Some of my fellow Sherlockians have recently written a series of emails about the battle of Maiwand, in which Watson was so badly wounded he was sent home and eventually met Holmes.
I first began to take an interest in this iconic pair eleven years ago - when I saw a modest memorial in Beverley Minster  to a group of men who died marching up from Quetta to relieve Kandahar, under siege by the victorious Afghans, at the same time as Major-General Frederick Roberts was bringing a similar force from Kabul.
The famous painting of the Last Stand of the 66 Regiment of Foot, showing Bobbie (the Regimental Mascot) standing calmly in the middle of the carnage, can be found in Colonel Leigh Maxwell's book My God! Maiwand  first published by Leo Cooper in 1979. It also appears in what must be the definitive account of the battle by Richard J. Stacpoole-Ryding in association with the Rifles (Berkshire and Wiltshire) Museum: MAIWAND The Last Stand of the 66th (Berkshire) Regiment in Afghanistan, 1880, published in 2008 by The History Press.
My own book, In Search of Doctor Watson, written soon after my visit to Yorkshire but not published until 2011, has an account of the battle of Maiwand and some speculations about who may have been the original Model for John H. Watson - which I hope you will find interesting.
    

How to Become a Successful Writer

"You can't be naive enough to think that we writers achieve status on merit alone."
"Actually, I rather think I am," I said.
He laughed. "You've got to put yourself about more. Make contacts. Get yourself talked about. Show them who you are."
"Difficult, when I'm not awfully sure of that myself."

From the short story 'Poisoned Tongues' by Susan Moody

"Sherlock Holmes" Volunteers

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's letter to the War Office, 1914

I have been told that there may be some difficulty in finding offficers for the New Army. I think I may say that my name is well-known to the younger men of this country and that if I were to take a commission at my age it might be of help. I can drill a company - I do so every evening. I have seen something of campaigning, having served as a surgeoon in South Africa. I am fifty-five but I am very strong and hardy, and can make my voice audible at great distances which is useful at drill. Should you entertain my appplication, I should prefer a regiment which was drawn from the South of England - Sussex for choice.  

Taken from Voices by Peter Vansittart, who in the list of contributors says of Doyle that he was "An Anglo-Irish doctor, spiritualist, legal reformer, quixotic in his approach to many social wrongs and miscarriages of justice, writer of historical and scientific romances and detective fiction." A chronicler of the Boer and Great Wars.

SPRINGING INTO ACTION!

An old edition of the Concise Oxford Dictionary has the spring season beginning on March 21  and ending three months later on June 21. This would mean, in 'A Scandal in Bohemia', Watson calling on his friend Holmes on the last day of winter 1888; and that Sherlock  would spring  into action in a number of different  cases, including (to use the Christ codes) BOSC, TWIS, STOC, DANC and 3GAR. In Sherlock in the Spring Time, however, spring means the period from the beginning of March till the end of May. Whichever way you look at it, a comforting book to read in the present miserable weather to remind us (hopefully) of better things to come!

Something for the Christmas Stocking

Sherlock in the Spring doesn't sound like something from Santa Claus, but it will brighten everyone up in this wintry weather with the thought of what might be in store. As the man said: "If winter comes, can spring be far behind?" My new book is short, reasonably priced and, hopefully, slim enough to fit into anyone's Christmas stocking.

Reviews

A Fellow-Sherlockian recently suggested a Forum for answering one's critics. When it comes to reviews, I've had both 'ravers' and 'stinkers' - making one wonder if those who metaphorically put pen to paper have read the same book. The 'star' system is a blunt instrument used to rate everything from lavatory seats to lawnmowers, and sites such as The Bookbag uses untrained reviewers who only need to submit something to show they are reasonably literate before being let loose to praise or pan whichever book they choose. It doesn't seeem to matter either way whether or not they understand it. Even worse, the only qualification for reviewing a book on Amazon is to become a customer. I must confess I'm with Alistair Duncan on this. Read the reviews, learn from them if possible - and then get on with the next project.

A Sherlock Holmes Who's Who

I am very gratified that Joel Senter, who lives in Cincinnati and publishes The Sherlockian E-Times, has placed my latest book so prominently this month. There is a question about the canon in every issue, a question which can be answered by anyone who, he says, has a copy of my 'Who's Who'. This can be easily ordered from his electronic 'bookshop', as well as a  large number of other outlets, and we look forward to hearing some great results!