ANOTHER BATTLING BRIT. 1854 AND THE VALLEY OF DEATH. WHAT A STORY HERE.
on 11/06/2008 at 07:15 AM
I followed the link. There is a bit of his handwriting shown there. Marvelous how several of the comments claim that this document must be forged because a poor soldier could never write so neatly. I guess they’ve never known that penmanship was once a very important aspect of literacy; those who could write were trained to do so properly.
Hmmm, in those days there was also a group of books that were essential reading for those who could read who wished to be accepted as being literate. So from that experience a common pool of knowledge and awareness would form; a common aspect of a worldview. And thus were cultures passed on. The truly educated did a similar thing, but they went on to read other prescribed classics written in Latin and Greek.
That might seem highly restricted to us today, a stagnation of thought and creativity, but it really isn’t a bad idea. Sure, go off an learn what you want, but first pick up this basic experience. Instead, in my youth it was “Hey hey, ho ho, Western Civ has got to go!” and now we have Obama. Most kids today, when asked about the Charge of the Light Brigade, would think it had something to do with fresh batteries for a collection of flashlights.
Amazing story Pieper. The Crimean War is often neglected here in American history, in spite of the fact that, for better or worse, it means that Czar Putin’s ideological and spiritual ancestors failed to break out of the Black Sea into the Med. The Anglo-Russian “Great Game” also prevented the Czar from expanding Russian power into the Arabian Sea and Indian Oceans, something that we should be glad never happened. Of course, now we are dealing with the Islamists, but sometimes you just have to take what you can.
I shudder to think what happened to that poor, brave man in the Crimea. Make no mistake, it is on his back and the backs of millions like him that conflicts are decided and freedom is either won, retained, or lost. God bless him and give us many more like him.
In addition, it is worth noting that, with Russia now massing its forces against the Eastern European Republics after “Reddening the Bayonet” in Chechnya and Georgia, the Crimean War should be seriously examined, because, while it is now a byword for incompetence, it was actually a triumph of Grand Strategy for Britain, France, Sardinia, and (by extension) the Ottoman Empire. The fact is that, while the Allies suffered some reverses, they never allowed themselves to loose ground in any of the three theaters they fought in: the Black Sea/Crimea, the Baltic/Finland, Estonia, and St. Petersburg, or the Pacific/Kamchatka, Irkutsk, and Vladivostok. This was largely because they quickly eliminated Russia’s maritime forces (with the lucky exception of the Baltic Fleet, who were lucky enough to escape largely intact by holing themselves up in Helsinki and St. Petersburg and not going out), and then launched amphibious campaigns to slowly nibble away at the Russian Empire.
And it worked. Russia was forced to the peace table after several defeats, the evacuation from the Balkans, the capitulation of Sevastopol, and Anglo-French raids in the Baltic and Pacific. This shows that a massive land power without a navy can be brought to its knees by preying on its extremities. And guess what was one of the main reasons Nicholas I was forced to make peace? Yes. Because the Plebs had seen that the Czar had no clothes and were up in arms.
Putin can be defeated. Do not doubt this.
Posted by Turtler
11/06/2008 at 08:29 PM
Turtler, thanks for the history. Really. I eat that stuff up. I have to keep re-reading many things as well because my memory isn’t the best. I’m always amazed how (without Health and Safety) the species has managed to survive through so much. Of course, often times many didn’t.
Is there any place on the planet a Brit army has not fought? They do have an interesting history.
Drew,
Most kids today, when asked about the Charge of the Light Brigade, would think it had something to do with fresh batteries for a collection of flashlights.
Ain’t that sad if true. What? They don’t run the old Errol Flynn movie on TV anymore?
Jeesh.With regard to handwriting. I think you’re right and what is more, if a closer look is taken of the old fellow, you can see by how he holds himself in that picture, not at all exactly like the stiff formal bar behind the neck studio portraits, a proud looking (to me anyway) former soldier, better dressed it looks then the average grunt of his day, there is just something about that photo that says this man did manage somehow to get himself educated. OR,, he came from a family that was and so maybe he entered the army with more then the average private. I don’t know. Would sure like to though.
