James Lennox Kerr was a Scottishsocialistauthor noted for his children's stories written under the pseudonym of "Peter Dawlish". He lived in Paisley until 1915, joined the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve by claiming to be 18, then served on merchant ships until 1929. After spending some time in Australia and America he settled in Pimlico in 1930, marrying Elizabeth "Mornie" Birch of Penwith, Cornwall in 1932. These details are in his autobiography. He wrote 32 books for children, most with a nautical theme and 23 books for adults, many commenting on working class life in Scotland, America and Australia. He served on minesweepers in World War II, assisted at Omaha beach, and was Mentioned In Despatches. As an author he used, in addition to his own name, the pseudonyms "Douglas Gavin" for adult books and "Peter Dawlish" for children's books after 1938. Kerr was a self-proclaimed socialist, but he was never a member of the Communist Party. He joined and then left the Labour Party. He is survived by a son whose reminiscences are used by Wormleighton and Bigger.
As James Lennox Kerr
Back Door Guest
Ice
Glenshiels
Woman of Glenshiels - this novel is particularly noted for his portrayal of a conscientious objector in the First World War who is pressured to enlist in the British Army and is killed in France.
The Blackspit Smugglers – An adventure novel for boys
The Eye of the Earth - a story of the arctic for boys
The Eager Years: An Autobiography
Wavy Navy : by some who served - about the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. It was edited by Kerr and David James, and included a foreword by Lord Cunningham of Hyndhope.
Touching the Adventures - Of Merchantmen in the Second World War - edited by Kerr. It featured a foreword by John Masefield. Kerr uses all three names in this volume.
The Great Storm: being the authentic story of the loss at sea of the Princess Victoria and other vessels early in 1953
The R.N.V.R.: A Record of Achievement - another book about the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve. This time it was written by Kerr and Wilfred Granville. The book began with a foreword by G. Thistleton-Smith.
Peg-Leg Sweeps the Sea, and Peg-Leg and the Invaders
The First Tripper - a lad goes to sea on his first trip
The “Dauntless” Series describes the adventures of a group of five Cornish boys and their sailboat, an ex-French crabber. These adventures were published between 1947 and 1960. Books in the series include:
Dauntless Finds Her Crew
Dauntless Sails Again
Dauntless and the Mary Baines
Dauntless Takes Recruits
Dauntless Sails In
Dauntless in Danger
Sailors All!
Dauntless Goes Home
Other children’s books using the Peter Dawlish pseudonym include:
The Bagodia Episode, an adventure story in Australia
