Bike and sidecar

I never thought I'd find myself lusting after a motorbike but this seems quite a nice idea - perfect for recreating the jousting scene from Indiana Jones

Book Ben Elton The First Casualty

Ben Elton - a stand-up comic and co-writer of Blackadder has long been known as a writer of mildly amusing books but on hearing he'd tackled the Great War my ears pricked up; not usually the stuff of comedy...but the Independent seems to think it worth a look, so hopefully soon a copy will be gracing the shelves of my local charity shop and then I can read it. Another review is here

British Comics

Read some of the pages and investigate the adventure comics of the 50s and 60s

Radstock man slams Tom Cruise film

THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN WAS WON BY A SINGLE AMERICAN AIRMAN (...OR SO HOLLYWOOD IS ABOUT TO TELL US)
Winston Churchill said it was our "finest hour", but yesterday it was revealed the Battle of Britain was won single-handedly by Tom Cruise. Amid outrage from the West's war veterans and military historians, a new Hollywood film will claim that one American, Billy Fiske - played by Cruise - was responsible for the 1940 victory. But he didn't shoot down a single plane. Fiske was one of a handful of Americans who volunteered to fight in the battle, as the US was yet to enter the war. He was killed by German Stuka bombers in August 1940. His story is to be retold in the film The Few directed by Michael Mann, who made the fighter pilot hero movie Top Gun, also starring Cruise, and filming is due to start soon. "I've heard it is almost like he won the war all on his own," said war veteran Ben Clinch, who loaded the guns fired by the real Billy Fiske. "I can't see how they can make a film of Fiske's life. He was unremarkable, in the context of the squadron. He was just another pilot as far as we were concerned." Fiske's short life is perfect movie material - the handsome son of a wealthy Chicago businessman, he won a bobsleigh gold medal at the Winter Olympics when he was just 16, married the former Countess of Warwick and raced at Le Mans. However, winning the Battle of Britain was not one of his many accomplishments. "He made several sorties but he didn't shoot anything down, and his impact on the battle was negligible," said Bill Bond, of the Battle of Britain historical society.
Jack Younie, 84, of Radstock in Somerset, joined the RAF just before the battle began. He said: "It will make it look as though the Americans were everywhere, but they were hardly there at all. "There were pilots from India, Canada, Australia, South Africa and a few from America. "But the vast majority were British. And our pilots did a great job. If they had lost the Battle of Britain, that would have been the end of everything. Hitler would simply have walked all over us. "They're just trying to make a box-office hit, and they tend to hype it up with things that frankly stretch the imagination." Hollywood has a habit of ignoring facts to glorify the deeds of Americans. In the 2000 film U-571, US seamen recovered an Enigma code machine from a sinking German submarine and changed the course of World War II. Enigma was in fact retrieved by the British crew of HMS Bulldog. The basis for the new film is that the British were on their knees and desperate for help in their fight for aerial superiority with the Luftwaffe. There were, apparently, aeroplanes sitting in hangars and a shortage of pilots. A few brave Americans answered the call - risking jail in the then neutral US - and saved the day. Recalling another piece of Tinseltown propaganda, military historian and former RAF pilot Colin Pomeray, of Dorset, said: "It is like John Wayne being the big D-Day hero in The Longest Day. "The whole idea sounds rather nauseating. It's impossible that any one man could have won the Battle of Britain. "There simply weren't lots of Spitfires sitting in hangars, and I've never heard of the American volunteers facing the prospect of prison. "Fiske was a brave man, all the Americans were brave - but there were only a very small number of them. The problem is that after this, a lot of people watching the film in America will actually believe that is the way it happened." http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=127638&command=displayContent&sourceNode=127637&contentPK=9562995

'Downfall' - screening Dec 9th on More 4

Monday sees the screening in the UK of this highly acclaimed German movie on the last moments of Adolf Hitler. Shot in a realistic style it shows the end of Goebbels and Hitler in a way never before seen. More info on IMDB
The more I learn about Hitler the more he seems like a fool - making some of the worst military decisions EVER. Perhaps the egotistical madness that made him create himself as an embodiment of the Nation's fortunes also made him one of history's worst leaders.

