1943), some parts of which are excerpted here:

With its magnificent outlook over coast and countryside, the old mill one the most romantic residences Sussex, and its interior has been transformed into charming home. An unusual knocker in the form of a bronze dolphin, its tail fashioned into trident, hangs the front door and it  has a story of its own. It is a relic of Mrs. Pretyman’s old home on Kenmare Bay, County Kerry, in West Ireland. "This house was burned down by the IRA one night during the troubles in 1922.” said Mrs. Pretyman. "My father and mother and the rest of the household were rescued by the Royal Navy and taken off in a destroyer. When we came Sussex we lived, first of all, at The Roughters Icklesham, and afterwards at Guestling. We moved to the Harrow Mill about two months after the war started.” 

All these properties are large and belie a significant family wealth.

At Baldslow Mrs. Pretyman has not only been an active member the Civil Defence Service as a warden, but for some months after the formation the Home Guard she helped by running a canteen of her own for the men near the mill during the time a post was maintained there. One would think that this would be enough extra occupation besides the management a home, for the most energetic of workers, but she added to her responsibilities undertaking the care of two evacuee children and even two evacuee dogs well."

These children are likely represented in the 1939 register referred to above, where two children, Charles and Edward West, are living at the mill with Maureen and her father.  It is interesting to note that my biography of Dorothy Bowers also identified that she also took in at least one child during the war. Pretyman explained that she started writing because she was dissatisfied with the quality of children's books available.

"She has made writing her main hobby as well as occupation, but before the days of petrol restrictions she was ardent motorist, and gardening is another of her interests. It was very peaceful at the old mill.... Beyond the open door with its dolphin guardian there was a glimpse of the sunlit garden and the Sussex countryside beyond. But Mrs. Pretyman has memories of  strenuous days during the Battle of Britain when things were far different. "The mill balcony was a splendid look-out point,” she said, “and many a time we watched the German air squadrons approaching, and then saw them broken up and beaten back by a handful of our gallant pilots.”  

A series of children's books followed, and then the three books for adults published under the name Maureen Sarsfield - a newspaper article states she published elevn in total but this is what I've found:

Maureen Pretyman:

• They Knew Too Much (1943)
• Dreaming Mountain. A Fairy Story of County Kerry (1944)
• Queen Victoria Lost Her Crown (1946)
• Stars in Danger (1946)
• The Mermaid of Kilshannig (1947)

Maureen Sarsfield:

• Green December Fills the Graveyard (1945)
• Gloriana (1946)
• Dinner for None (1948) ; Party for Lawty in the US ; also printed in French 

Certainly eight books was an intense output for a six year period. As quickly as Maureen started, she finished. In 1944, Maureen's father died. The UK probate confirms that there was an Australian family connection for Maureen's paternal family. 

Probably as a result of her father's death, Maureen sold Harrow Mill, and the sale and author were again featured in a newspaper article ("Authoress Seeks Smaller Home", Hastings and St Leonards Observer - Saturday 06 March 1948). 

"After the sale, Mrs. Pretyman told Observer reporter that she had disposed of the property because she found it rather too large for her requirements, but she was deeply attached to this part of the country and she would remain in the locality if she could find a small house to suit her. Mrs. Pretyman has written all her 11 books at the Harrow Mill. She writes children’s books under the name of Maureen Pretyman and novels under that of Maureen Sarsfield. Her last book, published in January, was entitled Dinner for One.” A room above the lounge partitioned off a writing-room."

For reasons not yet understood, Maureen never published another book. She possibly lived in London after leaving the mill, but ultimately lived back in Ireland. There were no more books, and no news articles that reference her. She did not have children, and when she died in 1961 aged about 61, she was living at Temple Hill Nursing Home in Tahilla, Killarney, Cork. Pretyman's will leaves her estate to a number of family members. 

Her Will directs that "should I die in Eire I wish to be buried next to my grandfather Samuel Thomas Heard in Sneem Churchyard County Kerry." I have not yet identified a headstone for Pretyman. Among the directions, her "copyright in any of my literary works and the benefit of all literary contracts" were left to her niece Irina Heard (the daughter of her older brother, living at The Bungalow, Idmiston). 

Finally - I'm going to complete Maureen's family tree as I'd dearly love to discover a photograph of Maureen. Like Dorothy Bowers, Maureen didn't have photographs in her dust jackets (at least the ones I have) and none can be found in newspapers. 

Everything but Baker Street, Eldersburg, MD

A recent query on the Facebook group 'The Strangers Room' (which all Sherlockians should join) by Vincent Wright asked 'Is anyone familiar with this section of Eldersburg, MD?'

I was amazed to Zoom in to the satellite image and discovery that there was a Sherlock Holmes St on the map. So where is Eldersburg, Maryland? It is to the west of Baltimore and directly north of DC, close to Ellicott City where the Watson's Tin Box scion meets.

 Zoom in to look at the area, things get REALLY interesting:

Wow. OK so it turns out this development is called 'Sherlock Holmes Estates', with the majority of homes built around the mid-1990s. There are a significant number of Sherlockian street names:

- Conan Doyle Way (the main entrance street to the development)

- Sherlock Holmes St

- Watson Ct

- Elementary Dr

- Mycroft St

- Moriarty Ct

- Noble Bachelor Ct

- Dancing Men Dr

- Musgrave Ritual Dr

- Silver Blaze Dr

- Baskerville Dr

- Hudson Dr

What a list! Critically, Moriarty Ct does not intersect with Sherlock Holmes St.