These are the People who inspire me - I read Black Hawk Down, bought the audio book and of course viewed the movie and met Michael Durant - still to this day with tears in my eyes wonder how those young men just did not run screaming into the night. I did the same with The Long Road Home (Martha Radditz) which was about Palm Sunday attack in Sadr City April 4, 2004.
It is men (and women) who stand in the face of evil, wrong, death, hate, pain and suffering and do not flinch, do not turn away, do not run but go forward - who keep us Free, who keep us Safe, who keep us Human.
Not the blathers on the Left who talk about Peace, Love, and Understanding - and believe that just the right words, just the right handshake, just the right dinner will make everything and everyone just one big happy family. It is not about anything that can be discussed and/or negiotiated. That is the failure of removing War, Fighting, Defense whatever you want to call it off the table - Evil, Hate, Thugs, Tyrants, Dictators aren’t listening and don’t care. While the Left lies and cons to obtain Power and Control, the Thugs of the World use death, intimidation and suffering. There is no Diplomancy with Evil. Nor should there Eve be.
I respect these Warriors and fear that in the end I won’t have one-fifth of the Dignity, Honor and Courage that these Warriors do. I won’t run into the night screaming Negiotiate, Talk it Out, or Diplomancy - but I fear I will not stand up as tall as these Men have. And it shames me.
Pieper:
“Turtler, thanks for the history. Really. I eat that stuff up.”
Thanks. That does my soul good.
“Is there any place on the planet a Brit army has not fought?”
Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Central China, Bolivia, Some Pacific Island, some Atlantic Islands, Paraguay, and Antarctica are what I can come up with right now. I can probably come up with more with thought, though.
“They do have an interesting history.”
Yes indeed. Yes indeed. God, do we need them more then ever.
Wardmama4:
“It is men (and women) who stand in the face of evil, wrong, death, hate, pain and suffering and do not flinch, do not turn away, do not run but go forward - who keep us Free, who keep us Safe, who keep us Human.
Not the blathers on the Left who talk about Peace, Love, and Understanding - and believe that just the right words, just the right handshake, just the right dinner will make everything and everyone just one big happy family. It is not about anything that can be discussed and/or negiotiated. That is the failure of removing War, Fighting, Defense whatever you want to call it off the table - Evil, Hate, Thugs, Tyrants, Dictators aren’t listening and don’t care. While the Left lies and cons to obtain Power and Control, the Thugs of the World use death, intimidation and suffering. There is no Diplomancy with Evil. Nor should there Eve be.
I respect these Warriors and fear that in the end I won’t have one-fifth of the Dignity, Honor and Courage that these Warriors do. I won’t run into the night screaming Negiotiate, Talk it Out, or Diplomancy - but I fear I will not stand up as tall as these Men have. And it shames me.”
I could never put it as well as you have.
Posted by Turtler
11/07/2008 at 09:05 PM
from Turtler, in answer to question, “Is there any place on the planet a Brit army has not fought?”
Finland, Sweden, Taiwan, Central China, Bolivia, Some Pacific Island, some Atlantic Islands, Paraguay, and Antarctica are what I can come up with right now. I can probably come up with more with thought, though.
Hi T.
My Brit wife says oh darn. Is it too late to go back and correct that oversight?Pieper:
“Is it too late to go back and correct that oversight?
Let’s see: The Chavez Axis includes Bolivia and could threaten Paraguay, the Russians could threaten Sweden and Antarctica, and China and her allies could lead to conflict in the Pacific, Taiwan, and Central China. So maybe.
Also: scratch Finland. You guys conducted some Naval landings and raids against Russia during the Crimean War and Germany during WWI. However, to that list, I would have to tack on the Congo, Baja California, most if not all of the Yucatan, Some islands in the Arctic, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, and Angola.
So you have some work to do.
Posted by Turtler
11/09/2008 at 10:06 PM
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