Last Canadian Great War frontline veteran dies

Lancaster Bomber

Inspired to look up this site on these formidable monsters after watching a formulaic bomber command movie starring Dirk Bogarde. Not knowing much about ww2 movies I wonder how many of these airfield movies were made? Seems like a lot from memory. Perhaps there's a site. Ideally a candidate should be in black and white so stock footage can be thrown in.

Flying Clippers

this is a wellproduced page on the subject of the golden age of air travel. The posters and artwork are of the period and well done.

new Flashman book reviewed

A new book by George Macdonald Fraser has been compared by one as akin to a second coming - this historical novelist is head and shoulders above his rivals in historical detail, wit and general readability. This new Flashman novel is set against the background of the Napier expedition to Abysinnia.
also here also visit here for the background to the character, previous novels and links to other works such as the Steel Bonnets set in the era of the Border Reivers

Eastern front book review

Russian army of the 30s and 40s

According to myth Hitler didn't invade Britain because he lost the Battle of Britain but recent research shows that it was the emerging Russian army with its new tanks and equipment that frightened Hitler into attacking the Soviet Union. This website investigates the armour of this period with some good video clips.
If you want to see a reenactment group of this period go to North-Front's website - some excellent photos including a KV-1 being dredged out of the river

Percy Topliss - the Monocled Mutineer

One of the great anti-heroes of the Great War, Topliss was once the most wanted man in Britain for his part in mutinies that went on behind the lines. Well that's the myth anyway - a biography of him is here This chemeleon-like character was played by Paul McGann (left) in the tv series written by Alan Bleasdale. Topliss was depicted as a reknowned officer impersonator who used his bluffing instinct to carry him through the various scrapes.
The web is full of anecdotes through local history - one old lady sold him a packet of cigarettes, someone caught him and let him go...have a search and see what turns up. Filmmaker Alex Cox has a script he wrote on the subject here - not sure if you can read it - maybe you have to pay...
There is some of the facts surrounding the controversy of this case on this forum The Etaples mutiny is written about here
SHOT AT DAWN
The site mentioned above is worth a look - its a campaign to have the 300-odd soldiers shot for cowardice and desertion reviewed. http://www.shotatdawn.org.uk/ Many of the soldiers shot had no council and were tried, convicted and executed on the same day
There is a book on the subject here but the website gives no information as to what it has. This crime site has an interesting page
Copies of the novelisation of the tv series turn up occasionally.

Great Indian Battles - Minisink 1779

this is an interesting battle that has Militia fighting with a party of Iroquois led by the celebrated Joseph Brant - this website here has some excellent photos of the site.

Mickey Lee Lane

there's a great looking compilation of this the man who brought us 'Hey Sah-Loh-Ney' - probably the greatest dance record of all time. http://www.raucousshop.co.uk/static2/PID1248.htm

Christmas Truce

LONDON, England (AP) -- Alfred Anderson, the last surviving soldier to have heard the guns fall silent along the Western Front during the spontaneous "Christmas Truce" of World War I, died Monday at age 109.More than 80 years after the war, Anderson recalled the "eerie sound of silence" as shooting stopped and soldiers clambered from trenches to greet one another December 25, 1914.
The Christmas truce has always been of interest to me - there's a book on it I remember reading, but as for finding an interesting angle to celebrate it the prize must go to Billy Childish's Buff Medways for doing a Christmas single 'Merry Christmas Fritz' based around the story on the album 1914 - a concept album of garage rock and roll!

Charge of the Light Brigade in plastic

New manufacturer on the block Emhar are certainly pushing the box about with its new poseable plastic and innovative subjects, and apparently getting their sculpting done in China. This month sees the release of Crimean Russian artillery and British cavalry. All exceptional and historically accurate it bodes well for their Franco-Prussian war sets which are imminent. For more of their products go here

Not Forgotten

This is a new series attempting to put stories and their descendants to the names on anonymous looking war memorials. Rarely is telly moving but this programme was an exceptionally well put together show that had some interesting and poignant stories to tell, such as the village who had no memorial as one of the fallen was shot for cowardice. This ably showed how the aftermath of the Great War passed on through the generations and was worthwhile time spent.

Native reenactors for New Orleans?

