The Past

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

Calton Jail

2011-08-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

This grand building was once the governors house belonging to Edinburgh's notorious Calton Jail built in 1817 on Calton Hill. This replaced the old Tollbooth, called the 'Heart of Midlothian' as it had been used in several guises over the years. Walter Scott's famous book describes something of the building and its place in Edinburgh society. Though the governors house was designed by the great Robert Adam the jail became renown for the poor diet, being very cold, and the strict discipline demanded from the inmates.

The name Calton some reckon comes from 'Cold Town, but it is precedes such a phrase and most likely arises from the Gaelic "cauldh-dun," which means 'Black Hill,' as the hill comprises black basalt. Edinburgh's position allows the citizens, once crushed together in the old town, to escape to the hills right on their doorstep. James II allowed tournaments there in the 1400's and theatrical productions son followed. Later use included a hospital, a monastery and a small village of shoemakers. Their small area of land later becoming the Calton Cemetery. David Hume is one of the more famous people buried therein. Next to the Calton jail stood the debtors prison, the Brideswell , also designed by Robert Adam. Debt today leads to much hardship, in times past it led to prison and in some cases hanging! How banks would hate that today!

Imagine those confined within such a building. Even egalitarian Edinburgh with the famous Georgian 'New Town' buildings, High society, sophisticated legal structures, Calvinist ministers, and enterprising commercial businessmen contained many slum dwellings. The Irish immigration during the 1800's brought some 25,000 to dwell in the run down centres, mixing with those already overcrowded there. Criminal elements along with desperate people, mixed in Calton jail with drunks, and lunatics, and poor diet and bad health caused many diseases which led to criminal behaviour, and alsothe well as the well-to-do who had not done so well it would appear!

During the Great War several leading socialists in Glasgow loudly opposed men being sent to kill one another and this led to them being jailed, and to make it worse they were sent to an Edinburgh jail at that! Willie Gallacher was one such detained there. He was one who complained of the cold, the total silence, only whispered conversations during the one hours exercise was available, and the poor diet. Thick porridge and sour milk was the breakfast, soup and dry bread comprised dinner and supper was similar to breakfast. Arthur Woodburn was also jailed with Gallcher, he later became Labour's Secretary of State for Scotland in 1947, by which time the jail had been demolished. He used some of the stones to make a garden path for his home! What satisfaction that must have brought!

The jail was replaced by Saughton prison in the 1930's and now stands there St Andrews House, home to Scotland's most senior civil servants. Some would make jokes about that at this point, but I am too polite! I suspect however the diet available there is superiour to what was found previously.

The tall needle next to the house, which is now offices, is the Martyrs Monument. This commemorated those who campaigned for political freedoms in the 18th and 19th centuries. The five men were transported to Australia for fifteen years!

Scotland

Calton Jail

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Mons Meg

2011-05-18T05:28:00.000-07:00

High up on the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle stands the colossal 'Supergun' known as 'Mons Meg!' This monster weapon was capable of hurling a cannonball weighing around 385 pounds (or one American) over two miles distance. If it were to be fired today, just as it was in 1558 to celebrate the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to the French 'Dauphin' François, the shell would do no good whatsoever to the Granton Harbour area!

It was the French connection brought this behemoth to Edinburgh in the fifteenth century. The Duke of Burgundy, known as 'Philip the Good,' a title probably given him by some PR groveller earning a high fee, donated this gun to James II, King of Scots. Philip, being James uncle by marriage and wishing to ensure the Scots kept disputing with the English and thereby aiding the French fight with the imperialists south of the border, sent him the most powerful gun ever made as a gift! Being brought to life in the small (now Belgian) town of Mons, later to find fame as the place Britain entered the Great War against Germany in 1914, the name 'Mons' stuck to the gun. Quite which 'Meg' was responsible for giving her name to the gun is disputed as this was only added very much later. From early accounts it is possible she was just known as the 'Mons Gun.'

