One In A Thousand: The Life And Death Of Captain Eddie Mckay, Royal Flying Corps (thinking Historically)

This short microhistory details the life and death of Eddie McKay, a varsity athlete at Western University, who flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. Graham Broad switches creatively from telling McKay's fascinating story to teaching valuable lessons on how to do history: why the past matters, why historians take different approaches, how to pose historical questions, how to identify relevant source materials, and the importance of thoughtful, intelligent, and respectful treatment of historical subjects. The book includes a timeline of the subject's life, a map of relevant combat areas in the Battle of the Somme, and nine illustrations. It concludes with four unsolved events in McKay's life: a mysterious woman, a strange advertisement for batteries, an empty envelope, and an unknown grave—demonstrating that even a detailed history about one person's life is never really complete. This Short Microhistory Details The Life And Death Of Alfred Edwin Eddie Mckay, A Varsity Athlete At Western University, Who Flew With The Royal Flying Corps In The First World War. Mckay's Story Touches On The Fields Of Social, Political, Military, Sport, And Gender History, The History Of Science And Technology, Education, Aviation, Imperial Relations, And The Social Memory Of War. Throughout The Book, Broad Switches Creatively From The Story Of Eddie Mckay To Valuable Lessons On How To Do History, For Example, Why The Past Matters, Why Individuals Matter, Why Historians Have Different Approaches, How To Pose Historical Questions, How To Identify Relevant Source Materials, Why Source Analysis Is Challenging, And The Importance Of Thoughtful, Intelligent And Respectful Treatment Of Historical Subjects.-- To Western And To War : 1892-1916 -- Over The Somme : July-october 1916 -- The Battle, October 28, 1916-march 14, 1917 -- The Choice : March 15 December 28, 1917 -- The Letter : January 1918-july 31, 1932. Graham Broad. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Issued Also In Electronic Format. "This short microhistory details the life and death of Alfred Edwin "Eddie" McKay, a varsity athlete at Western University, who flew with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War. McKay's story touches on the fields of social, political, military, sport, and gender history, the history of science and technology, education, aviation, imperial relations, and the social memory of war. Throughout the book, Broad switches creatively from the story of Eddie McKay to valuable lessons on how to do history, for example, why the past matters, why individuals matter, why historians have different approaches, how to pose historical questions, how to identify relevant source materials, why source analysis is challenging, and the importance of thoughtful, intelligent and respectful treatment of historical subjects."-- Provided by publisher