View allAll Photos Tagged bamf
🎭 Cosplayer : links pending
📷 Photographer : Facebook Page | Instagram
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Darker shot, used a 40 Degree Grid on this shot.
Also turned off the B800 on the right.
Left this pretty unedited, just tweaked a few things in PS.
Leave me a testimonial!
Check out his MySpace!
Strobist info
🎭 Cosplayer : links pending
📷 Photographer : Facebook Page | Instagram
🔗 Thank you for linking back when sharing!
🎭 Cosplayer : links pending
📷 Photographer : Facebook Page | Instagram
🔗 Thank you for linking back when sharing!
Bored and happened to have some aviators and a respirator, which for some reason makes one feel like a bamf
Zu den Ereignissen in der Sivesternacht rund um Dom und Hauptbahnhof in Köln schreibt der Kölner Express (express.de) heute unter anderem:
Köln - Wer waren die Menschen auf dem Bahnhofsvorplatz in der Silvesternacht?
Wer bildete den Mob, aus dem heraus die Sex-Angriffe auf Frauen stattfanden? Das wollte die Öffentlichkeit von Polizeipräsident Wolfgang Albers (60) wissen. Albers behauptete, es gäbe dazu keine Informationen. Man wisse nicht, woher diese Personen kamen.
EXPRESS liegt nun exklusiv der Bericht des Einsatzhundert-schaft-Führers vor, dessen Beamte in der Nacht am Kölner Hauptbahnhof, auf den Ringen, der Altstadt und an den Brücken eingesetzt waren.
In dem Papier, das am 2. Januar, also einen Tag vor der Pressekonferenz des Polizeipräsidenten mit Oberbürgermeisterin Henriette Reker verfasst wurde, heißt es:
"Gegen 22.48 Uhr konnten im Bereich Roncalliplatz/ Domplatte/Bahnhofsvorplatz mehrere tausend Personen (genaue Verifizierung nicht möglich) mit Migrations-hintergrund (vermutlich mit Flüchtlingsbezug) festgestellt werden."
Bedeutet: Man hatte bereits da erste Hinweise darauf, wer die Angereisten waren.
Zwei Seiten weiter werden Einsatzzahlen aufgeführt: 71 Personalienfeststellungen, 10 Platzverweise, 11 Ingewahrsamnahmen, 4 Festnahmen, 32 Strafanzeigen.
Der Einsatzleiter schreibt weiter:
"Bei durchgeführten Personalienfeststellungen konnte sich der überwiegende Teil der Personen lediglich mit dem Registrierungsbeleg als Asylsuchender der BAMF ausweisen, Ausweispapiere lagen in der Regel nicht vor."
Das heißt: Die überprüften Personen waren offenbar Flüchtlinge, deren Nationalität der Polizei frühzeitig bekannt waren.
Warum Albers auf der Pressekonferenz nichts zu den Einsatzzahlen und den festgestellten Personalien sagte, wird er NRW-Innenminister Ralf Jäger in seinem Bericht erklären müssen.
073/365
Inspired by Mitchell Davis.
I don't have a fake mustache.. So I changed it to bamf/gangster :)
last picture is icky. ignore my face.
Post it monster is a lot harder than you think, haha.
I like the second picture. a lot. it's jimmy, not jerry ;)
This turned out alright, not really better than I was expecting, but it's decent
To see it better, view large. It's huuuuge but yanno. It looks fine compressed or large.
I have a headache. and have to go write an english paper. Bleh :/
The Memorial service and dedication of the war memorial cross at St Matthew's Church Thorpe Hamlet, took place on the September 25th 1921, including roll of honour. I assume this was at the old St Matthews, down off Riverside Road, and that the Cross has subsequently been re-located.
The new church was built in 1982 to replace the old Victorian church (built 1851 and now converted to offices) on St Matthew's Rd and St Leonards 'Chapel of Ease' on Ketts Hill (built 1907, demolished in 1981)
www.thorpehamlet.free-online.co.uk/page_st_matthews.htm
*****Panel 2*****
C D Fowler
No obvious match on CWGC. There is a Charles Samuel who was born Trowse.
Possibly
Name: FOWLER, CHARLES SAMUEL
Rank: Corporal
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 9th Bn.
Age: 36
Date of Death: 26/09/1915
Service No: 3/10656
Additional information: Son of Samuel and Mary Fowler, of 2, Vulcan Cottages, Trowse, Norwich; husband of Rosa Esther Fowler, of Wroxham Rd., Sprowston, Norwich. Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 30 and 31. Memorial: LOOS MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2942670
No match on Norlink
There are at least two possible on the 1911 census, but no obvious match for a C D. The likely match for Charles Samuel is listed as a Charles and by the time of the census was recorded in the St Faiths District. While that’s unlikely to be Wroxham Road, it could well be the nearby North-East fringes of the city.
The other Charles was born Norwich circa 1891 and is still resident in the city.
However, only Charles S is obviously on the 1901 census, recorded as a boarder at 68 Patteson Road.
The baptism records include:
Charles, born 4th September 1886, baptised St Peter Parmentergate 26th September 1886. Parents are Thomas, (a Labourer) and Maria, family reside at Normans Buildings.
Charles Arthur, born 28th June 1890, baptised 18th July 1890 at St Peter Parmentergate. Parents are Thomas, (a Packer) and Grace, family reside at Watsons Yard. (Probably the circa 1891 individual on the census).
Charles Frederick, born 13th November 1901, baptised 25th December 1901 at the Octagon Unitarian Chapel. Parents are John and Elizabeth.
The 9th (Service) Battalion was formed at Norwich in September 1914 as part of K3, Kitcheners Third Army. In September 1914 it was attached to the 71st Brigade, 24th Division. The Battalion was assembled around Shoreham during September 1914 and it then spent 11 months in training after formation. Uniforms, equipment and blankets were slow in arriving and they initially wore emergency blue uniforms and carried dummy weapons. The battalion crossed to France between 28th August and 4th September 1915 where they joined X1 Corps and were sent up the line for the developing Battle of Loos. They disembarked at Boulogne almost 1000 strong, but 8 days later were reduced to 16 officers and 555 other ranks. The battalion lost a total of 1,019 men killed during the First World War. It marched from Montcarrel on the 21st September reaching Bethune on the 25th, before moving up to Lonely Tree Hill south of the La Basée Canal. They formed up for an attack in support of 11th Essex but were not engaged. At 03:30 on 26th September orders were received to assist 2nd Brigade on an attack on quarries west of Hulluch. At 05:30 the Battalion were in what had, the day before, been the German front trenches. The attack was launched at 06:45 under heavy fire, especially from snipers, after a full night of marching on empty stomachs and little or no progress was made before the Norfolks sought cover in the trenches. At 16:00 2nd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment passed through to attack. At 19:00 the Germans opened fire and the Norfolks were forced to fall back to trenches in the rear to take cover before being relieved by the Grenadier Guards whereupon they returned to Lonely Tree Hill. They had lost 5 officers killed and 9 wounded, with 39 other ranks killed, 122 wounded and 34 missing, a total of 209 casualties sustained in their first action
forum.planetalk.net/viewtopic.php?t=4844&sid=b3e7614b...