The gun was used in anger only rarely. The weight of just over six tons made travel difficult and roads were of course just dirt tracks. The effort required, the number of oxen prodigious (which is another way of saying I don't know how many), and in those rainy days that frequently affect Scotland the mud would make travel very difficult and cause even the gentle folk of Scotland to express curses while pulling the beast. While 'Meg' was powerful it was also difficult to fire more than half a dozen shots at a time because of the heat given off by the powder required during firing. 'Mons Meg' was indeed trundled down to Roxburgh Castle in the borders to deal with a dispute there in 1460 but only once dealt with the English foe and that at Norham Castle, now just on the far side of the border. Cannon frequently exploded while in action and a smaller cannon did just that fatally wounded King James II at Roxburgh. 'Meg' visited Dumbarton Castle in 1489 in an effort to impress the Duke of Lennox regarding his obedience however the guns progress was slower than a woman through a shoe shop and in time meant Edinburgh Castle became home for 'Meg' where she became a 'saluting gun!'

Apart from the 1558 firing when Mary married her Frenchman the gun was also fired in 1689 to greet James, Duke of Albany and York. He, as you will know, later became James VII and II. (That is, for our English audience, James the Seventh of Scots and James the Second of England. The English have a problem in forgetting that the James's were kings of two nations, not just theirs!) James VII & II by the way was rubbish! His son became known as 'Bonnie Prince Charlie, and a right Charlie was he as you probably know! It is interesting to note that when James the Duke of Albany and York arrived the gun was fired in salute by an English gunner. The barrel burst and this led to accusations that the gunner had deliberately overloaded the gun because the English were jealous they did not possess so great a weapon! I couldn't possibly comment!

English grabbing of Scots property after the sell out in 1707 continued with the removal (by Pickfords I ask?) of 'Mons Meg' to the Tower of London' in 1754. She may well have remained there still had Sir Walter Scott, busy inventing a colourful Scots history to pay his debts, persuaded George IV to return her to where she belonged and so she arrived home, tired and weary, in 1829. Since then the huge gun has been attended to on the Castle rock by the keepers of antiquities and the numerous children who insist on clambering all over her. Many's a house has photographs of such hidden away in an album!

Wiki 'Mons Meg'

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Jail

2011-05-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

This is the old town lock up. In days before police as we now have them, and for some time afterwards, towns had their jails for the criminal classes. This small town was no different and this small brick lock up, 6 feet wide and a dozen feet long, was where scoundrels were held until either sober, or justice could be administered. Who knows when this was last used, or indeed when the door was last opened. Possibly it would be an idea to open it and see if there is a skeleton lying in the corner with a scribbled note reading 'Help, I am being held prisoner!'

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James Keir Hardie

2010-09-26T13:39:00.001-07:00

On September 25th 1915, with the Great War in full flow, James Keir Hardie passed away. His life had been dedicated to improving the lot of the working man, and the working man's lot was terrible indeed!

Born illegitimate to a servant girl in Lanarkshire on the 15th of August 1856 he started at the bottom of life. Eventually his mother married a ship's carpenter and the family moved to the new area of Partick in Glasgow with the intention of finding work. The young lad had to work himself from an early age and at eight years old became a Baker's delivery boy working around seventy five hours a week! With his father unemployed, his mother pregnant and with a brother to care for he became the wage earner of the family, at three shillings and sixpence a week! When he was ten years of age his brother lay dying and the young Hardie tended him through the night. This caused him to be late for work so he was sacked, and fined a weeks wages by his boss! Some people wonder why unions came into being, I wonder why?

