The Lancaster

My brother took this marvellous picture of the RAF 'Battle of Britain' group Lancaster passing over the house not long a go. The Lanc, alongside a Spitfire and Hurricane, can often be seen at displays and remembrance day ceremonies. As far as I can make out there are only two now in flying condition, this one and one in Canada, where hundreds were made during the war.

The Lancaster Bomber sums up the war period for many people. Possibly because from 1939 until 1944 this was the only way possible for Britain to hit back at Nazi Germany. There was no way, in spite of US pressure, to place troops onto mainland Europe until 1944. That was the time General Marshall. a great man in many ways, and his generals realised the benefit of Allanbrookes strategy. One reason that invasion was a success was the work of both the RAF, usually during the night, and the US air forces during the day, hammering the enemy defences. By wars end both air forces had lost 50,000 killed! This was the most hazardous operation, over several years, of the war!

The Lancaster was the brainchild of Roy Chadwick, the AVRO Chief designer. AVRO, named after the early aviator A.V.Roe, built many aircraft for the allies and the Lancaster was probably their most renowned. Originally Chadwick built a bomber called the 'Manchester.' This was not a great success as the 'Vulcan' engines were poor. However some 'Merlin' engines were 'acquired,' and as one man working on the project at the time stated, "During wartime one doesn't ask where did that come from?" and four of these reliable engines, on an enlarged wing, more or less created the 'Lancaster' Bomber! The majority were then built at AVRO's works near Oldham.

The large bomb bay enabled the aircraft to carry an 8,000 pound load, and later the 'Tallboy' bomb that eventually destroyed the 'Tirpitz' in her sheltered base. Armed with 8x 30 calibre machine guns and carrying a crew of seven, pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bombaimer, wireless operator, mid-upper and rear gunners, nearly all of them in their late teens and early twenties, the Lancaster made a total of 156,000 sorties dropping 608,612 tons of bombs. The damage was huge but the planes losses were horrendous. Between 1942 and 1945, a mere thirty five Lancaster's completed more than 100 successful operations, and three thousand two hundred and forty nine were lost in action. That's 3249 times seven crew members, many of whom were seriously wounded or dead. A mere ten Victoria Crosses were awarded to these men. This does not appear to be enough.

The most famous raid involving the aircraft is of course the "Dam Buster" raid of 1943. This raid killed more Russian slave workers, mostly female, than Germans, and hindered war production only for a few days, however the morale effect in Britain was tremendous! This was a massive propaganda spin, showing that we could hit back hard where it mattered. Of course the truth was different, and indeed 'pathetic' in the real meaning of the word, but that was not known at the time. I wonder if the 1955 film of the same name is the reason for the public's support of the Lancaster aircraft? While toned down it did reflect the danger and the effect to the audience who could remember the events of twelve years before. Wing Commander Guy Gibson, VC, DSO & Bar, DFC & Bar was the twenty three year old commander of the operation. He received his VC after this operation, however in 1944 he insisted on returning to operational duties and was killed when his Mosquito aircraft crashed in Holland after being shot down. He was 26 at the time!

Later, while the Dutch population were starving, an operation to feed them was launched. The Germans stood back while 145 Mosquitoes and 3,156 Lancasters, flying between them a total of 3,298 dropped food stocks, in what became known as 'manna' after the story in Exodus!

Production of Lancasters ceased in 1946 when 7,366 had been completed. There were several derivations later, probably the 'Shackleton,' also known as 'A Million rivets flying in formation,' being the best known. Ex bomber pilots who entered the Shackleton were immediately taken back to their flying days by the smell above all other things!

While bombing is not the most popular activity, in war it is sometimes necessary, during WW2 the Lancaster did more than many to win that war. In spite of the losses and the suffering Bomber Command has yet to be awarded a medal for their actions in defeating the Nazi regime. This one fact remains a UK disgrace!

Scre top bottles

On this day in 1889 Dan Rylands patented the 'Screwcap!'
So what you ask? Well just look around you and investigate how many bottle, holding a wide variety of liquids, are contained in such screw caps, or screw tops as they tend to be called today.

Dan Rrylands was working at the Hope Glass Works in Barnsley, a company his father Ben had begun when in partnership with Hiram Codd, the man who designed the famous 'Codd Bottle. The bottle that kept the ingredients fresh by the use of a highly ingenious marble in the opening. While screwcaps had been patented they were not to successful until the nineteen twenties when the 'White Horse Distillers' began using them and saw their sales increase dramatically because of this. The cork stopper remained in some whisky bottles for years but the screw top had come to stay! Cork stoppers in wine bottles remain popular today, as some believe this reflects 'quality.' It doesn't of course as the screwtop is far more secure in retaining freshness and is easier to reseal! However the impression of quality (and cost) is more important to some than taste. We are strange people are we not?

