Category: History

Martello Towers

The coastline of the British Isles was defended in the 19th century by Martello towers. One, in Aldeburgh in Suffolk, belongs to the Landmark Trust – you can rent it and stay there. James Joyce stayed in another Martello, in Sandycove near Dublin. Why are they called Martello? Signore Martello was a Venetian architect who… Continue reading Martello Towers

Indian Summer and Belisha Beacons

The tortuous and blood-stained road to Indian independence and partition is uncannily like the path taken in other countries. The most important political leaders are Mahatma Gandhi (Inner Temple), Mohammad Ali Jinnah (Lincoln’s Inn) and Jawaharlal Nehru (Harrow, Trinity College Cambridge and Inner Temple) …  and Lord Mountbatten who, like my cousin Richard, went to… Continue reading Indian Summer and Belisha Beacons

Living on Malta

Who wrote this to his wife? I wish I knew how to flirt with other women, and especially with my wife. I wish I’d sown more wild oats in my youth, and could excite more than I fear I do. I wish I wasn’t in the Navy and had to drag you out to Malta.… Continue reading Living on Malta

Santa Cruz Islands

The red pin marks the Santa Cruz Islands. It also represents the end of one story and the beginning of another. The first is about James Goodenough.

Jackie

Why leave the comfort of your home to go and see a film that has a storyline you are familiar with? I didn’t see Sully about the ‘plane that crash landed without loss of life on the Hudson River in 2009. I have been to Jackie, although the story is even more familiar.

Book Reviews

You scan the book reviews? Some are plodding, dull recitals of the plot – actually this is good – saves reading the book; others are masterful.

Two VCs

Next month a memorial stone will be laid at the Shepherd’s Bush war memorial on Shepherd’s Bush Green in memory of First World War recipient of the Victoria Cross and native of Hammersmith, L/Sgt Frederick Palmer.

Published
Categorised as History

The Zimmermann Telegram

An article in The Spectator last week by Sinclair McKay sent me to a bookcase to pull this out. His piece was about Old Etonian, Nigel de Grey, who decoded the Zimmermann Telegram in 1917 with a Presbyterian pastor, the Rev William Montgomery. 

Published
Categorised as History