With work difficult to find the family left Glasgow and returned to Lanarkshire after his step father had gone to sea and the young lad became a miner, at the age of eleven, in Newarthill Colliery! The unschooled boy was taught to read by his mother and became literate by the age of seventeen, and this in spite of twelve hour shifts down the pit. This was not unusual in the second half of the nineteenth century. David Livingstone the missionary,taught himself to read and write by placing books on his machine as he weaved cloth in nearby Blantyre. Reading newspapers taught Hardie that others were forming unions and taking a stand to improve their working conditions, and in an effort to improve his own mine Hardie formed a union and led the first strike in 1880. He was dismissed!

Moving to Ayrshire he found work as a journalist, having been 'blacklisted' by the mine owners, and married a fellow temperance campaigner, Lillie Wilson. She was to find a life of struggle bringing up the bairns while he travelled around addressing meetings while he fought for the miners interests. In 1886 he was appointed as secretary to the 'Ayrshire Miners Union,' and shorty after the 'Scottish Miners Federation.' This was a time of growing economic wealth in the United Kingdom, and many men had formed guilds and unions to improve their conditions and educate themselves, miners also desperately wished for change and a fairer share of the wealth. In 1887 a newspaper was produced as he attempted to educate the miners, called at first 'The Miner,' and later the 'Labour Leader.' In 1888 he decided that a new political party was required to benefit the workers. The Liberals, in whom he had trusted up till then, were not seen as being supportive enough of the working class, and Hardie stood, and came last, as an Independent Labour candidate at the local election. At this stage only around one man in three had the vote, and while artisans had received the privilege most had not. On August 25th 1888 the Scottish Labour Party came into being with James Keir Hardie as secretary!

In 1897 Hardie became a Christian and claimed the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth had been the main inspiration for his ideals. He had been brought up an atheist, but one infused with the teachings of the 'Sermon on the mount.' Whether we would describe Jesus teachings as 'Communistic' today, as Hardie did, is doubtful however. A great many leaders of the Independent Labour Party were from a Christian Socialist background.

In 1892, after travelling the world investigating working class politics and conditions, meeting leaders of similar organisations throughout Europe, Hardie stood and won, as an Independent Labour candidate in the West Ham South constituency, a rough industrial area. John Burns in Battersea and J. Havelock Wilson in Middlesbrough were also elected as Independent Labour men. The MP's dress of the day required top hats and tail coats but Hardie entered the house wearing a cloth cap and a tweed suit! A sensation resulted! A year later he became the leader of the newly formed Independent Labour Party. MP's were not paid at that time, most had sufficient wealth to avoid the need for salary, however this, and an increase of tax on the rich were among the policies campaigned for by the new members. Pensions for the old, free schooling, votes for women and abolition of the House of Lords were also on his menu.

In 1894 a motion was presented congratulating the monarch on the arrival of a grandchild. On the same day the French president had been assassinated and over two hundred and fifty men had died in a mining accident in Wales. Sir William Harcourt offered the motion of congratulations on the birth, and condolences to the French for their loss and Hardie asked if an addition, regretting the deaths of the Welsh miners could be added to this. Harcourt refused and in an offhand manner offered regret to the miners. Hardie then launched into an attack on the monarchs privileges and continued in spite of the House viciously attacking him as he spoke. He then opposed the motion. His loss the next year in the 1895 general election may well have been the result of this action.

In 1900 Merthyr Tydfil sent Hardie back to the House of Commons where he joined by Richard Bell from Derby. He then produced a masterstroke by agreeing with the Liberal Party not to stand against one another in thirty seats at the next election, this meant that at the 1906 election the Labour numbers rose to twenty nine and the Liberals won the election. This also led on to pensions for those over seventy, Labour Exchanges and many other reforms. During the early years of the century Keir Hardie involved himself in many issues, including calling for equality of races in South Africa, independence for India and many other causes that brought him much opposition.

