I didn't participate in the last SS GR, so I read your post with great fascination about CB's possible war injury, a prospect I welcome with clapping hands, because it does go in line with my perception (rightly/wrongly at this point) of his being valiant and heroic, etc, etc.

Of course, alternatively (no proof except perhaps for the flannel waistcoat), he could've just gotten hurt (tripped over a twig?) in a hunting accident, that is, assuming he went hunting with Sir John Middleton.

Are there other alternatives? Certainly I think the war injury notion is a good one, considering he was a Colonel, and must've seen lotsa action (which might lead into the idea that his being away so much prevented him from settling down with a wife).