Funny we were in Churchill as well in the mid '50's and my father was Commandant for part of it - dont remember Galloway being there - but he was later in Oakville which was Central Command. In fact I provided an old photo of Strome my father had taken of him in Italy that appeared on Esprit de Corp's cover when Strome passed. My father took Strome to an opera in Rome (Aida) which would have been soon after Ortona .. Strome wasn't really into classical music apparently! Strome had mentioned my father a number of times in his book(s)... but for everyone that served or had family that served it is important to remember the old African proverb when reading any of these books..."until the lion learns to write - tales of the hunt will always favour the hunter.." ... so many important stories have been lost.
Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
- Start date
Funny we were in Churchill as well in the mid '50's and my father was Commandant for part of it - dont remember Galloway being there - but he was later in Oakville which was Central Command. In fact I provided an old photo of Strome my father had taken of him in Italy that appeared on Esprit de Corp's cover when Strome passed. My father took Strome to an opera in Rome (Aida) which would have been soon after Ortona .. Strome wasn't really into classical music apparently! Strome had mentioned my father a number of times in his book(s)... but for everyone that served or had family that served it is important to remember the old African proverb when reading any of these books..."until the lion learns to write - tales of the hunt will always favour the hunter.." ... so many important stories have been lost.
A friend of mine is gathering items for a museum in Ortona. Those maps might be of interest... I am still wading through large envelopes stuffed with maps...so far I am at the Straits of Messina issues that were marked "Secret" showing possible landing areas and the expected defenses....my father would not throw anything of value away...comes from growing up in the depression I guess! Anyway if you have anything that's you think is pertinent and you would be willing to pass over to a museum let me know. That is wher the sort of stuff has to find its way or in a few generations it will be thrown away and lost! The 1st Cdn Div. contribution in Sicily & Italy was remarkable I think.
Merry Christmas, you lot.
I am reminded of the story of the WW1 Christmas truce. Both sides singing Silent Night. Peace on earth and the brotherhood of man. And the next day, butchering each other. It's sad. There was not one man among them that had a quarrel with the foe on an individual scale. But those at the top on both sides say, "Go thee forth and kill" What a bloody shame.
My father was Polish fighting with the Brits and my grandfather was a German fighting on the other side in France. Again. What a bloody shame.
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
It's just about our worst behaviour as a species. It's one thing to kill your fellow humans in a moment of rage, but altogether another to do it because the Captain said you must.
Just finished reading Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger. Strnogly recommend it. WW1 from the German side. The guy is remarkably unconcerned about the 11 or so wounds he received.
On a related, but happier note, early Corsairs on the line:
Just finished reading Storm of Steel by Ernst Junger. Strnogly recommend it. WW1 from the German side. The guy is remarkably unconcerned about the 11 or so wounds he received.
On a related, but happier note, early Corsairs on the line:
WGT Consulting
Regular
- Location
- Quinte West Ontario
Merry Christmas, you lot.
The last one reminds me of Christmas dinner in the fob in Bosinia '98
Merry Christmas to all
Santoneski
Regular
- Location
- Hamilton, On
My father was born in a small town called bucchianico which is near pescara and ortona. Same province, the province of Abruzzi. Nice collection it's something special to have a piece of history like that.
The Mighty Moo rolls in heavy seas.
USS Cowpens (CV-25/CVL-25/AVT-1), nicknamed The Mighty Moo, was an 11,000-ton Independence class light aircraft carrier that served the United States Navy from 1943 to 1947
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The way everything is strapped down it looks like they were prepared for it. Of course it might be a hard turn in heavy weather - the swells don't look that severe do they?
Google: "USS Cowpens shown during Typhoon Cobra ,which hit the Third Fleet on December 18, 1944."
The Queen Mary was once struck by a freak wave in WWII that they said later took her within a degree of two of capsize, or at least being knocked on her beam ends.
There's a photo taken from the Admiral Scheer in the Denmark Straight that shows a wave easily 100 feet high it is said.
- Location
- West Quebec
There are plenty of these artifacts laying around that the familys of the fallen would like to have as keep sakes..
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
When I was on the ships, I once was in Sea State 9 (14+ metre waves). That is about 45+ft per wave. It went on for two days straight. It also happened to be the most fun I ever had at sea. Meal lines were non-existant so I could get food quickly, and my rack happened to be on the side we had a natural list to, so I was held in my rack instead of being thrown out (most comfortable sleep of my life). No stupid exercises in the middle of the night (too dangerous), and working was actually pretty fun (also fairly dangerous).
You don't really realize just how large the waves are until your living in it, all alone in the middle of the Atlantic, really puts in perspective how small your ship is.