He suffered much more opposition on the outbreak of war in 1914. His pacifism led to him addressing large meetings calling on working men to refuse to enlist, and he suffered taunts of "Traitor," although he was never a traitor to his beliefs like some in his party. Many of his former colleagues and friends disagreed with his stance, and it must be recalled that the socialist leader in France who opposed the war was shot in a cafe at this time! The workers did not listen to Hardie and by December 31st 1915 over two and a half million men had volunteered to enlist. The strength of character and determination to speak for his beliefs in spite of opposition from friends and foe did not stop him speaking out. Much of his life was spent in being opposed! A sick man, he suffered from strokes, suffering a heart attack in late 1914 and unhappy with the pain of war, along with his friends decision to support it, he shrank away slowly,. Returning to Glasgow to die in hospital there on September the 25th 1915. His heart would have suffered much had he known that as he died thousands joined him on the Loos battlefield, dying for the war he had so strongly opposed.

On September 25th 2010 Ed Miliband became leader of today's Labour Party. What does this tell us of the changes a hundred years have brought I wonder?

PitWork

Spartacus

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On This Day in 1886 Heart of Midlothian versus Bolton Wanderers.

2010-04-10T13:05:00.000-07:00

On this day in 1886 the Heart of Midlothian played their first ever game at the new Tynecastle Park! After several years of moving from one ground to another, beginning at the Meadows, using Powderhall, and Powburn among others, and for a short while the small area on the other side of the Gorgie Road was the original 'Tynecastle Park.'

The 'Hearts' had been created when a group of young men watched Queens Park play an exhibition football match in Edinburgh in 1872. Queens Park were the most famous football side in Scotland at the time. Thus inspired the men, who were thought to attend a dance hall called the 'Heart of Midlothian,' began to meet in the Edinburgh Meadows to play the game. In 1874, although team captain Tom Purdie always insisted it was 1873, the football club came into being. In those early days football clubs flourished everywhere and Edinburgh was filled with groups of young men developing the game. It soon became clear that the Heart of Midlothian were one of the more prominent sides, and under wise management moved to the newly developed area of Gorgie.

Interest in the opening game was great, and nearly 6000 people attended the event, paying the same entrance fee charged at the previous ground, sixpence! When they first started at the Old Tynecastle pitch ladies were allowed in free! And these creatures wanted equality? At 4 pm on the tenth of April 1886 the Heart of Midlothian opened their new stadium with a match against the English giants Bolton Wanderers. Loudly cheered by the crowd, many of whom had travelled on the special cars (that's trams to you and me) from Register House. Bolton, refereed to as 'The professionals,' as their players were paid, and the Hearts men were 'amateur.' at the time. At least they were supposed to be 'amateur,' but Hearts, like most clubs were discovered to be paying players secretly. However the game against Bolton began with Hearts playing against the sunshine yet within five minutes Tom Jenkinson scored the first goal ever at Tynecastle Park, and it put Hearts into the lead! By half time Hearts were three goals ahead, Rab Henderson and Bobby McNeil with the second and third, and soon after half time a fourth arrived when Henderson once again "Kicked the ball through the goal." Later, after goalkeeper William Gibson had made one or two saves a 'scrimmage' occurred near the Hearts posts and the "ball having rolled in the strangers scored a goal." Thus the Heart of Midlothian began their illustrious history at Tynecastle with a win by four goals to one, just as one would expect! The teams on that day were as follows:-.

Heart of Midlothian: Gibson, goal; Adams and Fairweather, backs; White, Aitkin and Fraser, half backs; Jenkinson, McKay, Henderson, Common and McNeil, forwards.

Bolton Wanderers: J Traynor, goal; Hutchinson and Parkinson, backs; Weir, Steel and Roberts, half backs; Davenport, Brogan, Struthers, Hewatson and Hough, forwards.

Umpires - for Hearts, Mr Reid, for Bolton Wanderers, Mr Bentley, Referee Mr Sneddon, the Edinburgh Association.

Tom Jenkinson Scorer of the first goal at Tynecastle Park.

