Lead the charge

Brigadier Allan Mallinson has not a little in common with his creation Matthew Hervey, the clean cut Napoleonic-era army officer who is the hero of the most closely followed series of historical novels since those of the late Patrick O'Brian. Since the brigadier is - like Hervey - charming, courteous, and a skilled horseman, I couldn't resist asking him if our hero was based on himself. After all, Mallinson trained to be an Anglican priest in Durham before changing his mind and joining the Army, and Hervey is the son of a country parson. But he laughed and shook his head:" One of my admirers will be glad to learn that not only is he back in the third adventure of the series -A Regimental Affair (Bantam Press, £15.99; ISBN 0 593 04375 8) - but a fourth is already in progress. And since Brigadier Mallinson now combines his writing with being our defence attaché in Rome, it is perhaps hardly surprising that Hervey too is destined to visit the Eternal City.

When I met the author at a restaurant on the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, he was reluctant to give much more away than that. But he did reveal that Captain Hervey has to "pick up the pieces of his life, after the surprisingly dark ending of Book Three.

Brigadier Allan Mallinson: his Matthew Hervey novels are among the most eagerly followed historical novels since those of Patrick O'Brian

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Oct 12 2002

Doreen and Harold Mallinson, Kilsyth, Melbourne, Australia

DOREEN and Harold Mallinson weren't sure they would be staying when they arrived as "£10 tourists" in Australia.

"We had no children at that time," says Doreen. "We thought we would go out and have a look. The Australian government were paying the fares."

They set sail for Melbourne in December 1965. The boat stopped off in Freemantle, the port adjoining Perth.

"We liked what we saw of Perth," Doreen recalls. "We would have gladly stayed there. We had no choice though. We were booked to travel to Melbourne so we had to get back onboard and sail to Victoria."

The couple, now retired, are still living in Victoria.

Doreen, formerly Doreen Wilkinson, was educated at Hillhouse Primary School and Greenhead High School for Girls. Her first job was in the accounts department at David Brown Gears, then she worked in accounting for Holset Engineering.

She married Harold in 1955 and they lived at Roundwood, Waterloo, then Lascelles Hall.

Harold hails from Flockton. His family had lived in the village since the early 1800s. He worked for David Brown Tractors and also in forestry before going to Australia.

Harold was also employed in engineering in Australia. He bought a block of land 10 miles east of Melbourne on which he and Doreen established their first Australian home.

Harold then became a reservoir keeper, which involved living on site at reservoirs in remote parts of the state of Victoria.

The couple now live in Kilsyth, a quiet leafy suburb not far from Melbourne in the foothills of the Eastern Ranges.

Doreen is interested in genealogy and Harold in history, and they share an interest in reading, gardening and walking.

Doreen recalls with affection her childhood in Huddersfield. "The woods, with a carpet of bluebells in spring and autumn leaves in which to roll and hide. I miss the moors and the Dales, along with the easy access to Europe. But life here in Australia is easy and the weather is good. Houses are cheaper than in UK. Food costs about the same but gas, electricity and clothing are cheaper."

Harold remembers going to dances in the hall at Whitley Beaumont, near Lepton, during the war years. The hall, family home of the Beaumonts until 1917, was pulled down in the early 1950s.

The Mallinsons have a son, Clive, who is married and lives in Melbourne.

Eastern Jackson County, The Examiner. Tuesday, July 6, 2004

Genealogical Society honors Mallinson

Jane Short Mallinson's contribution to the Jackson County Genealogical Society has earned her a Life Membership in the organization she helped organize 25 years ago.

At the society's annual membership luncheon and meeting on June 5, Mallinson received the award for "her continued involvement in and support of the activities and goals of the society for 25 years."

The Jackson County Genealogical Society was founded in 1979 as the Eastern Jackson Genealogy Society.

The society evolved from a series of genealogy classes organized and sponsored by Mallinson and the Independence Pioneers chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.

The meeting also included the installation of the following 2004-06 officers: Marilyn Plowman, president; V.G. Johnson, first vice president; Twylia Brand, second vice president; Frances Gabbard, secretary; and Alice Wehmhoener, treasurer.

In addition to Mallinson, other past presidents of the organization in attendance were Dorothy Norris, V.G. Johnson, Alice Wehmhoener, Marilyn Plowman, Victor Meador, James Houston, James Tharp and Martha Meyers Henderson.

Thursday, August 26, 2004

The Examiner staff

Local historian Jane Short Mallinson of Sugar Creek is this year's recipient of the Meritorious Achievement Award presented by the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

Mallinson received the award on Aug. 6 at the foundation's annual membership meeting at Bismark, N.D. She is considered an authority on the history of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Missouri.

She was cited for dedicating much of her life to ensuring that the Lewis and Clark Expedition's role in Missouri history and the location of its campsites are not lost to future generations,

"Mallinson has spread the message of the importance of the expedition and the preservation of related sites and trails to people across Missouri," Carol Bronson, executive director of the foundation, said in a news release.

"Through her hard work and dedication, many people have a greater appreciation for and awareness of the expedition."

Established in 1969, the foundation partners with the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in caring for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

With headquarters in Great Falls, Mont., the foundation also supports scholarships, education and research on the expedition. It has more than 3,500 members and is known worldwide as the "Keepers of the Story and Stewards of the Trail."