Paul Blumsom

On a damp and overcast spring day in 2005, at the age of 48, Paul Blumsom discovered the grave of his grandfather, the grandfather he had never known.  Here, in Nunhead cemetery, south London, lay the remains of Corporal William Charles Blumsom, late of the Royal Fusiliers and the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. It was a watershed moment in the course of Paul’s search to ‘find’ his grandfather; it had been a long time coming. But it was not the end of Paul’s journey; in many respects, it was only the beginning. 

Over the following decade and a half, using the detective skills and experience he had developed over thirty-one years of police service, Paul effectively carried out a ‘cold-case’ investigation. What emerged was an extraordinary tale of courage, fortitude, and stoicism. It is said that British soldiers fought like lions in the Great War. This is the story of one of them.   

About the author
A retired detective with 31 years of service—followed by seven years as a civilian investigator—Paul Blumsom draws on decades of investigative experience to explore the life of his grandfather, a soldier of the Boer War and the First World War. He holds a First Class Honours degree in Humanities and History from the Open University, where he also earned a Distinction in Creative Writing. A member of the Western Front Association, he regularly travels to the battlefields of Belgium and France, leading groups of retired police officers on historical tours.

Pub date: 7 Nov 2025
ISBN: 978-1-068311-11-6
Format: 152x229mm
Binding: Paperback
Extent: 344pp
Price: £16.99
Publisher: Tommies Guides
Imprint: Reveille Press

BIC Classifications:
First World War (HBWN)
First World War, 1914-1918 (3JJF)
Local History (WQH)
London (1DBKESL)