Since this game thousands have come, from all over the world, to watch the famous Heart of Midlothian play on this ground. Who can blame them? Football played here at the end of the nineteenth century reveals the way the game developed. Penalty kicks, the penalty box, tactics, especially the 'scientific football' developed in Scotland, that is the passing game to you and me! This shows the difference between Scots and Englishmen. The English wished to continue the individual dribbling by himself through all the opposition, while the more egalitarian Scots played as a team! Hmmm some things never change!

Note the chickens!

London Hearts Fantastic Website

Field Marshal, Earl Haig

2010-01-29T09:51:00.000-08:00

On the 29th of January 1928 Earl Haig, the Commander in Chief of British forces 1915-18 and founder of the British Legion, died. Haig has, in the United Kingdom at least, become one of the most controversial of figures. The general opinion of the man in the street being that Haig sat at his desk, well behind the lines, while his men fought and died in the horrific, mud filled trenches of the Great War. As with most things in life the truth is somewhat different.

Born in Edinburgh in 1861 into the wealthy whisky family of that name, Douglas Haig obtained a degree at Brasenose College, Oxford University and entered the Royal Military Acadamy at Sandhurst. Commissioned into the 7th Hussars Haig went to India in 1886 where his talents enabled him to progress through the ranks. He went to the Sudan where he saw action and later was involved in the Boer War in South Africa, serving under Sir John French, during the days of Britain's (always referred to as 'England' by the English) Empire phase. The 19th century saw a rise in nationalism as education and newspapers increased, and throughout Europe the imperialist urge was spent on far flung 'barbarian' lands. Haig, like most men of his time, went along with this. Would you have acted differently? After South Africa Haig returned to India, promoted to Colonel and worked under Lord Kitchener. His talents were rewarded when he became the youngest Major General in the British Army.

In 1906 Haig worked with Lord Haldane on army reforms and at this time the British Army was redesigned into three parts. The many militia's developed some fifty years before were amalgamated and organised as a 'Terratorial Force,' for defence of the British homeland. Alongside this the British Expeditionary Force was created as the arm which would be sent into any conflict overseas. The third arm of the army was the 'Army in India,' that 'Jewel in the Crown!' Haig also demanded a vast increase of the armed forces as he, like most others, foresaw the future conflict with Germany and desired a total manpower of just around one million men. By 1914 the total force was less than half of this number. Vast resources were being put into the building of the 'Dreadnought' battleships but less was being spent on the army. It must be remembered that at this time there was no conscription in the UK. This was not to arrive, against much opposition, until 1916. Around this time Haig, writing about the future conflict, made it clear the war would be one of attrition, there was no other way! Two massive industrial powers would meet with a mighty crash and a trial of strength until death would result. His enemies never mention this clear warning given long before the conflict erupted. I wonder why?

When war broke out in August 1914, Kitchener, the most senior officer in the British Army informed the first war cabinet that he expected the war to last three years. They were shocked! In most peoples eyes three months would be enough to beat the enemy, but all military men knew that if the war of movement ended then the catastrophe of trench warfare would erupt. The American Civil war fifty years before had shown some of the expected results of such strife, and only a few years before the Balkans fighting between Greece, Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro and Bulgaria had shown this only to clearly. Violent trench warfare, bombs dropped from the air and artillery barrages indicated lessons many did not wish to notice.

In 1914 Haig was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of I Corps, under Sir John French the Commander in Chief. He was in attendance during the Mons fighting and in late 1914 first Ypres saw some of the bravest fighting conducted by the vastly outnumbered BEF. While making his way to the front line he was turned back by his own men and on returning to his HQ discovered a shell had landed on top of it devastating his staff! Meanwhile the fighting ended when a single line of Worcestershire's, plus whatever remnants remained, charged into the wood in which the battle was taking place and ended the German advance.One more German attack may well have won the war, however the British force, suffering huge casualties, had defeated an enemy that once again vastly outnumbered them.

