Category Archives: Patriots Corner

The Opening Day of the Somme

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Today is the one hundredth anniversary of one of the most tragic days in the history of our country, the opening day of the Battle of the Somme when, in a matter of hours, nearly 20,000 men lost their lives, with another 40,000 men wounded or missing.

This was no ordinary battle however. This was not a battle fought by professional soldiers (very few had survived the previous two years of the war) but was instead the day when the volunteer armies, recruited from all parts of Great Britain and Ireland (and, of course, from different parts of the old Empire) first faced military action. These were men and boys who, in a spirit of adventure, patriotic duty and youthful idealism signed up in the early days of the First World War to fight for their country.

They joined up together in their thousands (some youngsters lying about their age so as not to miss the adventure) from villages and towns throughout the land with many formed into “Pals Battalions” proudly taking on the name of their home towns, particularly in the north of England.

All of this helped to create and foster a strong spirit of camaraderie and loyalty. Tragically, it also meant that, when these young men were killed in action, whole communities would be devastated by their loss and women, waiting back home, would learn that they had lost their husbands, brothers and sons in one single day.

To put some perspective on the scale of the tragedy, the total British military deaths in the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan amounted to 178 and 453 respectively. In fact, the total British deaths in all conflicts involving Britain since the end of the Second World War in 1945 amount to 7,145 (Figures produced by the Ministry of Defence, November 4th, 2014).

So, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, July 1st, 1916, nearly three times as many British men lost their lives as in the past 70 years combined. It is a sobering statistic and one that, in its enormity, is almost impossible to comprehend. It puts our own pampered lives and “troubles” in true and sharp perspective, that’s for sure.

False Credit

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Of all the recent nonsense spoken about Europe one of the standout pieces was the assertion by our Prime Minister that credit for the lasting peace on the continent since the end of World War II lies with the European Union.

The European Union may well provide comfort to France, which by 1940, had, on three separate occasions since 1870, suffered the indignity and humiliation of seeing German troops marching happily on French boulevards. It undoubtedly provides comfort too to a reunified German nation coming to terms with its brutal and savage past.

But as for providing the peace and security enjoyed by us all over the last 70 years Cameron needs to look west rather than east since the only reason a devastated post-war Europe was able to resist the Soviet Union and avoid further conflict was the strength and presence of the USA.

Today is the 72nd anniversary of D Day (June 6th 1944) the day when a huge force of Americans, aided by British and Canadian troops, began the invasion which, less than a year later, would bring peace to the continent and an end to Nazi tyranny. The cemeteries of Normandy bear witness to the sacrifice made by those men. Europe’s politicians would do well to not lose sight of that fact.

 

Mods and Rockers

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Last Sunday I was witness to the wonderful sight of groups of scooter riders heading along the highway to some reunion or other. There must have been well over a hundred of them, nearly all dressed in the traditional Parkas adorned with Union Flags, RAF roundels, The Who stickers and other memorabilia from the 1960s. These were the descendants of the 1960s Mods, proudly carrying the mantle handed down to them by parents and grandparents.

I remember, as a child, the Mods and Rockers on the seafront on hot 1960s sunny Bank Holiday Mondays. Bank Holidays were always hot and sunny in the ‘60s, weren’t they? Or do our memories play tricks with us as the years advance, causing us to remember only that which we wish to remember, forgetting about the bad?

Well, I remember those days well enough and remember too, the parental warnings to stay away from the Lambretta-riding Mods, dressed in the latest ‘60s fashion and their rivals, the scruffier Rockers, on their Triumphs, Nortons and BSA motorbikes. There was certainly no love lost between the two who seemed intent on knocking seven shades of whatever out of each other whenever they met up!

The question always remained though, and I thought of this as I watched those Mods last weekend, “Are you a Mod or a Rocker?” Both had their attractions and maybe it was best to reply, as Ringo Starr once famously did, “I’m a Mocker!” meaning neither one nor the other or both!

However, yesterday I saw a pristine black and silver Triumph Bonneville, a truly beautiful English machine, gleaming in the sunshine and, like an epiphany, I knew instantly which one I would have chosen – had I been old enough, of course!

Happy Saint George’s Day!