F Fox
No obvious match on CWGC, Military Genealogy and Norlink
Possibles from the 1901 census include
Francis W. aged 1, recorded 1 Primrose Place, Unthank Road. Parents William and Agnes
Frank Norman, aged 6, born Norwich, recorded Station Road, Briston. Parents Herbert and Mary
Fred, aged 15, recorded 69 Prince of Wales Road. Parents John and Sarah.
Fred G. aged 18, recorded 40 Gloucester Street. Parents Samuel & Clara
Freddy, aged 8, recorded 1 Martineau Lane. Parents Henry & Mary
Frederick C, aged 23, recorded at 46 St Leonards Road, Parish of St Matthews. Frereick is staying with his aunt and uncle Thomas & Georgianna Wilson. He is single and working as a Print Compositor.
Frederick B. aged 6, recorded at 22 Geoffrey Road. Parents are Benjamin and Ruth.
Frederick, aged 23, recorded at “Willows”, Yarmouth Road, Thorpe next Norwich. He is single and working as a Commercial Traveller and Oil Machinery. Parents are Edward and Maria.
Frederick G. aged 34, recorded at 23 Newbegins Yard, St Marys Plain. Wife Ellen J.
C E Francis
Of the three C E Francis’s on the CWGC database, two have links with other parts of the UK. The only one with no additional information was a Private Charles Edward in the 1st/9th Battalion London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) who died 20/09/1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=749952
There are at least 6 Charles Francis’s of a likely aged to have served in WW1 on the 1911 census and with a Norwich connection. There could well be potential other individuals with different first names.
R T Frary
Name: FRARY, ROBERT THOMAS
Rank: Private
Regiment: Essex Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn
Date of Death: 14/04/1917
Service No: 41540
Memorial Reference: Bay 7. Memorial: ARRAS MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1557627
The Military Genealogy site lists Robert as born Thorpe Hamlet, resident Norwich.
A picture of Robert while he was still serving with the Norfolk Regiment can be seen here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
There is no obvious match for Robert on the 1901 census. The 1911 census has a Robert, born Norwich circa 1886, who is recorded in Norwich still.
This horrendous battle cost the 1st Battalion a vast number of casualties, 17 officers and 644 other ranks were either killed, wounded or went missing. Later it was established that 203 soldiers were made prisoners of war, most of them were wounded and 16 of them died in captivity in Germany
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...8&hl=monchy
Thu., Apr 12, 1917
The Bn. marched from billets at FOSSEUX to ARRAS (abt 10 miles) and on arrival was at once ordered to proceed with the remainder of the 88th Bde to relieve the 37th Bde near MONCHY-LE-PREUX. The Bn arrived at ARRAS at 3pm and left to carry out the relief 4 miles off at 6.30pm. Owing to intense congestion on the road and other delays the relief was not completed until 3am on 13th.
Prior to leaving ARRAS orders had been issued for an attack on the German line in company with the 1st NFLD to be made on the 13th at an hour to be notified later.
The attack was to be made from an Assembly trench which was to be dug on the night of the 12/13 by 2nd Hants, 4th Worcs were in support to the attack.
Owing to the late hour at which the Brigade relief was completed & consequent impossibility of making adequate preparation for the attack the operation was postponed.
At daylight therefore on the 13th the Brigade was situated as shown in the attached map.
At 11am orders were received to make the attack at 2pm. These orders also were cancelled a few minutes before Zero.
During the night 13/14 the 2nd Hants dug the required assembly trench and operation orders were issued to the Bn. by Lt. Col. Halaham. App. B.
At 5.30am on 14th the barrage fell and the battalion left the trench & carried out the assault.
In spite of a certain weakness of the barrage the objective was gained and by 6.30am all companies had reported that they were busy digging in.
In the mean time "X" Coy detailed to form a flank guard to the thence attacking Coys had at once come in contact with the enemy.
Therefore acting under Capt. Foster's orders No. 5 Platoon got into shell holes at about 0 1b 8.1 and opened fire. No. 8 Platoon being checked by machine gun fire from ARROW COPSE No 7 was directed to outflank this copse with the result that No 8 could again get forward , capturing the 2 machine guns & driving the enemy out of the copse. The small wood at O 2a 7.5 was also in hostile occupation but was cleared by Lewis Guns & Rifle Grenades. The Company then moved forward to the N. end of the copses where all platoons came under fire from a line of hidden machine guns. The company now began to form the chain of strong points as detailed in operation orders.
From this point no further definitive news could be gathered as to the fate of this company. A few men eventually rejoined the battalion & from their statements it is certain that all Platoons their proper positions where they were at once attacked by very superior German forces & were finally overwhelmed in these positions at a time between 6.30 and 7.30 am.
The main attack by the remaining 3 Coys having reached their objective by 6.30 am started to dig in and reports were sent back to Bn. Hqrs that large forces of the enemy could be seen in the BOIS du SART & the BOIS des AUBE PINES and that all covering parties were sent forward were at once coming under heavy machine gun & rifle fire.
It became apparent rapidly to the Coy commanders that an immediate counter attack was being prepared and this also was reported to Bn. Hqrs. These reports were confirmed by two Coy commanders in person returning wounded from the main attack. [Capt Tomlinson Capt Caroline]
Steps had already been taken to get the Artillery on to the points where the enemy was reported to be massing but owing to the destruction of the wires by shell fire it was an hour before the guns opened fire.
By 7.30am the counter attack had fully developed in all its strength of at least 9 battalions. The weight of the attack seams to have come from the N. East & thus fell on "X" Coy. This Coy in spite of a stout resistance was gradually overwhelmed. Vide app. C.
From 7.30 onwards no reports, messages or wounded men arrived at Bn Hqrs or the Aid Post it is therefore apparent that "X" Coy having been overrun the hostile forces got between MONCHY & the attacking Companies of the Essex & NLFD. No men have returned from these Companies.
As soon as it became clear that MONCHY itself was being attacked patrols were put out from Hqr party to hold street barricades in MONCHY. No German succeeded in entering MONCHY. It must be remembered that during all this time the town was under an intense enemy barrage thus rendering it almost impossible to reinforce or support the two Battalions & making the work of the respective Hqrs parties extremely arduous.
Except for a certain amount of support from the 4th Worcester & 2dn Hants they fought on alone & these two battalions broke up a German attack designed not to drive them back but to retake MONCHY itself.
Appendix C. contains a copy of the Special Order issued by the G.O.C. 88th Bde.
Of the Officers who went into action the following is killed : 2/Lt. L. Cousins.