The British war was being hindered by a lack of resources, shells in particular were in short supply, and useful use of the media by Sir John French had led to a change of attitude in Britain towards the war. By 1915 it had been realised the war was not going to end soon, and after more failures to break through, Haig, by now a General, was appointed overall commander. The war had reached a new situation and while Haig had to deal with an ever enlarging army, some 100,000 belonged to the original BEF and the numbers had now swelled to well over a million with as many in training back home. The Germans had decided to make Verdun the place to exhaust the French army, forgetting that this would also exhaust their own! The fighting in Spring of that year led to around 350,000 casualties on either side and France was indeed bleeding to death. Haig had intended to make a 'Big Push' at Ypres in Flanders during that year but was forced by the French to fight at the Somme instead. This was not a place Haig wished to be as the ground was totally unsuitable for such warfare. The rolling chalk hills, the many woods dotted here and there, made it he wrong place for a battle. The Germans had long before dug themselves deep into the earth, at places well constructed tunnels with first aid posts and electric lighting, over forty feet deep, very safe from any barrage. The French insisted on fighting in July although Haig knew his army would not be ready until September. Joffre, the Commander of the French force, was almost in tears at the thought and Haig agreed to a late June date, in fact the rain led to the attack beginning on the 1st of July 1916.

The battle was well planned and the 'New Army,' those thousands of volunteers from August 1914 who cheerfully enlisted from patriotic and other reasons, were to supply nine out of ten of those attacking. This led to an alteration of the tactics to suit their inexperience, while the General in charge, Rawlinson, wished a 'bite and hold' operation, Haig insisted on a full bloodied 'Push' to break the enemy defences. A million and a half shells were sent over on a full seven days barrage. The intent was to burst the deep trenches and cut the thick enemy wire. Some experienced men realised all was not well but the attack went in at 7:30 in the morning. It was a disaster! The shells had not cut the wire, many were dud and fixing the fuses was a difficult operation for an experienced gunner let alone a new man. Too few howitzers were available to destroy the deep trenches, and when the men left their own parapet they were cut down by an enemy desperate to get out into the daylight and fight back hard! Some in the south of the attack made good progress, others only broke through in small groups. A handful from the 16th Royal Scots, MacRae's Battalion, made it to Contalmaison and prisoner of war camp! Some advance was made and some trenches taken but overall almost 60,000 casualties were taken on the first few minutes of the battle! Haig however continued the fight until the end of November, what else could he do? His instructions were clear, support the French and remove the Germans from France and Belgium. It was clear there was no other way but to continue!

Major battles were fought in 1917 at Arras under General Allenby, and his reward was removal to Palestine to free Israel of the Turks. This at least he did successfully. Then Haigs greatest battle, and the most controversial, Passchendaele! This battle, with the intention to break through to the North Sea ports can easily be seen as murder of an army! First led by Gough's Fifth Army, which blundered about in the heavy rain and failed to make much impression. Then a second move led by Plumer which eventually reached Passchendaele itself. Thousands were dead, the broken rivers and irrigation systems flooded the land and the rain never stopped. Men drowned in shell holes, and when they fell from the slippery pathways. This was a hell on earth and none who served there ever forgot what they endured. Did Haig not realise the cost> Indeed he did. Why did he continue this battle? The only reason could be the French feebleness. Their treatment of their army was so bad that after the Nivelle offensive in 1916 the army went on strike! By late 1917 Haig would be unsure if the French could resist a German attack, and therefore it was important to keep the Germans bogged down. Bogged was probably the wrong word to use. It is clear that Plumer was not happy about continuing the fight as an officer at a meeting before Plumer's 2nd Army took over noted by his expression, this was Haig's order!

Even after reading all the available comment I doubt we will ever come to a proper conclusion regarding Haig and this battle.

