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Earl Haig dies at the age of 91 | Earl Haig dies at the age of 91 |
(30 minutes later) | |
Earl Haig, the son of British World War I commander Field Marshal Douglas Haig, has died at the age of 91. | Earl Haig, the son of British World War I commander Field Marshal Douglas Haig, has died at the age of 91. |
George Alexander Eugene Douglas Haig was born in March 1918 at the time of a major German offensive. | George Alexander Eugene Douglas Haig was born in March 1918 at the time of a major German offensive. |
The death of his father - who is buried at Dryburgh Abbey in the Borders - saw him become the 2nd Earl Haig of Bemersyde at the age of nine. | The death of his father - who is buried at Dryburgh Abbey in the Borders - saw him become the 2nd Earl Haig of Bemersyde at the age of nine. |
Haig, who was known as Dawyck, was imprisoned at Colditz after being captured during World War II. | Haig, who was known as Dawyck, was imprisoned at Colditz after being captured during World War II. |
He once said that this time as a prisoner had a profound effect on his life. | He once said that this time as a prisoner had a profound effect on his life. |
"I was thus able to prepare myself for the post-war world in which I would play a part quite different from the one which I would have played had the war not happened," he said. | "I was thus able to prepare myself for the post-war world in which I would play a part quite different from the one which I would have played had the war not happened," he said. |
"Ironically, out of the evil that Hitler wrought upon my life there came some good." | "Ironically, out of the evil that Hitler wrought upon my life there came some good." |
That included becoming a long-serving office bearer in numerous ex-service charities. | That included becoming a long-serving office bearer in numerous ex-service charities. |
Among them were the Royal British Legion Scotland, the Earl Haig Fund Scotland, the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory and the Scottish National Institution for War Blinded. | Among them were the Royal British Legion Scotland, the Earl Haig Fund Scotland, the Lady Haig's Poppy Factory and the Scottish National Institution for War Blinded. |
He later became an acclaimed artist and was a president of the Scottish Craft Centre and a trustee of the National Gallery of Scotland. | He later became an acclaimed artist and was a president of the Scottish Craft Centre and a trustee of the National Gallery of Scotland. |
Earl Haig spoke out to defend his father's record in World War I. | |
However, his name was forever linked with his famous parent as was seen in the title of his autobiography, My Father's Son. | However, his name was forever linked with his famous parent as was seen in the title of his autobiography, My Father's Son. |
In 2006, on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, he spoke out to defend his father's record in World War I. | In 2006, on the eve of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, he spoke out to defend his father's record in World War I. |
Earl Haig said he wanted to "set the record straight". | Earl Haig said he wanted to "set the record straight". |
"I believe it has now turned full circle and people appreciate his contribution," he said at the time. | "I believe it has now turned full circle and people appreciate his contribution," he said at the time. |
"But it saddens me my three sisters have not survived to see it. | "But it saddens me my three sisters have not survived to see it. |
"They died suffering from the beastly attitudes of the public towards our father." | "They died suffering from the beastly attitudes of the public towards our father." |