Victorian 221b

I have a similar headcanon, tbh: that John’s brother was at least ten years older. The family was initially well off as the father had a successful career, but later he turned to drink and died when John was still a child. The brother took over the business and for some time all was well. John attended a good public school, but then there was a tragedy in his brother’s family: the brother’s wife died in childbirth. That turned the brother to drink also, and by the time John finished school they were poor. Prosperous relatives paid for John’s studies at the university but naturally he had no means to start a practice and joined the army. And so he is protective of his brother’s memory rather than being bitter and hence his lashing out at Holmes.