The following are wounded :- Capts R.E.G. Caroline, J. Tomlinson, Lieuts ?.W.J. Taylor
R. Eastwood. 2/Lt's H. Ockendon, S. ?. Andrew, F.W. Barker.
The following are missing :- Capt H.J.B. Foster, Lt C.R. Brown, 2/Lts A.L. Piper, S.N.R. Eyre, C.H. Feline H.R. Newth, P.W. Coombs, L.F. Portway; G.W. Turk.
Total casualties 17 officers & 644 OR. out of a strength of 31 officers & 892 O.R.
Sun., Apr 15, 1917
The remnants of the Battalion were now withdrawn & went to billets in ARRAS.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=594...
F G Gay
Name: GAY, FREDERICK GORDON
Rank: Serjeant
Regiment: Suffolk Regiment
Unit Text: 15th Bn.
Age: 26
Date of Death: 06/11/1917
Service No: 320082
Additional information: Son of Robert and Mary Gay, of 18, Stracey Rd., Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich. Native of Oulton, Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: M. 53. Cemetery: BEERSHEBA WAR CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=644575
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match for Frederick on the 1901 census for England and Wales. The 1911 census has a Frederick Gordon of the right age, born Briston, Norfolk and recorded in the Aylsham District.
The divisional engagement includes Capture of the Sheria Position. 6 Nov 1917.
Part of the Third Battle of Gaza.
The once-formidable Gaza-Beersheba line was now looking vulnerable. At dawn on 6 November, the next blow was struck by the British when all three divisions of Chetwode's XX Corps attacked on a broad front near Sheria, about the midpoint of the Ottoman line. The initial objectives were reached by 1 pm and, while the 74th Division was held up on the right, the 10th and 60th Divisions were through the Ottoman defences by 2.30 pm, with the 60th Division capturing the railway station at Sheria. It was planned that the 60th Division would capture the Ottoman position on the hill of Tel el Sheria during the night, but the Ottoman forces fired a nearby ammunition dump during their retreat, making the attack unadvisable.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_Battle_of_Gaza
The Turkish left consisted of a series of fortified positions protecting Sheria, running from Hareira, to Rushdi and then to Kauwukah at the east of the line. The British attack began at 5 a.m. on 6 November. By 4.30pm the eastern two positions had been captured. Hareira and Sheria itself fell early on 7 November.
With their left broken, on 7 November the Turks pulled out of Gaza.
www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_gazaIII.html
Further action was seen by the 24th Welsh during the attack, and subsequent capture, of the Sheria Position on 6 November. The Battalion giving a good account of its self when sent forward to assist men of the Suffolk regiment who were being counter-attacked.
www.hellfirecorner.co.uk/westlake/Westlake4.htm
S R Gibbs
The only S R Gibbs on the CWGC database is a Sidney Rufus, of the 7th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. Sidney died on the 26/11/1917 and is commemorated on the CambraI Memorial.
www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1753138
Military Genealogy has Sidney listed as born Gorleston on Sea but no place of residence is recorded.
There is a picture of Sidney on Norlink
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
Notes
Private Gibbs was born on 19th January 1890, at Gorleston-on-Sea, the son of John Charles Gibbs, of 119 Church Road, Gorleston. He enlisted on the 2nd November 1915 and was killed on 26th November 1917
There is no obvious alternative match to Sidney on the 1901 or 1911 census. One possible Red Herring is a 76 year old Sidney Gibbs, born Thorpe Norwich, who is recorded as an inmate of an institution at Northgate Street, Great Yarmouth on the 1901 census. However he is recorded as a single man, but it does mean there was at least one Gibbs family in the area.
The Battalion was involved in the Capture of Bourlon Wood at this time.
W J Grimmer
Name: GRIMMER, WILLIAM JOHN
Rank: Gunner
Regiment/Service: Royal Field Artillery
Unit Text: 380th Bty. 158th Bde.
Age: 34
Date of Death: 28/06/1918
Service No: 170552
Additional information: Husband of M. J. Grimmer, of 45, St. Leonards Rd., Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: II. E. 12. Cemetery: HOUCHIN BRITISH CEMETERY
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=512866
No match on Norlink
There is no obvious match on the 1901 census. The 1911 census has a William born circa 1884 Costessey, Norwich who is recorded in Norwich.
His Military Index Card has him down as Gunner 70552.
Some of the confusion around the history of the unit lies in that there were two 158th Brigades of the Royal Field Artillery, the first being re-named in 1917.
The brigade was formed at Heytesbury on 13 April 1917 under Lieutenenat Colonel H. E. Hanson DSO. Batteries under command were 2/1st Shropshire RHA, 2/1st Berkshire RHA, 380 Battery RFA and 381 Batter RFA. The Brigade Ammunition Column was found from men of the two RHA batteries.
The period June-July was spent in frequent moves between the lines at Givenchy and rest at Houchin.
www.1914-1918.net/Diaries/wardiary-158BdeRFA.html
B Grissell
Only match
Name: GRISSELL, BERNARD SALWEY
Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: Cdg. 1st/5th Bn.
Age: 37
Date of Death: 19/04/1917 Awards: D S O
Additional information: Son of the late Thomas de la Garde Grissell, of Redisham Hall, Beecles, Suffolk; husband of Olive Grissell. Served in the South African war.
Grave/Memorial Reference: XXIII. C. 5. Cemetery: GAZA WAR CEMETERY
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=650204
No match on Norlink
The 21 year old Bernard, born Mickleham, Sussex and already a Lieutenant in the Norfolk Regiment, was recorded on the 1901 census at Number 6, Third Avenue, Hove. This was the household of his widower father, Thos, (Thomas?) D,G, (aged 48, Living on own means and originally from Chepstow, Monmouthshire). His siblings in the household are:-
Margaret H…………..aged 20.….born Mickleham, Surrey
Thos………………….aged 22.….born Mickleham, Surrey…B U Cantab Law Student
The Grissells also have 6 live in Domestic Servants.
The 1911 census does record a Bernard “Selwey” Grissell, born Dorking Surrey, circa 1880 but the Genes Re-united transcription has no current location recorded.
Bernard is also remembered on the Mickleham War Memorial
www.leatherheadlocalhistory.org.uk/Mickleham-War-Memorial...
The obituary for his daughter, Veronica Bamfield, Travel Writer and Broadcaster, notes that she was born in Norwich in 1908 and that her father was killed in Palestine while leading the 1st/5th Norfolk Battalion.
www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-5103795.html
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1341614/Veronica-Bamf...
(Veronica does appear on the 1911 census but strangely enough, her location isn’t recorded on the Genes Re-united transcription either)
An online site, The Peerage, has a passing reference to Bernard as the father of Rosemary Grissell, who married Vice-Admiral Sir John Michael Villiers. Rosemary, born Felixstowe circa 1911 is another family member for whom the Genes Re-united transcription has no location recorded).
thepeerage.com/p22503.htm#i225024
Bernard is on a family tree here
reocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1657/Tree_Index/1800-1930_...
