How It All Began

Did the hand of fate determine the tragedy which was to befall the Jeffries family? A small hamlet, grandparents close by, places to play and loving parents: no child could ask for more. But from the beginning, Charles’ lot in life was to be one of fleeting happiness and enduring pain. This was not peculiar to Charles alone. His parents, sister, friends and family of friends are swept up in the web of misfortune. During the Second World War years many families suffered great losses, but even in the ensuing peace time, having recovered from his injuries, Charles could not escape the hold that the fates had on him. His lack of esteem and male confidence, stemming from his elder brother’s taunting and bullying of earlier years, lead him to make a series of disastrous, wrong decisions.