Posted on 06/17/2015 1:49:20 PM PDT by the scotsman
Thanks for your service.
Because, as Nately’s whore’s grandfather said, “It is better to live on your knees than it is to die on your feet.”
-— Catch-22
If I'm not mistaken, the British 8th Army under Montgomery in North Africa was largely composed of Dominion forces -- Indian, South African, Australian and New Zealand.
My impression of events was that Montgomery tended to "protect" his British forces -- perhaps mindful of the slaughter they'd experienced in WW I. As a consequence, the Dominion forces bore the brunt of the fighting.
They also fought in WW I— England owed them a debt!
[WARNING! GROSS] You might change your mind.
Hey there, just pulling your leg.
What band were they in?
Playing the stupid/ugly American.
Burns, Thomas and Yeatts.
A Scott, a Welshman and an Irishman.
Studied them in highschool. It’s probably why they never did much for me.
Shakespeare put me to sleep.
Here in the US, I would hazard Yeatts is the best known.
Kipling, on the other hand, I loved for whatever reason.
No accounting for taste I guess.
Remembering my history, Indian troops fought valiantly in both world wars.
I remember a documentary about WWI that showed Indian soldiers going into battle barefoot.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a Gurkha regiment one of the most decorated regiments in the British Army?
I heard from an old Marine that he would rather face a company of Japanese rather than a squad of PO’ed Gurkha’s.
You’ve got me going now.
I’m going to have to revisit Burns, Thomas and Yeatts.
Maybe I’ll appreciate them now.
Yes, the Gurkhas are an incredible regiment, beloved by the British people. Frankly, most British would be happy if the entire army was full of them.
I like Burns (he was born just a few miles from where I am typing this), love Thomas and like Yeats.
My favs:
Thomas.
‘Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.’
‘And death shall have no dominion.
Dead man naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.’
Shakespeare is wonderful ONCE you understand the language, which is what puts young people off, and teachers don’t tackle. He is not as accessible as the writing of the last 100-200 yrs.
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