The first stage of the attack came on the 17th April. The three infantry divisions moved forward at dawn, and by 7.30 am were at their chosen positions, where they entrenched. The Turks did little to interfere, though one of the British tanks exposed itself unnecessarily and was put out of action by accurate Turkish artillery fire. Clearly one of the tasks which had been successfully accomplished by the Turkish side in the three weeks since the first battle had been accurate artillery registry of all the visible places in the area where necessarily an attack would come.
(Page 45)The second stage of the attack, after a days work on trenches and dug-outs, went as might be expected, considering it was made by soldiers walking over open ground towards well entrenched and protected men armed with rifles and machine guns. An artillery bombardment of an hour or so, including the gas shells, and including fire from the ships at sea off Gaza, seems to have woken up the Turks rather than intimidated them - there was still insufficient British artillery to provide a really serious bombardment. The Turks did not actually notice the gas shells: higher air temperature seems to have encouraged rapid evaporation.
The 54th Division set-off behind this bombardment to attack the entrenchments of the Turkish 53rd Division along the Beersheba Road.
(Page 49) From Brigade HQ, Lieutenant Buxton was sent forward to find out what was happening.
(Page 50) (He subsequently reported on the attack on the redoubt) “held it for some time until the ammunition was spent. No support came and so those that did not get away, sixty in all, were captured in the Turkish counter-attack. My second tank, under Captain Carr, had done well in getting into the redoubt. The first tank had had a direct hit and was burning. It was obvious that our attack here had failed and most of our men had been killed. So I waited a bit longer, and when things were a shade quieter, I got out of my shell hole and ran back over the rise. There I came upon about 40 men of our brigade of all regiments, Major Marsh who was O C 8th Hants was there and Lieutenant Wharton of the 4th Norfolks. These men where just stragglers and all collected there. We decided it was no good going on then, so we started to dig ourselves in. This was all quite early in the morning - about 9. Marsh had a telephone line so I phoned back to Brigade HQ and gave them all the news.
(Page 51). There were a lot of dead men and wounded all round us. Some of the latter we got behind our lines, in case the Turks tried a counter -attack, We were about forty men and one Lewis Gun, and no-one on our left or right for several hundred yards. The place we were holding was the top of a rounded hillock. The Turks kept us under pretty good machine gun fire all day. Marsh and I lay in a rifle pit and ate dates and biscuits for a bit. We allowed no firing, as we wished to keep our ammunition in case of a counter attack.
About 4 in the afternoon the 5th Suffolks were sent up to support us and consolidate the position we held. This was really a great relief. About seven the Brigadier came out after dusk and saw the place. He ordered us to retire during the night right back to our starting point, for it would not have been possible to hold this advanced position as long as there was no-one on our flanks at all”
The strongpoint from now on was called Tank Redoubt.
This was an attack on a single strongpoint and a strectch of trenches little over a mile long, by four battalions. It had made no progress after being expelled from the strongpoint, and had only reached so far because of the bravery of the tank crew, (three men). The last reserve of the 163rd Brigade, the 5th Suffolks, which was at last sent forward, as Buxton noted with relief, late in the afternoon. With no more troops available, the brigadier had no option but to pull all the survivors back.
Extracts from “The Battle for Palestine 1917” by John D. Grainger
books.google.co.uk/books?id=3SVvryoR2A0C&pg=PA50&...
On 19th April the Norfolks took part in a disastrous attempt to take Gaza. The 1st/5ths suffered 643 casualties.
www.oldbuckenham-pri.norfolk.procms.co.uk/pages/viewpage....
A Gunn
Military Genealogy lists an Albert Ernest Lane Gunn who was born St Giles, Norwich.
Name: GUNN Initials: A E L
Rank: Private
Regiment: Grenadier Guards
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: 25/09/1916
Service No: 25006
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. 81. Cemetery: GUARDS' CEMETERY, LESBOEUFS
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=542956
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour confirms Private 25006 was an Albert E L Gunn.
The 25 year old Albert Ernest Lane Gunn, born Norwich and working as a Wines & Spirits Merchants Clerk, was recorded on the 1901 census at St Catherines Cottage, Surrey Street, (next door on the census to Notre Dame Convent). This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 66 and an Heraldic Artist from Norwich), and Martha Lane, (aged 62 and from Norwich). Other children living with them are:-
Christopher John………aged 19.…..born Norwich…..Carpenters Apprentice
Florence Kate R……….aged 27.…..born Norwich……Drapers Assistant
Lucy Mary Rosetta…….aged 21.…..born Norwich……Board School Teacher
Monday 25th September 1916. Day 87
The Battle of Morval began today lasting until Sept 28th.
Lesboeufs
1st Bn, Irish Guards and 2nd Bn, Grenadier Guards advanced and entered Lesbouefs with little opposition.
forum.irishmilitaryonline.com/showthread.php?t=9058&p...
War Diary, 2nd Grenadier Guards, WO95/1215:
24/9/16
Battalion moved from bivouacs in Bernafay Wood to front line - right being on Ginchy-Les Boeufs Road).
25/9/16
Trenches very narrow - men shoulder-to-shoulder, unable to sit down.
12.35pm - own barrage opened and battalion advanced in two waves of two companies each. It seemed that the Germans knew of the attack as they shelled heavily within a minute of the advance. The wire had not been cut by the artillery and ways had to be cut through in the face of heavy fire.
1.35pm - moved forward to edge of village of Les Boeufs.
2.35pm - marched through village and gained eastern end.
The new position was shelled by the Germans during the evening.
1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=138128
H W Harbord
Name: HARBORD Initials: H W
Rank: Private
Regiment: Norfolk Regiment
Unit Text: 1st Bn
Date of Death: 22/06/1915
Service No: 3/10018
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. B. 5. Cemetery: PERTH CEMETERY (CHINA WALL)
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=103470
Military Genealogy lists a Henry William Harbord who was born South Heigham, Norwich.
No match on Norlink
The Great War Roll of Honour confirms the entry on the CWGC database relates to a Henry Harbord.
The 16 year old Henry, born Norwich and employed as a Plumber, was recorded on the 1901 census at 164 Marlborough Road in the Parish of St. James. This was the household of his parents, Henry,(aged 43 and a Plumber from Norwich) and Hannah, (aged 44 and from Ludham).. Their other children are:-
Clifford…………aged 4.……….born Norwich
Mable……………aged 11.……..born Norwich
Marjorie…………aged 6.………born Norwich
Maud…………….aged 19.……..born Norwich……….Boot Fitter
May………………aged 21.…….born Norwich……….Dressmaker
Mildred………….aged 11.……..born Norwich
J Hibbert
Name: HIBBERT, JOHN
Rank: Private
Regiment/Service: Australian Infantry, A.I.F.
