March 29, 2006
Black Watch no more.
Horrible news from
Silent Running; one of the most famous regiments of all military history has gone the way of the dodo.
The famed Black Watch has been disbanded.
As SDB says, this would be like the US Army disbanding the "Big Red 1." Or the Navy without an Enterprise.
*sigh* What ARE they thinking?
Posted by: Wonderduck at
06:23 PM
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Not only that.....
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment - the only commoners regiment, the regiment with the most true battle honours in the world. The only regiment to be awarded two sets of royal colours. Who at the beginning on the Gulf war made the fastest Armoured deployment in military history (4 days from notification in Germany to battlefield). The regiment that was the pattern to almost all armies of the world - the one that bares the motto of Virtutis Fortune Comes (Fortune Favours the Brave) Will on the 6th of June 2006 (like the Black Watch) be amalgamated in the Yorkshire Regiment.
And why do I mention this?
Because on the 11th April 1983 a snot nosed youth joined their ranks and joined a family. He saw action in Belize, Northern Ireland and much later with the 3rd Bn in Bosnia.
He learned from that young age that the regiment wasn't about fighting for queen and country - it was about fighting for the history, family and honour of a regiment that like the Black Watch made a huge impact on world history.
The same Regiment with a solid sporting history in Rugby - producing no fewer than 11 international players and winning the Army cup no fewer than 15 times. Through it's history 50 players have been produced by the regiment to represent the British Army
He left regular Army and joined the Territorial army to continue service to his regiment as many did and with them fought in Bosnia.
After rising to the rank of colour sgt (a rank close to that of God in the British infantry - God being Sgt.Major)he was placed in charge of Somme Coy's Sniper platoon.
On the sun kissed morning of the 11th April 1983 he stood on an ancient parade square feeling the breeze flow past him and wondered how many thousands of men had stood where he stood and paid the price for doing so.
Within years he knew, those training months in 3 section, Gibraltar platoon were a distant memory and of all 3 section only one was still alive.
The 6th of June, 12 days shy of the Regiments most important day and that of it's most precious battle honour for 'Waterloo' the 'Dukes' melt into the history books never to return.
Oh who was that one man? - that was me
Posted by: Simon at April 01, 2006 01:25 PM (ntCeu)
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Oh just as a point to note. The Black Watch is 281 years old.
The Duke of Wellington's Regiment is over 300
Posted by: Simon at April 01, 2006 02:39 PM (ntCeu)
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I apologize, Simon, I didn't mean to slight the other regiments being 'retired' at that time.
At least amongst the amateurs here (he says, raising a wing), the Black Watch has "the Name," not to mention the color scheme that works great for redheads.
But the King's Own Scottish Borderers, the Royal Scots, the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the Highlanders, and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, as well as the Black Watch are all disappearing, as well as Simon's Duke of Wellington's Regiment.
Proud units all. Bravo to all who served in them.
Posted by: Wonderduck at April 01, 2006 04:48 PM (Ffvoi)
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Nah, I'm just gutted like all the others... at least there will be a trace of most of us as we become amalgamated in new regiments, however some regiments like the Kings own scottish borders (KOSB)part of the original King's Division along with the Dukes will be completely deleted.
However, it has caused major trouble within the British Army as a whole and I will email you details of that - as it's amazing to the point that some regiments have been totally grounded because of the fear of trouble in the ranks.
Not good considering the enitre army is stretched beyond capacity. Yet we're still required to operate in more than 80 countries at present.
So need for the apology - I just felt the need to shout for them.
Posted by: Simon at April 01, 2006 05:27 PM (ntCeu)
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March 26, 2006
"It's all part of my rock 'n' roll fantasy..."
Sorry for the lack of posts recently. Along with the job at Duck U., my fantasy baseball league has it's auction in (glances at clock) one hour and of course
BATracer is sucking time away as well.
So if anybody ever says to me "you're living in a fantasy world," I can honestly say "yes, but I'm having fun."
Now all I have to figure out is if Pujols is better than Alonso...
Posted by: Wonderduck at
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March 07, 2006
I'm an Anime Character!
Well, at least I've got the eyes for it at the moment.
See, I had to get new glasses desperately. The ones I'd been wearing were SEVEN YEARS OLD, and things in the distance were beginning to get a tad blurry. So off I trooped to Lenscrafters, where they were a little surprised to see a duck needing glasses, but like the pros they are, they sent me back to the OptyDoc.
Who had to give me the nasty eyedrops that blow the pupils WAAAAAAY big.
I love the new glasses, I think... I'm not sure, I really can't see them very well right now. Everything is REALLY bright, and my eyes look like an anime character's: lots and lots of black, almost no iris visible.
