On this date in 1889, an uppity woman calling herself "Nellie Bly" decides to upstage Jules Verne by travelling around the world in *less than* 8 days. Confound her, and hellfire and damnation if she doesn't get it done too! Though I doubt she saved a beautiful Indian princess from being burned on her husband's funeral pyre, which is about all I remember from seeing the movie as a young 'un.
In 1916, the Battle of the Somme ends. Thank God. Sadly it's too late for the million men who became casualties. The newfangled device called "the tank" was first used there. Didn't really accomplish that much though. But hey- what's more important- having an entire generation of young men slaughtered, or gaining six (6) whole miles of enemy held terrain? I knew you'd see it that way! To quote Tolkien (who was one of the lucky survivors) "when heads are at a loss, bodies must serve". Later, Tolkien told a young faculty member by the way, that Samwise Gamgee was "a reflection of the English soldiers". In related news, I think I'd give up a limb for the opportunity to spend 5-10 years talking (or more accurately, listening) to Tolkien. I hope to meet him in heaven someday.
In any case, we must move along. In 1940, Coventry was bombed by the Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. For years there have been tales that Churchill received advance warning from the Enigma (or Ultra) intercepts that the raid was coming, and let it happen; in order to prevent the Germans from getting suspicious. I don't think it's ever been established either way: On the one hand, there are those who deny that any British leader could have allowed so many civilian casualties, if they could be prevented. On the other hand, there's common sense, which states that if the story is true, it not only protected the "Truth" (which Churchill famously said 'must be protected by a bodyguard of lies') but it also would have confirmed that the intelligence they got from Enigma was good.
In sum, I think that common sense must win. Though I have no idea if in fact the UK did get any warning about the raid, so it might well be academic.
Did you ever see the movie "we were soldiers once..." with Mel Gibson, back when he was popular? And sane? Well, in 1965 on this date, the Battle of Ia Drang began, which is the fight shown in the movie- and in the book it was based on. Good movie, though I still dislike the way one young officer was shown as being eager to die for his Country. Really? Maybe Vietnam was different, but I damn sure never met anyone in the Army who felt that way. Eager? No way in Hell. Willing? Yup. That's one reason why I think movies have an issue... there are too many things tossed in for the sake of "improving" the story. Of course, I've never gotten around to reading the book, though it's here someplace. And so I could be wrong.
Oh, and speaking of movies, remember the plane crash that was the basis for the movie "We are Marshall"? That happened today in 1970. I didn't see it, so I can't bitch about how I didn't like one little scene in it. And that really sucks!
So there we are. Short and sweet. Just like me! (Anyone who knows me is enjoined to just STFU and keep the fantasy alive).
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