Unit Text: 2nd Bn.
Date of Death: between 06/08/1915 and 09/08/1915
Service No: 1958
Grave/Memorial Reference: Sp. Mem. C. 117. Cemetery: LONE PINE CEMETERY, ANZAC
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=604093
Identified from picture on Norlink.
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
Norlink notes
Private Hibbert was born at Gibson's Buildings, Norwich in 1891, the son of W. & E. Hibbert, 6a Kett's Hill, Norwich. He enlisted in March 1915 and was killed in action at the Dardanelles
The 1901 census has an 8 year old John, (which would not tie in with the year of birth shown on Norlink), who was born Norwich and who was recorded at 2, Lollards Pit, in the Parish of St Matthews. This was the household of his parents, William, (aged 38 and a Waterman from Wells, Norfolk) and Emma, (aged 26 and from Norwich). Their other children are:-
Emma…………aged 6.…………..born Norwich
John…………..aged 8.……………born Norwich
Rose………….aged 2.……………born Norwich
William………aged 9.……………born Norwich
Lone Pine, an action fought on the southern flank of the Anzac (q.v.) position at Gallipoli on 6-9 August 1915, which has become famous as a glorious debacle. The operation was planned purely as a diversion aimed at drawing Turkish reserves away from a major attack to be launched from the northern end of the perimeter (see Hill 971). It involved the Australian 1st Brigade dashing across the lower half of a wide flat hump known as the 400 Plateau and seizing a network of trenches along its eastern edge. In preparation for the assault, the intended objective was pounded by slow artillery shoots at intervals over the preceding three days.
At 4.30 p.m. on 6 August the rate of fire of the guns was increased, and an hour later the troops scrambled out of the trenches in which they had assembled and rushed forward with the setting sun behind them. They were virtually upon the enemy positions before the Turks were able to bring effective fire to bear, but only now discovered that the trenches were roofed over with pine logs which prevented their entry. While some began tearing at the logs to create openings through which to get at their opponents, the majority continued on past the main parapet to the open communication trenches in the rear. Most men jumped down into these and began fighting back towards the covered firing line, using mainly their bayonets to deal with the enemy garrison as they went. A few went on further still, until they stumbled into a depression known as the cup which sheltered the enemy's battalion headquarters and support units. Here they were stopped by Turkish troops who quickly came up to hold this ground.
While the attack had achieved its primary goal within half an hour of its commencement, the Australians now in possession of the main Turkish trench-line found themselves in a desperate struggle to maintain their hold. Parties of the troops quickly threw up sandbag barricades to block any enemy approach along communication trenches or continuations of the trenches they were manning. As darkness fell the Turks made their first attempt to push the Australians out using hand grenades, and this effort continued without relent for the next three days. So fierce was the fighting which followed that the 1st Brigade and the 3rd which reinforced it suffered 2,277 casualties; Turkish losses were claimed as 5,000. Seven Victoria Crosses were awarded for this battle.
Even though the Australians still held the ground they had won when fighting here subsided on 10 August, in every other respect the battle was a disaster. Apart from being immensely costly as a feint, it had actually succeeded in drawing towards this sector of the line major Turkish reinforcements. But as soon as the enemy realised that these were not needed at Lone Pine they were readily at hand to deal with the main British attack as this developed-thereby helping to frustrate the overall plan behind the August offensive.
Extracted from the book produced by Chris Coulthard-Clark, Where Australians Fought - The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles, Allen and Unwin, Sydney, 1998, pp. 107-108.
desert-column.phpbb3now.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=204
The enlistment papers of John Hibbert into the 5th Reinforcements of the 2nd Battalion on the 23rd January 1915 and his subsequent Army career can be viewed at the Australian Archive here;_
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/Imagine.asp?B=5457152
His place of birth is given as Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich and at the time of his enlistment he was 22 years and 1 month old. His next of kin is given as his father, at 54 Vincent Road, Thorpe Hamlet. He was working as a Labourer.
His physical description is that he was 5 ft 6 and 3/4inches tall, his complexion was dark, his eyes blue and hair brown. Religion is CoE and his only distinguishing mark is a vaccination scar.
He embarked at Sydney on the 10/04/1915 on HMAT Honoria bound for Gallipoli.
He joined his battalion in the field and was initially posted missing during the 7th to 14th August
There is a report from the Graves Unit that he is believed to be buried in Lone Pine Cemetery along with several other Anzacs whose identification could not be verified. At a subsequent visit, the graves could no longer be found.
W Holdstock
Military Genealogy has a William Holdstock born Hathfield, Kent and resident Norwich.
No obvious match on the CWGC database.
No match on Norlink
There are 17 William Holdstock’s shown on the 1911 census as originating in Kent, but none of them come from Hathfield or have moved to Norwich.
S J Hollidge
Name: HOLLIDGE, SIDNEY JAMES
Rank: Air Mechanic 1st Class
Service: Royal Naval Air Service
Unit Text: R.N. Air Station (Felixtowe).
Age: 19
Date of Death: 15/02/1918
Service No: F/27033
Additional information: Son of Joseph and Clara Hollidge, of 65, Rosary Rd., Thorpe Hamlet, Norwich.
Grave/Memorial Reference: 30. Memorial: CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
CWGC www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=3047511
Sidney can be seen here
norlink.norfolk.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_013_PictureTitleIn...
Norlink notes
Air Mechanic Hollidge was born in Norwich, 4th January 1899. He was educated at Wells and Norwich schools. He was killed in action in the North Sea off the Belgian coast in a seaplane, 15th February 1918
The 2 year old Sidney, born Norwich, is recorded on the 1901 census at 6 Alan Road, King Street, in the Parish of St Peter Southgate. This is the household of his parents, Joseph, (aged 32 and a Railway Engine Stoker from Norwich) and Clara, (aged 31 and from Norwich). Their other children are :-
Ada………..aged 10.………..born Lowestoft
Elsie………aged 8.…………born Lowestoft
Gladys……aged 4.………….born Lowestoft
Joseph…….aged 12.………..born Lowestoft
HOLLIDGE, Sidney J, Air Mechanic 1c, F 27033, RNAS Felixstowe, 15 February 1918, flying in Curtis H12B Large America flying boat, crashed off Belgian Coast, killed
www.naval-history.net/xDKCasAlpha1914-18H2.htm
The loss of this particular plane had one of those claims to fame that means it has a bit more detail about it on the net - one of the co-pilots was the first American Aviator officially lost in combat in WW1.
Albert Dillon Sturtevant was the first aviator in either the army or the navy to be brought down in action in the service of the United States.
