F or the almost 20 years that she lived in Mexico, one of my late mother's Irish friends frequently mentioned having a "No Day." A day with no social obligations, chores, tasks, or other work that interfered with whatever personal interests took one's fancy on the day in question. Since today -- a gray and chilly Saturday -- is Mom's birthday, the Grand Duchess is out with friends, and the Young Master is ensconced on the sofa in the TV room with a cold, yours truly is taking his own such No Day. I think Mom would approve of my decision to make the world go away, as the old Eddie Arnold song intoned, even if only for a little while. So, I will spend Saturday afternoon focused on that first squadron and small regimental staff of Eureka Saxon cuirassiers. These have stood waiting untouched over on the painting table for almost three weeks while we skied and otherwise gadded about with snowy, winter outdoor activities. I hope to share a painting update Sunday a
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Today I remembered my Grandfather who on this day in 1914 was a Lieutenant on HMS Cornwall an Armoured Cruiser in the South Atlantic. Before the year was out he had been in the Battle of the Falklands; and in December on Christmas Day his ship was undergoing repairs as a result of the battle in Esquimalt Harbour. He survived the war having fought all the way through it.
The Kohima Epitaph from WWII says it all for me, no matter which conflict:
'When You Go Home,
Tell Them Of Us And Say,
For Their Tomorrow,
We gave Our Today'.
Best regards,
Simon
I really enjoyed all the images - cavalry especially the brigade formation. I appreciate all you did for your readers.
Respectfully,
Bill
Y'know old bean, I'll say this for the chaps of 1914. At the least they had no idea of the ordeal that lay before them.
On the other hand, we do! More than four years of solemn faces, chaps dressing up in old clothes and the unrelieved horror or documentaries, "specials" and pompous pollies waffling on.
Chin up old man, and keep on smiling!