The Gallipoli campaign ended in disaster today in 1915. The idea was to hit 'the soft underbelly of Europe' by attacking the Turks via Constantinople (that's Istanbul to you, Eleven Eff Eight) but it all went horribly pear-shaped. First the Royal Navy chickened out believing there were hundreds of mines across the Straits called the Dardenelles (there were only four left when they came to this decision). So the army had to go in alone and landed from rowing boats while being machine-gunned from the dunes. The Turks were stiffened by crack German troops and the Allies never had enough men, guns or ammunition (especially high explosives) because these things were need at the Western Front in France.
Ironically the best thing about Gallipoli was the withdrawal, accomplished in one night, in total secrecy. The enemy had no idea we'd gone. Those responsible? Winston Churchill - ridiculous, ambitious ideas, ill thought-out; Lord Kitchener - too mean with the hardware; General Sir Ian Hamilton, local commander - no clue.
In other news ...
Boris Yeltsin (see yesterday's blog) announced today in 1991 that Russia wanted to join NATO. He also wanted flying pigs, three pink elephants and life membership of the Bullingdon Club.
Showing posts with label Boris Yeltsin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boris Yeltsin. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 December 2012
Wednesday, 19 December 2012
19th December
It was a bad day for Russia today in 1991 when Mikhail Gorbachev resigned. The architect of perestroika and glasnost, he handled the collapse of the USSR with flair and skill. He was replaced by a drunk, Boris Yeltsin.
In other news ...
Ralph Richardson was born today in 1902. One of the best known classical actors of his generation, he excelled in Shakespearean roles but also took to films like a duck to water. I stand to be corrected, but I think he was the only actor to play William Gladstone in the history of the cinema. He could also be seen roaring around the Home Counties on a powerful motorbike when in his seventies. To our minds (the collective known as the Carpenter-Maxwells, that is) his best cinema moment was as the Supreme Being in Time Bandits. But that's us for you.
In other news ...
Ralph Richardson was born today in 1902. One of the best known classical actors of his generation, he excelled in Shakespearean roles but also took to films like a duck to water. I stand to be corrected, but I think he was the only actor to play William Gladstone in the history of the cinema. He could also be seen roaring around the Home Counties on a powerful motorbike when in his seventies. To our minds (the collective known as the Carpenter-Maxwells, that is) his best cinema moment was as the Supreme Being in Time Bandits. But that's us for you.
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