During 1918 the Germans, afraid of the American armies now slowly arriving in France, brought their troops from the now closed Russian front and launched their last great effort to win the war. The British were the ones to face this onslaught for the most part and new tactics and weapons enable the Germans to made massive inroads into the British lines. However this did not last as the British, while forced back, still did not run, and the old Somme battlefields made it difficult tom transport weapons and supplies. Another problem for the Germans came when they discovered the huge stores, deliberately left, which supplied the British and French allies. Germany was starving and her armies knew it. Instead of attacking many stopped to rifle the stores and the shops behind the lines, including many wine cellars, and drunken soldiers refused orders and threatened officers while looting what they could. Eventually Haig and Foch, now supreme commander, stopped the German assault and Haig led the fightback which pushed the German attackers back all the way they had come, through the massive defence of the 'Hindenberg Line' and by November 11th 1918 the war was over.

Britain lost 750,000 dead during the Great War, some 300,000 still lie under foreign fields undiscovered! Almost all men who served were left wounded in body or mind, and thousands more died between the wars. Haig had led the nation to victory and was feted by the nation as a hero. he received £100,000 as a reward and became 'Earl Haig' in 1919 However during the war some had worried about the death toll, and Lloyd George the Prime minister had attempted to remove Haig from his position. The fact that there was no better person did not change the PM's mind. This devious man was afraid he would be blamed for the suffering and caused his friends in the press to blame the Generals for the losses. He omitted to state he was Prime Minister! This has led to many attacks on Haig in recent years and a general opinion that the war was a waste, nothing but muddy trenches and useless killing. There is much in that, but the Generals merely followed orders! Haig was always open to new tactics, although many claim this was not so. In fact he was so keen he rushed the tanks into action too soon, and was always looking for new weapons to finish the job. He was hindered by the PM forcing him to obey General Nivelle when it was clear Nivelle's plan was faulty, he was hindered by the PM refusing to allow new men to go to France, and the constant desire to send troops elsewhere, Gallipoli or Italy, in a vain attempt to win the easy way cost him many men and sometimes Generals! Haig was often attacked for sitting behind the line while his men died at the front. This of course is nonsense as he could only keep in touch with several armies, the French and Belgians, and his own government by being in an appropriate position. This was the same behaviour as Commanders of other armies yet only Haig is criticised? Italians and French, Russians and Germans lost more men than Britain did yet their Generals are lauded, not attacked and the reason has to be Lloyd George! His memoirs,which came out long after Haig was dead, blamed the generals for not caring for their men and wasting their lives. So why were the Generals not sacked? Because they were the best men for the job and those officers who kept close to Lloyd George made it clear he was the best man and the other Generals were in appropriate positions! Yet the smear campaign continues to this day!

Haig was not a brilliant General. He was not a good communicator, but he was the best available at the time, some claim only Plumer could have taken his place, others disagree. Haig made many mistakes, and the fighting at Passchendaele must be seen as a mistake. Was he keen to stop the French being attacked or had he just lost control of his emotions through the trawl of the war? It is difficult to know. He was not however a man who disregarded his men or considered them cannon fodder. he did however know this was to be a war of attrition, said so before the war, and won the war using the only tactics available. Many who are experts in war disagree of course.

His reward from the government he at first refused. Knowing the Prime Minister he would not accept anything until a pension for wounded soldiers had been passed. Made Baron Haig of Bemersyde in 1921 he spent many years with the British Legion attempting to provide for his wounded soldiers. He remains controversial, even though the last old soldier has passed away, but was he a hero or a villain? The real question is why were Generals of other armies considered hero's while Haig is not?

Useful links:-

Battle of the Somme

Paschendaele

Echoes of the Great War

Hellfire Corner

British Speak

2010-01-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

Let me introduce you to Max. Max is doing a study of British royalty at the moment and some folks may find this interesting. Max, a Yankee Doodle Dandy, has looked into those lesser royals from Victorian times, the ones that cost the nation so much but like their counterparts today don't actually do anything for anybody! As a Scot I see this lot as mere English folk using my money for no good reason, however I do enjoy Max's study of these people. Much of it I have come across before in a passing fashion and some things are new to me. All of it, like all history is always worth reading and I recommend you spend a while on his site.

