Grounded in momentous personal and global historical events, Shiner & Co: From the Western Front to Bristol Millionaire traces the many lives of Leslie Shiner; soldier, businessman and family man.

From the horror and bloodshed of the trenches of the Western Front to fighting the Bolsheviks in Russia and the IRA in a brutal guerrilla war in Ireland, Leslie was at the forefront of war history in the first half of the twentieth century.

In contrast to the ruthlessness of Leslie’s life in military service is his loving yet ultimately treacherous relationship with his elder brother Gordon; his life as a businessman and founder of Shiner Ltd, builders’ merchant in Bristol, UK; and as a family man with wife Marion and their seven children, and their eventual emigration to Australia.

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Mark Custance is Leslie Shiner’s grandson. This is his first book, however, he is well versed in historical research, having written a History Honours thesis on the Nazi occupation of Poland and other papers on modern European history. In researching the book he had access to many of his grandfather’s military and business records, conducted taped interviews with Leslie and Marion’s children and drew on newspaper articles and Leslie’s photo album, spanning the time from World War I to the sale of Shiner Ltd in 1936.

In June 2013, the author visited sites on the Western Front where Leslie was fighting such as the Leipzig Salient and Messines. He also visited places of interest from his grandfather’s life in England. This included meeting with the current owner of Shiner Ltd in Bristol and surviving relatives to gain a better insight into Leslie’s life.

Alongside Mark’s interest in his grandfather’s life, for the last ten years he has successfully operated a training and recruitment company in Australia. In the future Mark intends to undertake further research into his grandfather’s service with the highly controversial Auxiliaries in Ireland, as there are still a number of unanswered questions as to his time there.

‘Against the giant landscapes of two world wars and the Black and Tan war and turmoil of Ireland, the saga of the mixed relationship of two brothers unfolds with insight, passion and power. It’s an involving and entertaining journey, and easy to read. Mark Custance’s extensive research of his family’s history produces a narrative of honesty, warmth and humour with powerful descriptions of brutal conflicts of two very patriotic but diverse brothers who never hesitate to serve their country. In peacetime the two join forces in business where the conflicts of their personalities deliver a great family drama. It is at once a personalised, exciting, and perceptive account of two brothers eventually at war with each other.’
– Stan James, The Advertiser, Adelaide

‘I found Shiner & Co to be a riveting read and an excellent biography. The descriptions of his Army career are very well illustrated.’
– Peter McGoldrick, Editor Royal Irish Constabulary Forum

‘An amazing insight into the life and times of Leslie Shiner from his early days in Birmingham and Bristol all the way through to his move to Australia. The book gives detail of what it was like to live in Bristol in the 1900’s and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. Now I know the full history of Leslie from the beginning, as Jack Allen, my grandfather, who bought Shiner Ltd from Leslie had never told me any details. Our company Shiner Ltd is still a thriving family business and is still based in Bristol.’
– Chris Allen, Current Owner & Director Shiner Ltd, Bristol