It's the anniversary of 3 major battles: Agincourt, the charge of the Light Brigade and Leyte Gulf

VA Viper ^ | 10/25/2016 | HarpyGoddess

[harpygoddess]

Lots more at the link.

[Riley]

I might have to dig up my DVD of Brannagh’s production of ‘Henry V’.

[ClearCase_guy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRj01LShXN8

Great, great speech by Henry at Agincourt. The whole film is a joy.

[BlueLancer]

"This is also the anniversary of the "the charge of the Light Brigade" at the Battle of Balaclava on 25 October 1854. Although of relatively little importance in the larger context of the Crimean War, Balaclava has emerged as its most famous encounter because of Tennyson's poem, which immortalizes the brave, but foolhardy, British light cavalry assault on massed Russian guns and infantry at the end of a shallow valley near Sevastapol. Of the 673 men who started out, 118 were killed outright, and only 195 remained on horseback at the end of the encounter."

For an exceptionally fine satiric explanation of the Charge of the Light Brigade (along with descriptions of The Thin Red Line and the Charge of the Heavy Brigade as well) no book is better than Flashman at the Charge, that portion of the autobiography of General Sir Harry Flashman that deals with the Crimean War.

[CrazyIvan]

“The world wonders.”

[BlueLancer]

For a fine book on the Battle of Leyte Gulf, particular the gallant defense of Taffy 3 off Samar, read b>Last Stand of the Tin-Can Sailors, describing the heroic actions of a half-dozen destroyers and destroyer/escorts attacking the overwhelming mass of the Japanese Navy.

[BlueLancer]

Make that "Last Stand of the Tin-Can Sailors"

[Bull Snipe]

My old man was on the BB48 West Virginia at Surigao Straits.

[GMMC0987]

And It’s Saint Crispin’s day!

[jjotto]

My father was on a battleship at Leyte, then on to Okinawa.

One of the very few things he said about emotions was the resignation and gloom of everyone aboard ship, expecting to become casualties in the upcoming invasion of mainland Japan.

The atomic bombs were a blessing to everyone, including the Japanese.

[RatRipper]

My Dad was there on the carrier Ticonderoga.

[fella]

All 3 battles were lost by reckless charges.

[alarm rider]

Thanks.

[silverleaf]

ditto!

[BwanaNdege]

Thinks for the link!

Great, great speech!

[Portcall24]

I strongly agree. And if anyone reading has wondered where the term Band of Brothers they will learn if from the film.

[BwanaNdege]

[willk]

My Dad was at Leyte Gulf. Wish I would have talked to him more about his experiences when he was alive.

[Chgogal]

Why is there no movie of Leyte Gulf?

[Skooz]

Excellent choice. Probably my favorite Henry V ever.

But, geez, Ken, that hair.