John Still (author) facts for kids

John Still (1880–1941) was a British archaeologist and writer. He is famous for finding important ancient sites like Sigiriya and for his popular book, "The Jungle Tide".

John Still's Early Life

John Still was born in 1880 in Lambeth, England. He went to a famous school called Winchester College.

In 1897, when he was 17, John Still moved to British Ceylon (which is now Sri Lanka). There, he worked on a tea plantation. Later, he became an important assistant in the Archaeology Department. He helped find and study ancient places.

Discoveries in Sri Lanka

John Still played a big part in finding ancient ruins at Sigiriya. This is a famous rock fortress in Sri Lanka. He also found the ruins of the Lotus Bath at Polonnaruwa. This was another important ancient city.

He wrote several books about the history of Sri Lanka. These included "Ancient Capitals of Ceylon" and "Tantrimalai".

A Prisoner of War

During World War I, John Still served in the army. He was a second lieutenant in the 6th Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment. His unit took part in a battle called the Suvla Bay Landing in 1915.

On August 9, 1915, he was captured by the Turkish army. He spent three years and 84 days as a prisoner of war. While he was held captive, he wrote a book of poems called "Poems in Captivity". After he was released, he wrote another book, "A Prisoner in Turkey". This book shared his experiences in the prison camp.

Family and Later Life

John Still married Winifred Mary, who was known as Alice. They had two children, Eileen Alice and John.

His most famous book is "The Jungle Tide," published in 1930. This book was so popular that it was used as a textbook in Sri Lankan schools in the 1940s.

In 1939, Still moved to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to be closer to his son. He stayed in Africa for the rest of his life. He was a practicing Buddhist. John Still died in Port Alfred, South Africa, on September 9, 1941.