Hello Darkness…

| December 14, 2016

…my old friend The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. (Often attributed to Edmund Burke, Irish Statesman, circa 1770). The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time. (British Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey, British Foreign Secretary, 1914). We […]

London Scottish Film Stars

| March 5, 2015

Actors and the Great War Seemingly one just has to ferret about the internet and much will be revealed simply by coming up with the right combination of search terms. Recently I was reviewing none other than Basil Rathbone’s Great War service, with the Liverpool Scottish, when I learned of three actors who served during […]

Private John Parr, Middlesex Regiment

| August 21, 2014

Snapshot of the Great War 21 August 1914 John Parr is believed to be the first British soldier killed during the Great War on 21 August 1914. Parr served with the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment and is thought to have been killed while on a reconnaissance mission. However, there has been growing debate about his fate […]

B.C. DAY & THE GREAT WAR

| August 1, 2014

B.C.’s 1914 Canadian Expeditionary Force Battalions On August 4, 2014 the 100th anniversaries of the Great War will be launched.  On this day in 1914 Britain declared war against Germany launching itself and the nations of the Commonwealth into the fray. As mentioned, in an earlier blog, this date will be the start of numerous […]

The 100ths are Soon upon Us

| July 25, 2014

Searching for the Great War 100 Years Later “Some wars name themselves…This is the Great War. It names itself.” Maclean’s Magazine, October 1914, p. 53 “Every intelligent person in the world knew that disaster was impending and knew no way to avoid it.” H.G. Wells (Writer) “…an old world of swords, lances and bugles would […]