Uncle George Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 . I put loads of work into finding him, but went down the wrong road, looking at medics et al. Wild goose-chases are surprisingly informative in any case. It`s amazing what you learn by accident. I know what you mean. When after what seemed like hours, blind alleys, false starts, incorrect guesses, to finally solve it: I thought, "Gordon Bennett!" EDIT: sorry I meant to say, not Parr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverforget Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 I have to confess that after all that work, a similar, if not quite so restrained expletive came to my lips when I saw pigeons....... I must admit, it`s one that often accompanies pigeons in the same sentence at the best of times. I take it I was way off the mark with Parr then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 I have to confess that after all that work, a similar, if not quite so restrained expletive came to my lips when I saw pigeons....... I must admit, it`s one that often accompanies pigeons in the same sentence at the best of times. I take it I was way off the mark with Parr then? My chap became a brigadier general when he was still in his 20s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverforget Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 It`s not Townshend is it? Doesn`t really look like him. I`ve got the feeling I`m off down one of those long and winding wrong roads again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 My chap became a brigadier general when he was still in his 20s. That's got to be Bernard Freyberg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 It`s not Townshend is it? Doesn`t really look like him. I`ve got the feeling I`m off down one of those long and winding wrong roads again. No. Gallipoli, Pozières; caused a controversy in/after the Second war. That's got to be Bernard Freyberg I fear not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverforget Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 After switching my search to WW2, and Singapore, guess who`se name leapt out at me from off the page: Lieutenant General Henry Gordon Bennett! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Bennett_(general) His contribution to our war was impressive. Cheeky one, U.G. Gave us the answer as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 And the link to Sword of Honour ist Ivor Claire's escape from Crete despite orders to continue fighting as long as possible and then surrender. Well done NF! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverforget Posted 20 February , 2015 Share Posted 20 February , 2015 Thanks. I had a hunch that we were looking for Allied Generals involved in surrenders, but was focusing on WW1. Singapore was my first port of call in WW2, but I could see it wasn`t Percival. It was quite a surprise to see Gordon Bennett on the page. Anyway, I can`t resist another outpouring of generosity, so I will add that my writer/pacifist was initially rejected on medical grounds for the Army, but nevertheless ended up as a Brig` General. Already had an extensive military background. His books are amongst the most well known on the subject of WW1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Anyway, I can`t resist another outpouring of generosity, so I will add that my writer/pacifist was initially rejected on medical grounds for the Army, but nevertheless ended up as a Brig` General. Already had an extensive military background. His books are amongst the most well known on the subject of WW1. Is it Frank Percy Crozier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neverforget Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Right first time,Colin. Well played. Author of Brass hat in no-man`s land, and The men I killed. Quite a character. Executed several men, including his namesake, James Crozier, after promising his mother that he would look after him. Crozier later recalled how the youngster was secured to a stake 10 yards from the firing squad. "There are hooks on the post; we always do things thoroughly in the Rifles. He is hooked on like dead meat in a butcher's shop. His eyes are bandaged - not that it really matters, for he is already blind." After the shooting, as Frank Crozier recalled, life resumed as normal. " We march back to breakfast while the men of a certain company pay the last tribute at the graveside of an unfortunate comrade. This is war." Frank Crozier didn't want James' family to discover how he had died. He tried but failed to pass off his death as 'killed in action'. Frank Crozier`s death received much national attention, in contrast with the secret demise of his namesake two decades earlier. More on him here: http://spartacus-educational.com/FWWcrozierF.htm And now, unfortunately I must depart from the action, and away to bed. Dreaded night-shift beckons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Right first time,Colin. Well played. Author of Brass hat in no-man`s land, and The men I killed. Quite a character. Executed several men, including his namesake, James Crozier, after promising his mother that he would look after him. Crozier later recalled how the youngster was secured to a stake 10 yards from the firing squad. "There are hooks on the post; we always do things thoroughly in the Rifles. He is hooked on like dead meat in a butcher's shop. His eyes are bandaged - not that it really matters, for he is already blind." After the shooting, as Frank Crozier recalled, life resumed as normal. " We march back to breakfast while the men of a certain company pay the last tribute at the graveside of an unfortunate comrade. This is war." Frank Crozier didn't want James' family to discover how he had died. He tried but failed to pass off his death as 'killed in action'. Frank Crozier`s death received much national attention, in contrast with the secret demise of his namesake two decades earlier. More on him here: http://spartacus-educational.com/FWWcrozierF.htm And now, unfortunately I must depart from the action, and away to bed. Dreaded night-shift beckons. Yes, from what I've read about him he must have been a rather nasty piece of work, quite a butcher and, as it says here, not the kind of soldier who let ethical niceties get in the way of military success https://greatwarfiction.wordpress.com/2012/03/26/croziers-a-brass-hat-in-no-mans-land/ And it's also quite interesting what Robert Graves had to say about him: https://greatwarfiction.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/robert-graves-on-crozier-and-on-war-fiction/ Cheers Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Now who is this? He fits 2 categories 1) Firsts & Lasts 2) Poets' names He is also German (as was the poet, who is not unknown in the English-speaking world and who also served in the GW) Cheers Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cdr Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 now who is this then ? born in Brussels ....... but Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 now who is this then ? born in Brussels ....... but Carl Is he Weygand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Now who is this? image19.jpg He fits 2 categories 1) Firsts & Lasts 2) Poets' names He is also German (as was the poet, who is not unknown in the English-speaking world and who also served in the GW) Cheers Colin Erich Kaestner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Erich Kaestner? Yes, it is indeed Erich Kästner, supposedly the last living veteran of the German GW army. He died virtually unnoticed in 2008 aged 107. He does, however have a Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_K%C3%A4stner_%28World_War_I_veteran%29 The poet, author and journalist Erich Kästner, known primarily these days for his children's stories, was a gunner in the GW and blamed his heart condition on the brutality of the training he had to endure. Well done once again UG! Cheers Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveMarsdin Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 I think Uncle has Carl's man. Interesting reading about Weygand's "parents". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Right then. Who is this ? ? ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ph0ebus Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Yes, it is indeed Erich Kästner, supposedly the last living veteran of the German GW army. He died virtually unnoticed in 2008 aged 107. He does, however have a Wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_K%C3%A4stner_%28World_War_I_veteran%29 The poet, author and journalist Erich Kästner, known primarily these days for his children's stories, was a gunner in the GW and blamed his heart condition on the brutality of the training he had to endure. Well done once again UG! Cheers Colin Tarnation! I would have actually gotten this one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Right then. Who is this ? ? ? Well it looks like he may have picked up couple of carneval medals along the way..... But I guess they are probably religious charms? Russian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Well it looks like he may have picked up couple of carneval medals along the way..... image20.jpg But I guess they are probably religious charms? Russian? You have asked a question; and made a false assumption. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wigwhammer Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Just trying to tickle out a clue or two... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Just trying to tickle out a clue or two... Yes, Russian. That was not the false assumption to which I alluded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle George Posted 21 February , 2015 Share Posted 21 February , 2015 Well it looks like he may have picked up couple of carneval medals along the way..... image20.jpg But I guess they are probably religious charms? Russian? So, Russian - yes; Medals - undeniably; 'Carnival' medals/religious charms - some or all will not be either. The false assumption remains ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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