On the morning of February 15, 1918, the large British seaplane of which he was one of the pilots was ordered, together with another seaplane, to convoy a fleet of merchant vessels and destroyers from England to Holland. While waiting for their convoys, they were attacked by ten German machines. The other British plane escaped, but Sturtevant, as pilot, was obliged to carry on a running fight, in the course of which he brought down at least two of his opponents. Eventually, however, he was forced over towards the Belgian shore, from which German land planes came out to join in the battle. With sixteen Hun machines attacking him, Sturtevant had no hope; he, with his crew of another pilot and three men, was brought down, and no trace of either plane or bodies has ever been found. Ralph D. Paine, who describes the contest in his book, The Fighting Fleet says -
"This was the finish of a whole year's training and preparation, at home in France, in England, to be shot down with never a chance in his first contact with the enemy. So blind and illogical and pitiless is war, and yet the life of this Yale athlete and gallant gentleman was not thrown away. He dared and paid the price, flashing out of life like a meteor, in all the glory of audacious youth."
When America entered the war, Sturtevant was at Harvard Law School; but he at once volunteered, and, after being trained in the School of Aviation at Huntington, Long Island, received his Ensign's commission and was ordered overseas, sailing in September, 1917. After about two months in France in intensive training on seaplanes, he was detailed by Admiral Sims to the British Naval Flying Station at Felixstowe, England.
Additionally from the same forum source
I'm not really sure the source, got this from a LiveJournal comic book scans group, but it's SO CUTE!!
»Ibrahim. 36. Aus Syrien. Seit einem Jahr. In Deutschland.« In der Küche von Moabit Hilft am Berliner LAGeSo (Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales) steht ein schlanker, gepflegter Mann in schwarzer Winterjacke und antwortet mir in kurzen, präzisen Sätzen auf deutsch.
Ibrahims Heimat ist »al-Hasaka« in der nordöstlichen Region Syriens. Als er dort vor mehr als einem Jahr über den Irak in Richtung Europa floh, verließ er Eltern, Geschwister und einen gelähmten Bruder. Als Taxi-Fahrer hatte er in der Region sein Geld verdient – ein Beruf, den ihm das BAMF ein Jahr später nicht abnehmen würde.
Doch weil er nicht für die Assad-Regierung in den Krieg ziehen wollte, floh er. 18 Tage ingesamt 3000 € kostete ihn der harte Weg, den er nicht selten zu Fuß und meist mit Fluchthelfern bestritt.
Erst in Hamburg, dann in Berlin angekommen fand er sich mit über 1000 Menschen in einem Camp wieder. »Frauen auf der einen, Männer auf der anderen Seite« erzählt er mit müdem Blick. Das Camp in der Turnhalle sei nur mit vier Toiletten und vier Duschen ausgestattet. Ganze neun Monate harrte Ibrahim aus.
Doch als dann zusätzlich 140 kranke Geflüchtete förmlich in die Halle gedrückt wurden, konnte er nicht mehr. Mit sieben Leidensgenoss*innen entschloss er sich, vor der dem Camp, das eine umfunktionierte Turnhalle war, für bessere Bedingungen zu demonstrieren.
»Dann sind wir hierher gegangen, zum LAGeSo, um beim Amt um Rat zu bitten.« Ohne Erfolg, denn ihnen wurde empfohlen, in einer ähnlich großen Halle in Berlin-Tempelhof Obdach zu suchen.
Ibrahim und seine Freund*innen reichte es. Sie entschieden sich, 12 Tage vor dem LAGeSo auf dem nackten Boden zu nächtigen und starteten einen 3-tägigen Hungerstreik. Wiederum ohne Erfolg. Stattdessen wurden sie von aggressiven Securities drangsaliert und täglich von Polizist*innen aufgefordert, zu gehen.
Bis heute lebt Ibrahim nun mit seinen Freund*innen und 400 weiteren Geflüchteten in einer Notunterkunft in Tempelhof. In ganz Berlin sind es laut Deutschlandfunk immer noch über 21.000 Geflüchtete, die wie er in Notunterkünften leben müssen – und der Frust steigt bei allen.
Ibrahim klagt über quälende Rückenschmerzen, die ihn mittlerweile dazu zwingen, nicht auf einer Matratze zu schlafen, sondern auf dem Boden der Unterkunft. Als ich ihm die Hand zur Verabschiedung reiche, sitzt er längst auf einem Stuhl, da er nicht lange stehen kann. Ich schaue ihm in die Augen und hoffe, dass er bald in eine bessere Zukunft blicken kann.
__
Wenn Du willst, dass ich weiterhin über das Thema Flucht schreibe und das Leben von Geflüchteten dokumentiere, kannst Du mich gerne via paypal.me/martingommel oder Überweisung (IBAN: DE60 6605 0101 1020 2083 26 –BIC KARSDE66XXX dabei unterstützen). Ich danke Dir für Dein Vertrauen.
Everyone's favourite teleporting German X-Man, thrown together in Lego because my daughter asked me to*.
It's a far from perfect rendition; the robot head just looks plain wrong, but it makes use of what limited pieces I have, and I haven't cheated with Photoplus or Blu-Tak :-)
*She's big into 'Wolverine And The X-Men' on ABC at the moment, and has a crush on Nightcrawler :-)
🎭 Cosplayer : links pending
📷 Photographer : Facebook Page | Instagram
🔗 Thank you for linking back when sharing!
WELCOME TO CAMP CRYSTAL LAKE Window Display at BAMF Cafe at 1821 North Charles Street in Baltimore MD on Thursday afternoon, 20 July 2017 by Elvert Barnes Photography
Follow BAMF Cafe at www.facebook.com/BAMFcafe/
Follow BALTIMORE ARTSCAPE FESTIVAL at www.facebook.com/Artscape.Baltimore
ARTSCAPE Set-up Project
Elvert Barnes 36th BALTIMORE ARTSCAPE FESTIVAL 2017 docu-project at elvertbarnes.com/Artscape2017
🎭 Cosplayer : links pending
📷 Photographer : Facebook Page | Instagram
🔗 Thank you for linking back when sharing!
Be jealous. Be very jealous.
Just got back from the faiir! Hellz yeahh.
And so about my new job. Well, it's called Croutons, and it's a sandwich/salad place. I'd say my job description would be in between a waitress, and someone who works at a fast food restaurant. Anyway, it's pretty fun, and I get dank, free food every day! And the pay isn't so bad, and I make a few tips.
Not what I want to spend the rest of my life doing, but I need money for my trip to Cambodia!
Oh yeah guys, did I tell you about my trip??
January 1st I leave for Cambodia for 2 months, with 3 weeks of traveling afterwards.
Ahahgladhgaldhg I'm soooooooo excited.
:D
Really?
Am I REALLY doing this again?
What the %&$@ am I thinking?
The 52 week project was a failure. Sure you have more time to set up the perfect shot that you want, but you also keep putting it off. You also don't get on Flickr as often and you miss out on a lot of great shots from good peepz.
I think it is going to be another incredible year, and I have made such good friends on this from my last 365 project. I guess I just want to keep that going. And I want to share it with all of you.