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This royal throne of kings, this scepter’d isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
Which serves it in the office of a wall,
Or as a moat defensive to a house,
Against the envy of less happier lands,
This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England.

(Taken from the speech by John of Gaunt, King Richard The Second, Act 2 Scene 1 by William Shakespeare who was born on this day 1564 and died 52 years later on the same day, 1616).

 

Message to the Undecided

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According to the media many people have yet to decide which way they are going to vote in the European Union referendum on June 23rd.

To listen to politicians both for and against the EU is to be bombarded by facts and figures based on speculation, surmise and, predominantly in the case of the pro-EU politicians, scaremongering. Nobody knows for sure what the financial cost will be one way or the other and frankly, the cost is irrelevant, as are the arguments on safety and security

The only relevant issue in this debate, and one that few have highlighted, is the issue of freedom. We, the electorate have to decide whether we want our country to determine its own future or have decisions made for us by a federation of European states.

As an independent United Kingdom we are governed by the political parties we vote into power and who we can vote out again after 5 years should we be unhappy with them. It is called democracy and accountable government. No such democracy or accountability exists in the EU where we are governed by unelected members of the European Commission accountable to nobody.

It may well be that we will be financially better off by staying in the EU (a moot point) but so what? You cannot put a price on freedom and, throughout history, peoples and countries (including our own) have fought to gain or protect their independence and freedom. We must not allow ourselves to be bought and sold on the whim of political idealists or fat-cat businessmen getting rich from trading in the EU. Freedom is price-less.

Here is a useful analogy for those yet to decide. If you were an animal would you prefer to be one which is fed, watered and cared for in captivity with a third party responsible for your welfare? Or would you rather be outside of the secure fence, free to come and go as you please, making your decisions freely and with sole responsibility for your own destiny? I know which one I would rather be.

Mere Semantics

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There’s evidently been a bit of a to do Down Under following the decision by lecturers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney to no longer refer to Captain Cook’s voyage of exploration and its aftermath as a “discovery” but as an “invasion”. Some have accused the University of  political correctness but I’m not so sure.

I think we in the West can occasionally be guilty of viewing our past through rose-tinted spectacles although it is a natural human trait to try and paint ourselves in the best possible light. Using the British as an example (though it applies equally to France, Holland, Germany, the USA or any other imperialist power) we were taught that when things happened to us it was bad and when we did it to others it was good.

Thus, the Romans did not “discover” Britain, they “invaded” it. The Vikings did not “discover” the British Isles, they “conquered” large parts of the land following their sea-borne raids. However when the British sailed across the world to Australia or parts of Africa and then settled the land following their military defeat of indigenous peoples it was referred to as “discovery”.

It is no more than mere semantics with different words used to describe the same action and effect. It is also rank hypocrisy and political correctness has got nothing to do with it.

Jackass

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“It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes”

Those words, sadly so accurate, were spoken by Andrew Jackson, the 7th President of the USA, nearly 200 years ago. They are both timeless and universal in nature and scope.

It was the anniversary of his birthday earlier this week and if his name doesn’t readily stand out to non-Americans it really should, particularly as far as the British are concerned for it was General Andrew Jackson who led the Americans to a famous victory over the British at New Orleans in January, 1815. Personally, I prefer to think of him as the face that graces the US $20 dollar note, not that I’m a bad loser or anything like that!

Jackson really was a larger than life character, a lawyer, a soldier, a gambler, a politician and a serial duellist. Reports vary as to how many duels the fiery tempered Jackson fought but it was well into double figures and, following one duel in which he killed his unfortunate opponent, he spent the remainder of his life with the man’s bullet lodged in his chest. His nickname, a testament to his tough nature, was “Old Hickory”.

Born in the Carolinas of Scots/Irish parents he hated the British with a passion which wasn’t surprising since, as a 13 year old courier for the rebels in the American War of Independence, he was struck by the sword of a British Army officer, causing wounds to his hand and scarring to his face, following Jackson’s refusal to polish the officer’s boots. His two brothers and mother died in that war.

He did have a softer caring side and was devoted to his wife, Rachel, whose honour he defended in at least one duel and who died just before he was about to be inaugurated as President. It was said that she was buried in the dress she was due to wear at that inauguration. Her loss devastated him and he was once prompted to declare that “Heaven will be no heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there.”

