History
Jersey – a Postcard
No, it’s not about trains, in fact there are no railways on Jersey, the horror! Being a pureblood, many holiday destinations (USA, Spain, Cruises) are out of the question at the moment. Not that big [more…]
WW II
20th Century
The Desert War – July 1942
The month of July 80 years ago sees what became known as the 1st Battle of El Alamein, the 2nd would become the more famous one. In the first one the German advance was halted [more…]
20th Century
Stand in the Trench, Achilles*
Most of us, if asked, would be able to name a fair number of WW1 poets and writers without too much hesitation. Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Edmund Blunden, Robert Graves, Rupert Brooke, Isaac Rosenberg – [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – June 1942
80 years ago in June things started to look bleak in the desert, the Axis was on the advance and we were retreating. At sea the Royal Navy was just as busy and the convoys [more…]
20th Century
Film Review: Bridge Over The River Kwai
David Lean’s The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) is not just a great film, it is a nearly perfect one. Even better, it was recognised as such from the start by virtually everyone. [more…]
20th Century
The Thin Red Line
A fellow poster suggested that I should write a piece about the art of…er…writing since it has become, rather later in life than I would have liked, my profession. Flattering as this suggestion is – [more…]
20th Century
The Lady War Correspondent
Your author has enjoyed the extracts posted recently by GP from his uncle’s work, reflecting on older fashioned journalism. The extracts titled ‘The Lady Reporter’ and ‘The War Correspondent’ suggested this response. Imagine, if you [more…]
20th Century
A Family At War, Part Four
In memory of those who have crossed the bar Fearless of storm or foe, Guarding the traffic of the east and west, Giving with hearts heroic of their best, The brave mine-sweepers go. Horace Rumsam [more…]
20th Century
The Desert War – May 1942
The May of 80 years ago finally saw some desert action in Libya but not until later in the month, all the navies were busy attacking ships and the air forces were attacking everything. Convoys [more…]