author
James H. Rawlinson
A Canadian First World War veteran, he wrote a vivid memoir about losing his sight in battle and rebuilding his life through rehabilitation at St. Dunstan’s. His writing is direct, humane, and quietly inspiring.
1 Audiobook
Through St. Dunstan's to Light
by James H. Rawlinson
About the author
James H. Rawlinson is known for Through St. Dunstan's to Light, a memoir first published in 1919. The book tells the story of his service with the 58th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and of being blinded by shrapnel during the First World War.
After his injury, he trained at St. Dunstan's Institute for Blind Soldiers and Sailors in London, where he learned skills including Braille, typing, and carpentry. That experience shaped the heart of his memoir, which follows his move from wartime trauma toward independence and purpose.
Reliable biographical details about his broader life are limited in the sources I could confirm. What does stand out clearly is the perspective he brings: personal, practical, and hopeful, offering a rare firsthand account of blindness, recovery, and resilience after war.