A call to arms! To all able bodied warriors and white men in Indian Country.
A new company is being formed for thepurpose of defending America from that scourge ofEnglish aggression. Major General Pushmataha needs all those warriors who are interested in defending the southland at the major engagement that will soon be had at New Orleans when the English land their ships and troops to attempt to impose their will upon bothours and the American’s lands. We have given our word that we hold in honor to our American brothers and weintend to make good on our promise to help them defend their lands. A company of Indian militia is being formed at present to attend the battle at New Orleans and other sites of interest in an attempt to put the English in their right and proper places. Join now, come and aid in the fight to come. War honors, gifts and loot are to be had to all those who come to fight. Who will go with me to help our American brothers win this fight,who will go with me to teach the English a lesson that they will not soon forget and a fight that songs will be sung for generations to come? Now is the time to join, many English scalps await the hatchet and scalping knife of our bravest warriors, you but need to walk in the path of war with me and we shall be victorious!
The Americans are but a young nation, but with the help of our old sovereign Indian nations we shall help them become great and help them gain the strength that they need to become an old nation as we are. Come brave warriors, come red brothers, let us go to war and let us dance the scalp dances after the victory! I am the one called Apushmatahaubi, the one who brings death to his enemies, the one who stepped forth from the oak fully formed with hatchet and scalping knife in hand. I will lead us to victory and to many prizes of war, come with me!Apushmatahaubi, Mico ant Okla Hannali ChahtaTuska Chitto ant Amahican.(Pushmataha)Leader of the Six Towns Choctaws War General of the Americans
The “modern” call:
At present I am trying to form a company of “Indian Militia” as was such that the “Indian General” andChoctaw chief Pushmataha lead during the War of 1812. The militia will be comprised primarily of Native reenactors dressed as Indians (i.e. frock coats orshirts, leggings, breechcloths, mocs) armed with muskets/rifles/tomahawks and scalpers, but formed up into companies of militia that will adhere to the basic drill of American militia. I realize this is fairly short notice, but only recently was the decision to have the battle of New Orleans reenactment in light of the Katrina disaster made once again. This event is a crucial event in regards to living history and also is important as it will help form a modern link to the importance of a multitude of various groups of people coming together to save New Orleans. It is in direct parallel to what is happening down there at this very moment. The event is January 6-8 of 2006. It is also a great opportunity to portray an aspect of history that has not been displayed since it was originally enacted, that of a significant Native military force serving under “modern” military tactics to accomplish the feat of helping win a major military victory. It is known that Pushmataha drilled his warriors (who numbered some 700 or so Choctaws, Chickasaws and Cherokees) in the white military tactics of the day. They were so effective at learning and conducting the military drill that they were commended on many separate occasions for their bravery and gallantry under fire. That is a sight that will turn some heads, Indians serving in a line company of militia, and with your help as a reenactor in the company, we could be one of the best militia groups ever seen!
The company would also be complemented by any“American” reenactors who wished to portray “Indian country men” – those whites who were living amongst the Indians in their territory at the time, who were serving alongside them because they had a tie either by marriage or by affiliation. This company also has the chance to attend other events of the period other than the Battle of NewOrleans, but what that all depends on is who and how many people wish to join up.
Requirements as far as dress and accoutrements are pretty easy to attain and most folks doing Native reenacting already can easily fit into the role. There is ample documentation of what these men carried and the fact that they were paid as members of the“Mississippi Militia” adds to the idea that these were paid soldiers, not just an Indian rabble.There are no dues, there are few rules, this isn’t a political organization of any kind, I’m just trying to form up a company of militia to attend some really cool events and do a really cool portrayal of an integral period of Native American history.
If you’re interested, please contact me atnitaiskatene@yahoo.com for more information. If you know anyone who might be interested but has not received this, please forward it to them.
Please, inquire only if you’re seriously interested and would be able to firmly commit to at least attending the Battle of New Orleans reenactment in January.Thank you most sincerely, David B. Wells dit Nitaiskatene but now aka Pushmataha:-)

Notting Hill Psychogeography Online Book

Tom Vague's book of Notting Hill pop culture. Well worth a read

Battle for Moscow

An interesting set of pictures from a reenactment of this WW2 battle at Borodino.