Gordon Conall Lethbridge-Stewart
Gordon Conall Lethbridge-Stewart was believed to be the son of Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart (PROSE: The Wages of Sin) and was the father of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart and Gordon James Lethbridge-Stewart. He was born in 1902, following a secret tryst between Lillian Lethbridge-Stewart and her brother-in-law, Archibald Lethbridge-Stewart, and raised in Carmunnock, Lanarkshire in Scotland. (PROSE: The Forgotten Son, What's Past is Prologue) He could remember reading about the Wright Brothers' first flight. (PROSE: The Dying Days)
In 1917, he attempted to lie his way into joining the war effort, after making a pact with his brother, but was found out. When seeing Gordon next to his uncle, Archibald, Alistair was concerned that they looked so alike, and was glad that Gordon had not worked out why. (PROSE: What's Past is Prologue) During his teen years he began to suspect he was Archibald's son, but it wasn't until the mid-1930s that he finally had it confirmed after a few shared pints with Archibald. He agreed to keep the secret. (PROSE: The Note)
Gordon married Mary Gore in the early 1920s and moved to the Cornish village of Bledoe shortly after. There he and Mary had two sons. The first, born in 1925, was called James after Mary's father, and the second, born in 1929, was called Alistair after Gordon's father. (PROSE: The Forgotten Son)
Alistair recalled one time, when his father brought home a piece of Bakelite to show his children. It was like moonrock. (PROSE: The Dying Days)
His eldest son died in March 1938 while Gordon was away on mission, but he was allowed a few days leave to return home to bury James. A couple of days later he wrote a letter to his father, revealing that he knew the truth about Archibald. However, he did not give the letter to Alistair Snr, but rather the family solicitor, with orders to pass it on to Alistair in the event of his death. (PROSE: The Note)
He served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and was officially listed as Missing in Action in 1945. Like many others lost during the war, Gordon was honoured with a white cross in the graveyard of Bledoe Parish Church, which remained there until at least the late 1960s. (PROSE: The Forgotten Son) It was during his memorial service on 9 May 1945, that Alistair Snr received the note Gordon had written in 1938. Encouraged by the idea that despite knowing the truth, Gordon died thinking of Alistair Snr as his real father, Alistair decided it was time to confront Archibald and perhaps reveal the family secret to their children and grandchildren. (PROSE: The Note)
Alistair once claimed his father told him, "Alistair, in life as on the field of battle, there are old soldiers, and then there are bold soldiers. But there are very few old bold soldiers." (AUDIO: Old Soldiers)