Give thanks to the somewhat pushy but clever Dan Rylands. Some among us would have spilled their lunch more often than we would care to remember if it had not been for his work! Isn't that right Mike?

The Stone of Destiny

On the eighth of August in the year 1296 Edward I, the 'bully boy' King of England, stole the 'Stone of Destiny' from Scone. This act of theft was a reflection of his imperialist greed which saw him attempt not only to make France part of the Kingdom of 'England,' but Wales and Scotland also! His invasion of Wales can be considered a success, although the massive castles built there show just how 'popular' he was, and Scotland, then as now, has never been reduced to a mere part of 'Greater England' in spite of the belief of some there that this is indeed the case.

There being no evidence of the origin of the stone it is natural that many legends arise. The daftest probably associates the stone as the one used by Jacob as a pillow (found in Gen 28:11 as you know) when he rested on his way to Paddan Aram. Somehow this great stone appears a little large for a pillow. Some claim Irish Gaels brought the stone with them when they came to Scotland, and that later this same stone was carried about by Columba as he preached his message. Quite why the Gaels needed to bring the large stone, unless it had some deep significance escapes me, Scotland having quite a lot of stone already. As for Columba carrying a stone weighing 24 stone (about 150 Kg) about with him, well, would you? Legends with no evidence are best put to one side while awaiting more information.

However around 847 Kenneth MacAlpin was crowned King of Scots on the stone! Note he was 'King of Scots' and not 'King of Scotland.' The Scots have always been a democratic people, and the land did not belong to the king, just the hearts of the people! Of course if he lost their hearts he may well democratically lose his head, but hey, all jobs have difficulties don't they? Since that time all Scots Kings were crowned on the small hill in front of Scone Abbey while sitting on the stone.

A small point here. The place name 'Scone' is pronounced 'Scoon,' while the scone you eat (yummy) is pronounced 'Scon.' Failure to notice this difference makes you English, and you wouldn't wish that on anyone would you?

Whatever the origins of the stone by removing it to Westminster Edward probably wanted people to believe he was 'King of Scotland.' How wrong he was! The great patriot William Wallace was the leader of many who stood against him until turncoats handed him over to the invader. Charging him with treason Edward reveals the false belief of 'owning' Scotland. Treason could only be charged against a citizen England, yet Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered for 'treason!' English barbarity is shown here, Scots guilty of treason would merely have lost their heads and no enjoyment of brutality was required.

The stone was placed under 'Prince Edwards Chair,' used in almost all coronations since, and remained there until John majors government, desperate for Scots votes, returned the stone to Edinburgh in 1996. The grateful Scots voted in a suitable manner and Scotland ceased to have any Conservative Members of Parliament! Naturally there are those stories claiming that monks hid the stone and the one we now possess is a mere copy. The 'hidden' stone has been well hidden, it has never been discovered, and in spite of the conspiracy theories we probably do know the whereabouts of the original.

Come Christmas Day 1950 four enterprising students did the decent thing and stole the stone from Westminster Abbey. After hiding it for a while, and after breaking it while removing it, it was returned to Scotland where it was repaired. Eventually however they decided to hand it back. Going to Arbroath Abbey they left it on the altar there and soon it was back in Westminster. I still say it ought never to have been returned! Of course stories claim this is not the original but a copy, oh yeah?

Now the 'Stone of Destiny' lies here in Edinburgh Castle, in Scotland's capital and where it belongs. Some say that if there is another coronation the stone will be returned to Westminster for the ceremony, personally whoever becomes the next King ought to be crowned in Edinburgh if they wish to be 'King of Scots.' That surely is the right way to do things.

Visit Scotland

Stone of Destiny

Historic UK - the History of Scotland

Sir Henry Raeburn

Sir Henry Raeburn

On this day, the eighth of July 1823, the renowned Edinburgh portrait artist Sir Henry Raeburn, died.

Henry Raeburn was the son of a textile mill owner living in Stockbridge on the edge of the growing Edinburgh New Town in 1756 and orphaned early. He was to become the foremost portrait painter of his day. In spite of the loss of his father his brother was able to obtain a place for him at George Heriots school, then of course called a 'hospital,' and later Henry became an apprentice to a goldsmith. His work there involved painting small item of jewellery and he began to paint water colour miniatures of his friends. His talent was recognised and encouraged by David Martin the portraitist.
In 1778 he achieved mans greatest hope, he married a wealthy widow! Anne Leslie, the widow of John, the 11th Earl of Rothes who had died the year before, commissioned him to paint her portrait and one wonders just how smooth a chat up line he used as they were married a month later! Anne Leslie was a dozen years his senior and already possessed three children however now he could afford to devote himself to painting full time.