Given the dense web of real estate-related web sites, I've found it difficult to learn about the establishment/development of Sherlock Holmes Estates, but a list of all Carroll County developments did not reveal another obviously literature-related development name. Surely a Sherlockian was involved, particularly when all characters and multiple stories are name-checked. Visiting to take pictures of each street sign is now on my list of things to do!

Perhaps the critical question: Why is there no Baker Street?

Finally, I find myself wondering whether the development design itself has a subtle nod to Sherlock's detection methods:

Edgar W Smith bookplates

I recently purchased two books specifically because they had bookplates of Edgar Wadsworth Smith in them.

Smith was a giant of the Sherlockian movement and one of the most important in the formative years of the Baker Street Irregulars. Among other things, Smith founded the Baker Street Journal. His demise was considered sudden and premature.

I cannot find any record of what happened to Smith's library of Sherlockian books (nor have I seen an inventory of it), but have seen one or two other books with a Smith bookplate in them. For example, this Grolier Club article on early Holmes editions includes one with a Smith bookplate (https://grolierclub.omeka.net/exhibits/show/sherlock-holmes/adventures-memoirs).

The bookplate itself was created by Walter Klinefelter, and is included in Klinefelter's book on Sherlockian bookplates which you can read about at Ray Betzner's blog (https://www.vincentstarrett.com/blog/2015/1/24/books-and-bipeds-the-2015-baker-street-irregulars-dinner-weekend).

The first book is The Croxley Master, published in the US by McClure, Phillips & Co. in 1907. 

The second book is 'Spotlight on a Simple Case, or, Wiggins Who Was That Horse I Saw You With Last Night' by Robert S. Morgan. The book was published privately at the Cedar Tree Press (Wilmington, DE), and includes an illustration by Smith. Curiously, the first fifty copies (of 500 numbered) were stated to be signed by the 'Author and Artists' but my copy owned by Smith was number 54 despite being an illustrator (the other illustration was provided by Arthur Josephson).

Both books have the same bookplate 'feature' - the bookplate is free. It is very clear that the bookplate matches the book, as the 'glue' (looks more like a paste) that Smith liberally applied to the back of the bookplate leaves a perfect matching impression. I'll leave them 'tipped in'.

Private Life Sherlock Holmes signed by Starrett

A little while back I obtained a copy of The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1st ed, 1933, Macmillan) at an auction. This ticked off something I'd been seeking, as this copy is signed by Vincent Starrett. The book came with a custom bookcase, certainly it did not come with the book, and the book is also missing its dustjacket.

The book is signed and inscribed by author on the front free endpaper: 

"To Franklin Rhode – this rare first edition – signed with canonical greetings by Vincent Starrett 17 Nov. 1965".

I had not looked into who this 'Franklin Rhode' might be, when the sale was mention in Peter Blau's 'Scuttlebutt' newsletter for September 2025 (you can read the newsletter each month at redcircledc.org).

I let Peter know that I had the book, and Peter recommended I check in with the World-Leading Starrett Authority, Ray Betzner. Ray got back to me with some lovely information:

"I am quite confident that this book was inscribed by Starrett himself. The inscription and date lend a high level of authenticity.... As for Frank Rhode, there is a good candidate I think. There were many by that name in Chicago in the '60s. But I feel confident his full name was Franklin W. Rhode, who was a member of the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic), Starrett’s Chicago scion."

Ray also suggested I look into whether there was a Sherlockian meeting in Chicago on 17 November 1965... for example the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic), 

But first, who was Franklin Rhode? The great news is that the Hounds of the Baskerville (sic) have a wonderful web site that includes biographies of members:

Franklin Williams Rhode was born January 5, 1910 in Chicago, IL.  Rhodes was described as a “railroad man and a collector of old English glossaries” in the June 1967 issue of The Baker Street Journal. He was active with Hugo’s Companions, participating in their Silver Blaze horseraces, and served as their Sergeant-at-arms. He contributed the article “My Old Friend Charlie Peace” to the June 1966 Baker Street Journal; “Palmer and Pritchard Were Among the Heads of Their Profession”, parts 1 and 2, to the June 1967 and March 1968 issues; and “Langdale Pike and Steve Dixie” to the March 1970 issue. He received the investiture of “My Old Friend Charlie Peace” from The Baker Street Irregulars in 1967. He moved to St. Louis in 1970. Rhode died on October 17, 1974 and is buried in St. Louis, MO. Biographical information provided courtesy of Julie McKuras.

A collection of Sherlockian pieces by Franklin Rhodes were published under the title Pike’s Peeks at the World of Sherlock Holmes (Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1988). The book includes a brief bibliography of Rhodes, and some delightful sketches:

In time I will add any extra biographical notes from the Rhode book.

Sadly, I have not yet identified how Starrett and Rhode intersected on 17 November 1965. I've searched Chicago newspapers and found no account of any event, and helpful searches by Chicago scion heads hasn't unearthed an event on that date. Starrett published 'Born in a Bookshop' in late 1965, and there are multiple book reviews in Chicago papers in November 1965. Perhaps the book was autographed at a book signing event for Starrett's new book.

Rhode lies in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis City, Missouri

Franklin Williams Rhode

Birth 5 Jan 1910

Death 17 Oct 1974 (aged 64)