Hopefully I can pull it off. There were definitely some days last time where I just wanted to throw the project out the window.
But I learned so much about myself, and so much about photography.
Which is good, because its quickly becoming my career path.
I am gr-8-ful.
Hope I can do it again, and I hope you can come along for the ride.
-Gabriel
Armageddon: Or all you have belongs to us
by: bamf 2 years, 6 months, 6 days, 23 minutes ago
Email Review print review
So here is my take on Armageddon.
What does the film Armageddon have to do with a New World Order?
Why did the astronauts change suits when weight is your biggest enemy when traveling to space?
When did Bruce Willis become a horse?
Why am I so paranoid of communism?
All is answered in..
Bamf here rematerializing from the void..
I didn’t see Armageddon when it first was released in theatres.
I remember the ad blitz that came with it and I became a bit jaded to the film.
It was not until a year later, when I was living in Denali National Park in Alaska that I finally saw the film.
That was about 7 years ago.
I remember certain aspects of the film striking me as funny.
I was living with hippies at the time.
They always talked about going into the woods, starting communes and raising their young colorblind.
I do not believe in communism.
In an idealistic world where man has no need for collecting food, or building shelter then sure. It might work, maybe.
But to get to that point we would need massive social reconstruction.
An event that would bring the world together in one unifying goal.
Armageddon in my opinion is a tale of how this radical social change could happen.
Over the years I have watched the movie from time to time and little things just stuck out to me, they kept building in my subconscious and after viewing it again I felt I had a pretty good case.
It does not explore whether the change would be for the good, nor do I think of it as a communist manifesto.
In this post though I will explore certain themes and ideas that support my theory, and by the end, if you watch Armageddon again, you may very well see a completely different film through my eyes.
George Orwell has been on my mind a lot lately and his ideas go hand and hand with what I will present. In this when referring to the government I will call them “The Party.”
Enjoy fair reader and take this with a certain tongue in cheek approach.
Show me the problem
Eddie Griffin is our first look into this world.
His dog attacks a toy Godzilla, which was a nod to the films competitor that year.
The street vendor and Eddie begin bickering about the actions of the animal.
The vendor is trying to make money in a capitalistic society by peddling his goods in a free market.
Having an animal destroy said wares hurts him through his livelihood.
His materialism is what causes a fight between the two citizens.
But the fight is quickly shown to be irrelevant by the first meteorite shower of the film.
The vendor is killed, Eddie is spared.
Their bickering becomes a non-issue once a threat is established. It matters not what religion, creed, or color they are.
There is a blind threat that will kill them all.
That fear will put all of human kind in line for whatever may be needed to maintain our safety.
Fear is your only god.
Control, and the illusion of choice
Once the party has determined what must be done to obliterate the threat. Bruce Willis’s character Harry Stamper is sought out.
This is when the movie first starts to play with its fascist undertones.
A group of military personnel request Harry to come with them to the U.S.
They first ask, he refuses, and then they tell him he really has no choice in the matter.
As a matter of “National Security” he is ordered by the President to come wherever they may please.
Harry explains if he goes then his daughter goes, which if you think about it, the party could care less about. If by her coming it makes Harry happier fine, but regardless this man is going to serve the parties needs.
The illusion of choice is what the party depends on to keep its citizens in line with its needs.
Harry and his daughter are given the entire truth, the truth that is hidden from the rest of the world only because they control the equipment that has the ability to track such an incoming object.
Once again, control is the parties’ greatest asset.
Harry is asked to help them train their astronauts under tight time constraints.
“Asked”, I say.
Here is the thing.
You are told you are the only person who can save the world.
If you chose not to help, you die.
If you chose to help, you might die.
Is this really a choice that you are given?
Hurmmm, I could possibly die, or definitely die, what shall I do?
Harry of course “chooses” to help, bringing along with him his own crew.
When his drill assembly is revealed to him attached to the Armadillo, Harry is obviously taken back.
It is non functional, but The Party has it never the less.
They steal his drill design for proprietary knowledge that has now been assimilated by The Party for the “good of the people.”
Sounds like a totalitarian government to me.
Another interesting thing happens once Harry decides to help The Party.
There is a subtle change to the music of the film.
During the montage for Harry’s crew recruitment, Aerosmith covers “Come Together” originally composed by The Beatles.
And from that point forward the only music you hear save one time, is Aerosmith, and the films score.
That jingoistic, big movement pieces that Michael Bay is known for.
It’s the music of The Party.
A fascist or totalitarian government, in an effort to control the masses will revise or audit art, music, and books to fit their image.
From the second act on you get Aerosmith (State Approved obviously), or music of The Party. Originality is gone now that the government has complete control.
No Taxes ever
In a communism you serve the needs of the party.
Communism and Fascism go hand and hand.
If you do not give your self entirely to the ideals of The Party, you will be punished.
Control must be maintained at all times.
One of the miners, Newman, says to Harry “Guess I can’t let you go up alone,” and punctuates it very unsurely.
He isn’t happy about the idea, but guesses he can join in.
Oh Newman, poor Newman.
You just didn’t give it all, now, your future is not so clear.
Newman becomes subjugated the remainder of his time onscreen, and eventually is placed on a ship destined for death (but more on that later)
Once the crew has decided to join Harry, they produce a list of demands. No taxes ever are at the top of the list. And everyone is behind this idea.
The Party obliges, but there is a cost.
You don’t have to pay taxes, but you also have no control over your life anymore.
If The Party tells you to blow that rock up, you must conform.
In communism you won’t pay taxes, but you also are placed where you are needed no matter what your particular interest maybe.
Want to be a painter, sorry, we need you to turn the fields.
All in service to the people, who are slaves to The Party.
I don’t know when Ill be back again
Pop quiz.
When I write the word “Armageddon”, what color do you think of?
Come on work with me.
There you got it?
Here is your answer.
Red
What color do you associate with communism?
Red
What color are the savior astronauts wearing when they leave the planet?
Red
Well reddish orange actually.
But once in space, they change into a dull shade of grey uniform.
What?
So here we have our comrades, their existence known to the world now.
The saviors of humanity preparing to launch away into the stars.
They may very well die from their mission set upon them, they will die if they do not try to stop the meteor, and even if they save the world, they will still die.
But maybe some will get a high school named after them.
Anyways here our heroes go, ready to be lifted to uncertainty and what do they begin to do.
Sing.
It’s a sweet gesture by A.J to his fiancée Grace.
But the brainwashing that’s going on is really the villain here. It’s innocent enough, but think about it.
All of these unique individuals indentured into service by their government are now singing the same tune.
Symbolically they have lost their individuality and are marching to their deaths, all the while singing happily.
Comrade President
The President of the United States addresses humanity with an uplifting speech as the ships prepare to launch.
In between the lines listen carefully and you can also here the President stating the agenda of his communistic, new world order.
Here is the thing.