The Skating Minister Robert Walker

The Deanhaugh Estate came with the marriage, and this at a time Edinburgh was expanding through the building of the New Town. Purchasing the neighbouring St Bernard's estate as the New Town building continued he amassed a fortune owing to the 'Feu' (tax) Duty to be paid. Therefore free from financial care he and his wife travelled to Italy, a popular, though uncomfortable, tour at the time, and on his return in 1787 opened his studio in fashionable George Street, still one of the richest streets in the UK! Later he moved to York Place where his enlarged windows apparently can still be seen! In those studios Raeburn, influenced by such as Joshua Reynolds, painted the leading members of Scotland's society of the day! In all painting over seven hundred portraits. Amongst his sitters were Walter Scott and Robert Walker, possibly his most famous portrait. Others who sat included James Hutton, Neil Gow, Adam Ferguson and David Hume.


As is normal in the 'United Kingdom' Raeburn was somewhat ignored because he did not move to London, travelling there only occasionally. However he did therefore have a strong influence on Scottish art in the 19th century, and became a member of the Royal Society in 1815. He was later knighted by King George IV at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh in 1822.

More portraits here -

Scotland's Source

HMS Kite

This small sloop, completed at the Cammell Lairds yard on Birkenhead in 1943 was designed as a convoy escort and submarine chaser. Stationed first at Liverpool she came under control of the best U-Boat chaser of the war, Captain "Johnnie Walker," probably the man most responsible for bringing to an end the submarine menace. From Liverpool 'Kite' patrolled the Atlantic, escorted convoys, rescued survivors and attacked, alongside other escorts, any patrolling U-Boats, sometimes successfully enabling a kill. While there appears to be little made of the 'War in the Atlantic,' it was possibly the most important battle fought during the forties. Had Britain's lifeline failed then the UK would have gone the way Germany had during the previous war when she was starved into submission. German troops attacking during Ludendorffs last major offensive in March 1918 were astonished at the supply dumps in Allied territory. The, morale loss to their forces by this was one great weapon of the war at that time. Without ships like 'Kite' and her sisters escorting the incredibly brave merchant seamen the threat of starvation was a possibility for Britain. 'Kites' job was not easy but it was important.

After a short duration in the English Channel as part of the D-Day operation Kite went back to convoy escort, this time in the Arctic route to Soviet Russia. One of the hardest duties of the war. Those who served in the Atlantic have spoken of the conditions, the constant wet clothes which would never dry out, and the lack of comfort on board a ship in a stormy sea, or indeed in a pleasant one! The movement from her new base at Greenock towards Soviet Russia round the tip of Norway in frozen water, amongst enemy submarines and in constant danger of Luftwaffe attacks from bases in Norway made this route extremely hazardous and most unwelcome. How these men must have dreamt of a Mediterranean posting!

'Kite was detailed to escort the 'JW.59 group' convoy. On the way they were confronted by members of the German 'Trutz' submarine group and on 21 August 1944 the U-344 sunk Kite with 2 torpedoes. Men standing on other ships saw her suddenly engulfed by two huge balls of fire and when the smoke cleared she had gone, in around a minute and a half! HMS Keppel stood by to collect survivors but was forbidden to do so for about forty minutes until two more escort ships had arrived in support. While the weather at that time of the year was comparatively mild the water was still cold and the men were still being frozen through. Covered in oil and clinging to wreckage they were eventually hoisted aboard with great difficulty. Several were sucked under the ship at one point and several died on board the destroyer. Of the 226 men on board HMS Kite only nine survived! Five were buried at sea in the best traditions of the Royal Navy.

'Kite' had been a slow boat but the 'Stinger' device she was attached to possibly slowed her further. There are also those who consider her commander at the time to have left his ship open to attack by the procedure he adopted, but we will let the experts discuss that. Such a target as a slow moving escort vessel a U-Boat would indeed find attractive. And therefore 'Kite' became the U-344's only successful attack! However U-344's seventeen months of service ended at half past eight the next morning. Another slow moving machine, a Fairy Swordfish aeroplane from HMS Vindex the escort carrier, attacked her on the surface with depth charges and dispatched her and her crew to the bottom just north of Murmansk.

During 1942 the town of Braintree, which being on the route towards London and surrounded by aerodromes, suffered much from bombing,had 'adopted' HMS Kite as their own ship. Today there stands a small memorial in the Public Gardens to the two hundred and seventeen men who were lost that day. Nearby the memorial erected after the Great War bears the names of two hundred who were lost then and others names from the second world war. These are remembered each armistice day and it is right that this should be done. Whoever these men were, whatever they were like as men, had they not served and died the United Kingdom would not be the free nation it has become.

Since stumbling upon the memorial in the gardens I have become intrigued to know more about these men whom so few consider as they pass by. I found a great deal about them here on the pages Mike Kemble has on HMS Kite and these are well worth visiting. Information on U-344 can also be found here. Much of the info on this page has been 'acquired' from this man. But don't tell him will you!