SynJon Books

12/02/2026

This page will be closing shortly as activity is being consolidated into a single historical archive platform.

For ongoing updates on archival research, war diaries and the story of a First World War ex*****on and pardon, please follow:
From Air Raids to Shot at Dawn

Local history books, newsletters, blog posts and publishing updates can be found here: www.synjonbooks.co.uk

Thank you for your support.

SynJon Books brings local, family and military history to life—perfect for genealogy lovers and community historians. Specialist in Kentish village history.

11/02/2026

The latest newsletter is out now - follow the link to view:

https://www.synjonbooks.co.uk/so/73PnBkIG5?languageTag=en

06/02/2026

I have recently come back from Australia and while I was there I took the time to visit the impressive Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne. It was originally dedicated to the men and women who served in the First World War, and today honours Australians who have served in all conflicts since.

When my son Dan and I visited we were struck by how vast it was and how many names appeared in the books of remembrance that line the corridors.

Australia suffered one of the highest casualty rates of any nation involved in the war, with over 60,000 men killed from over 400,000 men who enlisted. Another 150,000 were wounded, gassed or taken prisoner. Almost every family was touched in some way.

From the research I have been doing in to the British Army Court Martial process I was interested to find that 7000 Australians were court martialled and 129 were sentenced to death. However the Australian Governor General refused to sign any confirmation to complete the sentence, so no death sentences were ever carried out.

03/02/2026

Back in the 1980s, my grandad purchased a block of 100 ISBNs. This was long before self-publishing platforms existed. At the time, I doubt he imagined just how valuable that decision would become, nor that his own story would be published using one of those ISBNs!

Today, as we publish more family histories, diaries, memoirs, and research-led books under the SynJon imprint, those ISBNs are a real asset:

They anchor our books as properly published works

They preserve continuity across generations

They give us independence and flexibility

It’s one of those quiet, behind-the-scenes choices that pays dividends decades later.

If you are thinking of publishing more than one title, or more than one format then you might want to consider a block purchase of ISBNs.

You can see the full article here: https://www.synjonbooks.co.uk/post/isbns-what-they-are-when-to-use-them-and-a-family-legacy-i-m-grateful-for

If you’ve ever looked inside the first few pages of a book, you’ll almost certainly have seen a bar code and a long number beginning with 978. Most readers skim past it and plenty of first-time authors barely give it a thought.But that number, the ISBN, matters far more than people realise.So, w...

02/02/2026

Happy Monday everyone - back at my desk to kick start the editing process of my latest book about our ancestor Ted Roberts who was shot for desertion in 1916.

What I have found about

- I don't like it😐
- I can only do it in bite sized chunks ⏰
- I have to have something else on the go at the same time - variety being the spice of writing
- The subject matter is a tough read so I have to insert some joy in my day

Any tips from my fellow that will help me get through it!!!








If you'd like updates on the next book then you can follow us here or take a look at our website: www.synjonbooks.co.uk for more details.

27/01/2026

The latest blog post is out now:

https://www.synjonbooks.co.uk/post/harry-farr-and-the-limits-of-understanding-shell-shock-in-the-first-world-war

Please do share and follow our page for more updates

In September 1916, Harry Farr, a private soldier in the British Army, was executed by firing squad for desertion on the Western Front. His case is among the most thoroughly documented of those later associated with the term “Shot at Dawn” and has become central to discussions about how psycholog...

06/01/2026

A lovely scene of Tunstall Church in the snow for you this evening. Picture courtesy of Helen Allinson. Helen is hoping to do a talk for us on Tunstall village in February, so keep following for details.

13/12/2025

Happy Saturday - Help Please!!

I’ve been spending some time organising a lot of research recently — archive visits, notes from Ypres, books, photographs, and questions that still don’t have clear answers one year on!!

I’d really value your thoughts whilst I continue working on my next book about my WW1 ancestor Ted Roberts.

Which of these would you find most interesting or useful to read more about?

1️⃣ A guide to Ypres and the Western Front, seen through a researcher’s eyes
2️⃣ A reading list for researching WWI soldiers and Shot at Dawn cases
3️⃣ More about the men Shot at Dawn - who they were and why their stories still matter
4️⃣ How families were told one story and what the archives later revealed
5️⃣ What it’s really like researching a WWI soldier - my behind the scenes info

Feel free to comment with a number, share a thought, or add something else you’d like to know more about.

I’m always interested in hearing from people who research or write about this period - so please do share with others who might be interested.


Picture of earlier this year

09/12/2025

Last day to buy our books in our

Up to 70% off some titles

www.synjonbooks.co.uk

25/11/2025

25/11/2025

All our titles are discounted on the www.synjonbooks.co.uk website -some by as much as 70%!!

A great chance to get your Christmas shopping started.

Happy shopping

19/11/2025

Latest Blog Post from SynJon Books

What I Learned About Quoting From Letters While Researching Ted’s StoryWhen I first began writing about Ted — my great-grandfather’s cousin, executed in 1916 and later pardoned — I knew the journey would involve difficult truths, military history, and some painful family discoveries. What I ...