Valentine Fleming

Major Valentine Fleming (circa 1887 - May 20, 1917) was an British Conservative Member of Parliament who was killed in World War I.

Related Topics:
May 20 - 1917 - Conservative - Member of Parliament - World War I

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He was born in Fife, Scotland, the son of wealthy Scottish banker Robert Fleming. He was married to Evelyn St.Croix Fleming and father of Peter Fleming, Ian Fleming (the novelist who wrote the James Bond books), Richard Fleming and Michael Fleming.

Related Topics:
Fife - Scotland - Robert Fleming - Evelyn St.Croix Fleming - Peter Fleming - Ian Fleming - Novelist - James Bond - Richard Fleming - Michael Fleming

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He was MP for Henley from 1910-1917 . From 1906 to 1911, the family lived at Braziers Park close to Wallingford. On election to parliament, they moved to Pitt House on Hampstead Heath in 1910. In 1914 they built a house at Arnisdale, near Kyle of Lochalsh in the Scottish Highlands.

Related Topics:
Henley - Braziers Park - Wallingford - Hampstead Heath - 1914 - Arnisdale - Kyle of Lochalsh - Scottish Highlands

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During World War I, he wrote to close friend Winston Churchill in 1914. The following is an excerpt:

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Imagine a broad belt , ten miles or so in width, stretching from

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the Channel to the German frontier near Basle, which is positively littered

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with the bodies of men…in which farms, villages, and cottages are

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shapeless heaps of blackened masonry; in which fields, roads and trees

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are pitted and torn and twisted by shells...

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He was killed by German bombing in Gillemont Farm area, Picardy, France on May 20, 1917.

Related Topics:
German - Picardy - France - May 20 - 1917

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After his death, Evelyn inherited Valentine's large estate in trust, making her very wealthy. The trust, though, cut her out should she ever re-marry which virtually guaranteed that she would remain forever Valentine's widow, regardless of other loves or circumstances.

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