An author writing a biography on an Aberdeenshire-born soldier who fought in World War One is appealing for anyone who may know his descendants to help him with his research.
Writer Mark Bridgeman is currently in the process of penning his new book about Francis William Metcalfe, who was born in Banchory in 1893.
Mr Metcalfe previously featured in the author’s previous book The River Runs Red, a collection of true crime stories from Highland Perthshire dating back to the 1700s, and he said the tales of the Deeside soldier’s exploits proved so popular with his readers he decided to focus his newest work on his life story.
Mr Bridgeman is now searching for any descendants of Mr Metcalfe to assist him in piecing together his storied life, which took him to battles all across the continent.
He said: “He was an incredibly interesting and enigmatic man.
“I actually wrote a short story about just one chapter of his life in a series of short stories that I had published last year.
“The reaction was so pleasing that I’ve decided to write a biography about him.
“I wouldn’t want to give too much away, because that will take away surprise and impact from the book, however he fought the Germans in World War One, the Russians in Russia, the IRA in Ireland, before trying to re-invent himself as a modern day Robin Hood.
“He was the subject of an international manhunt, a convicted criminal and a war hero.
“He met some of the most influential people of the day, he was popular, intelligent, but also completely untrustworthy.”
Mr Bridgeman added: “He served on the Western Front in France with the British Expeditionary Force, winning medals and was mentioned in dispatches for acts of bravery.
“He was promoted to captain.
“When everyone else came home after the armistice, he joined the North Russian Expeditionary Force and went to fight the Bolsheviks in the frozen north of Russia – the cold early killed him.
“Despite being too old to fight on the front line in the Second World War, he did his bit, manning an anti-aircraft battery.”
Mr Bridgeman said Mr Metcalfe attended Aberdeen Grammar School, his family originated from the Cuminestown area, and he married a local woman named Helen Morrison.
The author has asked anyone who can assist him to e-mail mark.bridgeman@talk21.com