I have no idea what twisted mind would make me an anime character... maybe something from Gainax, perhaps... but there are people out there who spend $50 a pair for special 'blackout' contacts that do the same thing that I've got going on right now.
Okay, I really shouldn't be looking at the screen, so I'm packing it in for the night. Thanks for reading this latest (dull) entry at Wonderduck's Pond.
Tomorrow, back to F1 talk... I promise.
Posted by: Wonderduck at
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I would probably be the angry younger brother in Akira. Certainly given the lack of nicotene at the moment.
Posted by: flotsky at March 07, 2006 08:16 PM (6T2ID)
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March 06, 2006
"...and we'll see you tomorrow night!!!"
Good luck, Kirby.
1108pm Update
Kirby Puckett didn't look like a baseball player. He was short and squat, with a tendency to put on weight in the offseason.
He may not have looked like a baseball player, but he was one. In fact, he was a Hall of Fame centerfielder for my adopted team, the Minnesota Twins. He was born and raised in Chicago, same as me.
In 1991, the first summer I was in Minnesota, he led the Twins to a World Series Championship. Indeed, the title of this post was spoken by Jack Buck after Puckett single-handedly won Game 6 of the World Series with a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 11th inning.
His career was cut short when he lost vision in his left eye after being beaned by Dennis Martinez.
Kirby Puckett passed away tonight, following a massive stroke.
Posted by: Wonderduck at
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I know you liked Kirby. He was one of a kind and seemed to really love the game.
Posted by: Duckydoodle at March 06, 2006 05:27 PM (wZLWV)
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He was on the short list of players I really would have liked to meet, no question. Just a darn shame.
(ps- Duckydoodle is the Official Mother of Wonderduck's Pond)
Posted by: Wonderduck at March 06, 2006 07:58 PM (wZLWV)
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March 04, 2006
Simon Sez...
As some of you may remember, one of the readers of The Pond is Simon. Simon's job has taken him to the Middle East repeatedly, and he's scheduled to be in Bahrain soon... like in time for the race!
If, indeed, that happens (he's not sure it will), he's graciously volunteered to be F1 UPDATE!'s on-the-spot color commentator.
For now, however, I've received a missive from Simon regarding the weather in those parts. I've left the letter unedited, save for some formatting and the like.
Take it away, Simon!
more...
Posted by: Wonderduck at
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Oh my...140 degrees. I need a cool drink just to read this.
Looking forward to your report, Simon!
Posted by: Mallory at March 05, 2006 09:00 AM (y6n8O)
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I've been told by Simon that commenting isn't working for him. He's not ignoring you, Mal...
Posted by: Wonderduck at March 05, 2006 05:46 PM (y6n8O)
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March 03, 2006
Shattered Sword
It was called "The Incredible Victory" and "The Miracle".
It was hailed as 'the turning point of WWII.'
It all hinged on 'the fateful five minutes.'
It was 'The Battle That Doomed Japan.'
IT was The Battle of Midway. And everything you know about it is wrong.
more...
Posted by: Wonderduck at
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Hey Wonderduck,
Thanks very much for the kind review, and Tony and I both are grateful that you enjoyed the book and found it interesting.
Very Best Wishes,
-jon parshall-
Posted by: Jon Parshall at March 14, 2006 04:29 AM (CLn+n)
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March 02, 2006
The Most Clever Thing.
I had nothing at all to comment on today. Then I got to The Pond, and discovered that I had been commentspammed.
Again.
Which made me weary.
Hopefully, I got them all before anybody saw them... after all, it's not like I've got 3000 readers or anything (I might have to, y'know, be witty then). But geez, I wish that they could be at least INTERESTING commentspammers.
Is that too much to ask?
Oh, the title? I dunno, but it got your attention, no?
Posted by: Wonderduck at
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I authorise each comment manually on my blog, which helps to avoid that. I would like to say that I implemented it to avoid the same problem as you, but in fact it was because mrsfb said something fairly rude in a post, and I couldn't suss out how to delete it at the time!
Posted by: flotsky at March 02, 2006 08:24 PM (6T2ID)
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Mrs Flotsky said something
rude? That charming and delightful saint?
I think you exaggerate, my friend!
Posted by: Wonderduck at March 03, 2006 04:03 AM (+rGmJ)
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Trust me, when she is in the mood she could offend sailors.
Posted by: flotsky at March 08, 2006 05:51 AM (Dl1rW)
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Bah! Thin-skinned beasts, the lot of 'em. She's never been less than charming with me!
Posted by: Wonderduck at March 08, 2006 10:05 AM (+rGmJ)
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