CHAPTER I
CHILDHOOD, BOYHOOD AND YOUTH

DOUGLAS HAIG was the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Haig
of Cameron Bridge, and was born on the i9th of June 1861,
at 24 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh. I am indebted to his
brother Johnl for an account of Douglas and his family at
that time, and I cannot do better than give some descriptive
details in his brother's own words. He writes: "I remember
distinctly being told that a new baby had arrived in place
of Georgie.21 remember, too, his being christened by Dr.
Grant in the drawing-room of 24 Charlotte Square. The
reverend gentleman douched him heavily with cold water,
which the infant resisted strongly by screaming loudly.

"Our father had taken a flat at No. 13 Hope Street, a
town residence for his family who were attending schools
in Edinburgh. Afterwards he bought the ground flat and
basement No. 24 Charlotte Square, which was under 13
Hope Street, and put in a stairway which made the two into
one house. When Douglas arrived the family living at home
consisted of my second eldest brother Hugh,8 my sisters
Janet4 and Henrietta,5 my brother George and myself.

"Douglas was then a strong healthy child. After the birth
of Douglas our mother was in indifferent health, and as soon
as she could be moved, she, with the baby and the younger
children, went to a farmhouse called Milldown, near
Coldingham in Berwickshire, which our mother rented
every summer for sea-bathing. We remained there till the

1 John—Captain J. A. Haig (deceased).

2 Georgie—George Ogilvy Haig (deceased).

8 Hugh—Hugh Veitch Haig of Ramornie (deceased).

4 Janet—Miss Janet Stein Haig, later Mrs. Charles Edwin Haig (deceased).

5 Henrietta—Miss Henrietta Haig, later Mrs. William Jameson (deceased),

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