Sherlock: Fifty Jars of Sand

By D G Leigh

Like all great mysteries this begins with a corpse, five in fact, five and a bit if you count the severed head.

Over the years I've been asked the same question during interviews concerning my amazing adventures with Mr Sherlock Holmes, which was the most memorable or chilling? Everybody has their favourites. I'm sure you've got yours.

This particular case has remained undisclosed for almost three decades. Sworn to secrecy, never to divulge the truth while the living were still at risk of reprisals. I've refrained from publishing or even speaking of those Regent's Park murders.
It's only safe to do so now due to the fact that those involved are either dead or never to be found again.

It remains one of the most astonishing moments in Holmes' career and exposes a shocking revelation about his character.

John H. Watson, Retd Dr.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bright Ideas Inc
• Release date: Sep 8, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310952326

D G Leigh

David grew up by the sea in a medium size fishing village.He filled his childhood days beach-combing, exploring nature and wandering around museums. Those early years gave him the love he has for the great outdoors and those motionless exhibition ignited his thirst for inhaling the real world.At eighteen he threw his rucksack across his shoulders. Over the following decade he encompassed the globe. Sometimes travelling alone through remote and dangerous places. These were his pirate years. Riding horseback on foreign shores waiting for the next escapade to tap him on the shoulder. Meeting many wonderful people from every corner of planet and haphazardly faced death on numerous occasions.He now resides in London with his wife and son.

Book preview

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's

Sherlock Holmes

Fifty Jars of Sand

Originally written for BBC radio

Ebook adaptation by D G Leigh

Creative constant Benjamin Gamble

Published by Bright Ideas Inc

Copyright 2015 D G Leigh

4th Edition 2020 v4.0

Based upon the great works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.

If you would like to share this ebook with another person,

please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

If you’re reading this ebook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

* * * * * *

Foreword from the author

The Marquess of Bute depicted herein

is purely fictional and in

no way a reflection or representational

of the real Marquess or his family's bloodline.

* * * * * *

* * * * * *

Prologue

England's Southern coast, 1929.

Beachview retirement home.

Like all great mysteries this begins with a corpse, five in fact. Five and a bit if you wish to count the severed head.

Holmes had always insisted that, if I was allowed to continue publishing his astonishing accounts of success, then in true measure it's only fair that I should also reiterate those instances where he failed. There were more than you'd care to believe.

Even those occasions where Sherlock floundered still contributed to his ledger of brilliance, for no other adept man could have had gotten thus far or been so deeply entwined with insight and level of knowledgeable case details, such that one would readily accept Holmes had actually borne witness first-hand to the ensued crime.

Over the decades I've been asked the same question during interviews concerning my amazing adventures I shared with Mr Holmes, which was the most memorable or chilling? Everybody has their favourite. I'm sure you've got yours but mine has never been told before until now. I've refrained from putting ink upon paper or even speaking of the curious sequence of events that occurred. What I'm about to recall is only safe to do so now due to the fact that those involved are either dead or never to be found again.

The law may have me arrested and put on trial. This is neither an omission nor plea for leniency against the decisions that I made thirty years ago but I'm guilty of conspiring a cover-up and perverting the course of justice. I still stand resolute on my actions. Allow me to conclude fully before you fetch the authorities.

I wish to confess the real reason for my medical discharge that I've managed to keep secret. I don't believe Sherlock himself knew completely of my past. I shall begin this shrouded chronicle at a point before I had the pleasure and acquaintance of Mr Holmes.

Whilst enlisted in Her Majesty Queen Victoria's army I was transferred to the 66th Berkshire Regiment of Foot, Afghanistan. The gruesome Battle of Maiwand is well documented. I'll leave it up to you to do your own research. Only this, an Afghan artillery officer in honour wrote about the heroic British troops that day.

"They died with their faces towards the enemy. So fierce was their charge that no Afghan dared approach. Standing back to back surrounded by thousands, making every shot count. Not until the last of the eleven soldiers fell did the Afghan advance. Their behaviour and valour was the wonder of all who saw it."

These were my comrades, my friends. Two hours before their gallant final stand I received that damn Jezail bullet to my shoulder, it's been the singularity that's shaped my entire life and has even brought you to read these pages. Badly wounded unable to continue fighting, though I tried, my regiment subsequently lashed me to a stretcher ignoring my loud and violent protests then evacuated me along with the retreat. Bonded as brothers they willingly remained behind to defend the withdrawal knowing that their fates were sealed.

During my gunshot recovery I contracted Enteric fever and what many have referred to as my psychosomatic limp but none of these would result in ending my military career. Doctors are far too valuable within Her Majesty's armed forces to fritteringly discharge from service. I would've merely been assigned another posting that required a doctor, somewhere away from the front-lines and of