British Speak

Alexander III King of Scots

2009-12-26T09:58:00.000-08:00

Image from the excellent 'Fife Coastal Path' site

Alexander III became King of Scots at Scone, aged eight on the 13th of July 1249 on the death of his father Alexander II. During his minority he was was subject to the conflict between Walter Comyn, the Earl of Menteith, and Alan Durward, Justiciar of Scotia. The infighting being severe enough to have Alexander kidnapped at one point. In 1251 aged ten, he had been married to , Margaret, the daughter of Henry III. Henry, like all English Kings, attempted to bully the young Alexander into paying homage to him. Alexander stoutly refused as all Scots Kings ought to refuse! His strong temperament and his father's teaching had influenced him well.

However Comyn and Durward continued to fight over who influenced the King until at twenty one, Alexander attained his majority and ruled by himself. He immediately began to stake his claim on the Highlands and Islands at that time ruled by Norway under King Hakkon. The Norwegian King showed no intention of handing over his claim and a stand off ensued. Alexander's guile ensured negotiations lasted until autumn storms arrived and devastated Hakkons fleet. His victory was sweet and he had completed the task started by his father years before. He continued to build up his nation, creating a peaceable kingdom, stable and prosperous by his death. Farmers were encouraged to farm more land, wool was exported to the Low Countries, and trade flourished. Berwick on Tweed became the busiest port in the British Isles, until burnt to the ground and stolen by the thuggish Edward I

His first wife Margaret provided him with three children who, like their mother, all pre-deceased him, his grand-daughter Margaret, the 'Maid of Norway', was then named as his heir. He married again in the hope of achieving a male heir, Yolande, Comtesse de Montfort, on the 14th October 1285. His wife was young and attractive and the forty four year old was always keen on ladies. Therefore on 19th of March 1286, after meeting his court in Edinburgh he took it upon himself to visit her in Kinghorn, Fife. At the Queensferry the boatman refused to row him across, the night being dark and stormy and much effort was made to hinder the crossing. Few people are willing to risk the life of their king! Alexander however insisted and the crossing was made, so anxious was he to visit his young wife. Too much powdered rhino horn perhaps? In the darkness he became separated from his guide and disappeared. He was found, dead, near Pettycur, the next morning by the rocky shore. His horse had stumbled, or perhaps he went over the outcrop in the dark. The King was buried with due ceremony in Dunfermline Abbey.

was no Alexander and he bowed the knee to the English King becoming known thereafter as 'However the death of such a strong King led to trouble for Scotland. His only named heir, his grand-daughter, Margaret, was drowned in 1290 when the ship bringing her to Scotland went down in a storm. With no obvious heir infighting returned and Edward I the bullying imperialist of England, made his grab for Scotland, which he regarded, for no good reason, as his! With the crowning of John Balliol, on St Andrews Day, 30th November 1292, Edward had his way. Balliol Toom Tabard, the 'empty coat.' Edward attempted to occupy Scotland, giving rise to the noble defence by Sir William Wallace and others, leading in time to Scotland's independence being restored by King Robert the Bruce a few years later. Had Alexander been less keen on his lady Scotland would have been a very different place. Edward may have attacked but with such a popular King it is unlikely he would have been successful. Either way, the nation would have been a different place.

Links:-

Fife Coastal Path - History.

Undiscovered Scotland

Alexander III

Rampant Scotland

Alexander III

Alexander III, King of Scots

Marriage Document of the 'Maid of Norway.'

The Lancaster

2009-08-24T09:09:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-10T05:10:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-08T03:16:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-08T09:59:00.001-07:00

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

2009-04-15T05:37:00.001-07:00

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!