He was elected President for two terms and his nickname, “Jackass”, which though clearly intended to be uncomplimentary, was quite agreeable to him since he admired the stubborn and determined nature of donkeys. It is through Jackson that the Democratic Party has the animal as its logo.

His pugilistic nature failed to desert him even in later years and, when a would-be assassin failed in an attempt to shoot him in 1835, with both guns amazingly jamming, Jackson attacked him with his walking cane! He died peacefully 10 years later, aged 78.

As we say in the north of England, a proper bloke!

Soundtrack to Our Lives

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The news of the death of Sir George Martin, the “fifth Beatle” and the visionary behind much of what the greatest band the world has ever seen (or probably ever will see) was a sad blow to all who grew up listening to their music.

It is highly unlikely that the Beatles would have evolved the way they did without his guidance, imagination and musical genius. Who ever heard of a rock and roll band using orchestral strings in their music before George Martin did just that when he arranged and produced Lennon/McCartney’s (but mainly McCartney’s) “Yesterday” in 1965?

Musicians, music journalists and music experts from all over the world have paid tribute and continue to do so to George Martin and there is nothing much that we ordinary folk can add. Except perhaps gratitude that this gentleman, allowed those four boys from Liverpool, England to write the soundtrack to our lives. For that, we can be eternally thankful.

And Did Those Feet?

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Last Wednesday Parliament adopted a Bill, which, if it becomes law, will give England her own national anthem. Many foreigners would, I’m sure, be incredulous that this should be necessary in the first place, particularly since most people assume (including many in the British Isles) that “God Save The Queen” is England’s national anthem.

It is not, “God Save The Queen” is the anthem of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) but since England doesn’t have her own national anthem the anthem of the UK is  used at English sporting occasions. This has always struck me as a little unfair. All other members of the Union have their own national anthems so why can’t England? Why should the English need to appropriate an anthem belonging to the UK as a whole?

The anomaly should be quickly corrected and England should have her own national anthem with immediate effect. The front runners seem to be “Land of Hope and Glory” (a throwback to music hall jingoism and more Hope than Glory these days!) followed by “Jerusalem” which, of course, is a hymn about our country’s Christian values rather than a foreign city.

Both are beautiful, moving and stirring anthems and if sung at English sporting occasions would, I’m sure, give us a huge lift. That alone would swing it for me since, let’s be honest, most English sports teams (with the obvious exception of our cricketers!) need all the help they can get these days!

Old Grog

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Yesterday was the birthday of one of England’s most famous admirals, Admiral Edward Vernon, born November 12th, 1684. He made his name in the War of the Spanish Succession when he took part in the British capture of Barcelona in 1705.

In 1739, during the War of Jenkins’ Ear (so called because British Captain, Robert Jenkins had had his ear cut off by Spanish coastguards – only the British could go to war over somebody’s ear!) Vernon’s forces captured the Spanish town of Porto Bello in Panama. Upon his return to England, Vernon was feted as a hero and was granted the Freedom of the City of London. His victory led to the public debut of the song “Rule Britannia” and one of the city’s thoroughfares was renamed Portobello Road in his honour.

He has the distinction of having a drink named after him too, since, in an effort to prevent excessive drunkenness amongst his sailors, he ordered that the rum ration be weakened to 1 part rum and 3 parts water. To make the drink more palatable, lemon or lime juice was added to the mix. This is one reason why Americans still to this day refer to the British as “Limeys”! However, more pertinent to this story, the resulting drink was called “Old Grog” since this was Vernon’s nickname due to his practice of wearing grogham coats – grogham being a type of coarse fabric.

He also took part in the failed attempt to capture Cartagena from the Spanish in 1741, one of his officers being George Washington’s brother, Lawrence, who named the family plantation “Mount Vernon” (now one of America’s most visited properties) in honour of the Admiral.

After his service in the Royal Navy, Vernon moved into politics and became an avid Parliamentary reformer, striving to improve the fighting efficiency of the Navy. He died in 1757, almost 50 years before the Navy’s greatest ever triumph at Trafalgar, and there is a monument erected to his memory at Westminster Abbey.

Spare him a thought the next time you pour yourself a glass of grog!