When the U.S.S.R first attempted communism they took an enormous risk.
The Russians knew they would not be able to compete in a global market for long.
The free market system will always outdo communism.
So the USSR was depending on themselves being the proverbial “spark” that would ignite the fire (communism) across the world.
(There is that red reference again.)
This didn’t happen, and the Soviet Union fell, hard.
They couldn’t feed their people, couldn’t cloth their backs, and couldn’t compete in a free Market system.
The President addresses the nation, the world, not as an American, but as a citizen of the world.
Goodbye nationalism, hello new world order.
The asteroid is now the spark.
The only way for communism to be feasible is if the entire world embraces it at once.
The U.S. starts the fire of a one world communistic government with hegemony.
And they say it all in their first message to the world, not a leader, but as a citizen.
The first stop illustrates this point beautifully.
The Russian space station Mir is a relic of the cold war.
Aged beyond its use, complete with a forgotten spacefarer who has spent 18 months in atrophy alone.
As the old symbol of communism is destroyed (MIR) by “joining” (literally and figuratively) with the U.S. the cosmonaut lives and a new era of world communism will be born.
Freedom and Independence
Two ideas vested in our culture are freedom and independence.
These coveted ideals are sacred to our nations spirit, and embodied in the two ships Freedom and Independence.
When I first saw Armageddon oh so long ago, this was the first idea I had that spawned all of this that you have read.
What do you lose when you are a communist?
Independence
What ship blows up in its final approach?
Independence
Independence is lost but Freedom goes on.
But at what price?
The crew unknowingly or not sold their souls for their government.
And a world where Freedom and Independence do not go hand in hand is a world I would rather have destroyed.
Think I’m still stretching?
There is even a nice little shot of the U.S. flag burning in the rubble of Independence.
Movies use symbolism to tell their stories.
This was not done unintentionally.
Our good comrade A.J. even shoots the flag up right before he knocks to the ground.
This is so blatant that they could have inserted a quick clip of “Big Brother” holding a gun to an eagle’s head and shooting it.
I can it now, blood splattering across the screen, feathers gliding to the floor.
The Judge
“Unlock the Judge” Harry says.
Ina communistic fascist regime, and yes, we are talking about fascism here.
Remember they were forced to do this.
In said regime there is no trial or due process.
Persons speaking against the party are made to simply disappear with all trace of their existence erased.
Orwell calls it “vaporizing” in his book 1984.
“The Judge” drill bit is now the only chance the crew has in burrowing far enough down into the asteroid to plant a nuclear device respectively.
If the bit succeeds in its task we live, if not we die.
This drill bit effectively becomes humanities judge, jury, and executioner.
You created it humanity, now will it save you?
We are getting close
The asteroid is getting closer to its zero barrier.
Fragments from the preceding string are now hitting earth.
Martial law is instituted after France is hit and 42 countries go into complete panic brought on by their fear.
They aren’t going to make it.
Fear is useful to steer the masses.
From chaos spawns a new order. The disorganized become eager for order, who will step in?
Your government that’s who. And one more piece is moved into place to bring the world into its new mothers arms.
All this time we are seeing the ineffectiveness of government.
The President is constantly given poor advice but still acts on it for what he perceives as being for the good of the people.
Cannot talk with the mining crew Mr. President? Fire the bomb they say, everyone is expendable. Even the earth, right?
Animal Farm
If you have not read Animal Farm then this reference may be lost. The moment has come to destroy the harbinger of death.
But who will stay to ignite it. I must re-iterate that the only reason they have to leave someone behind is because the President got bad advice in the first place.
So now someone has to die for his or her governments mistake.
Why not leave Rockhound, the space dementia afflicted pedophile who actually wants to die. Why? Illusion of choice.
Even when you want to die, when it is your “choice” the fascist wont let you.
Instead Harry takes the burden from A.J. and stays behind for the good of mankind.
That’s right.
Old Boxer, on his own “choice” will finish the job for the good of his comrades.
For All Mankind
Upon the crews return, they are back in their red jumpsuits. Those grey ones just don’t cut it on Earth apparently.
The asteroid is destroyed and humanity is saved.
On the patch that Harry gives to A.J. for the NASA administrator Truman there are some interesting words made prominent.
“For All of Mankind”.
This reminds the citizens through symbolism that Boxer, err, Harries sacrifice for The Parties survival.
Still not convince?
Don’t think the world ends in a one-world government?
Well as the credits roll they show it all to you.
It’s all there.
Look at the attending guests of A.J. and Graces wedding.
It drips with irony and symbolism. Not only do you see every astronaut who gave their lives for the party, but you also see something else.
There is what looks to be every head of state from every country around the world.
They are all toasting to their ability to dodge the bullet once again.
Their goals have been realized finally. Here these dignitaries all stand together, at a wedding, unified.
Do I have to spell it out?
The countries have been joined, effectively married together and the one world, communistic fascist regime has been born, with some freedom for a cost, and no liberty for anyone.
Fear
Do I think all of this was intentional?
Are they subtly trying to warm you up to the idea of this new world?
I don’t think so.
I think I’m reading into it more then anyone probably ever should.
That being said I feel my point has been made, if not here I go.
For the most part, nothing is an accident in a movie.
Action is character and whatever is shown to you has some significance to the rest of the stories.
But what should you take away from this, besides the fact that I have an overly analytical, paranoid eye?
Fear.
The shadow of fear is long and disparagingly cold. It blocks the light of truth and instead of stepping out of the shadow into the light.
We can become complacent and forget what that illumination once was.
We forget where that warmth comes from but we know we still want it. So instead, we wrap ourselves in a blanket of perceived safety from our cold fear. All the while forgetting we could just step into the light.
filed under: Movies • Columns •
Comments
A very thorough review and really great thoughts.
I agree with you on one point especially. You may be reading too much into it.
When we think about it, is Hollywood known for making movies requiring deep thinking, intellectual awareness and a knowledge of political history?
Perhaps your point of view is more unique then you realize.
At the same time, when it come to heroes, so many do not see a choice.
They just choose to be who they are and who they are is someone who can see a greater good and is willing to make that choice.
They don’t wake up one day and decide to become a hero.
They wake up and get a chance to be who they are on a larger scale.
Maybe it is as simple as the poem below states.
======================
To Lucasta, going to the Wars
TELL me not, Sweet, I am unkind,
That from the nunnery
Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind
To war and arms I fly.
True, a new mistress now I chase,
The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith embrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.
Yet this inconstancy is such
As thou too shalt adore;
I could not love thee, Dear, so much,
Loved I not Honour more.
Posted by Lufguy on 02/05 at 09:58 AM
Awesome thought process. You never know, maybe someone had something like this in mind while making the movie haha.
Oh, you must’ve had one HELL of a philosophy teacher!!
Great Article Bamf!
Posted by The Ryan on 02/05 at 03:23 PM
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