iL Dottore

Somebody once opined that much of Britain’s immediate pre-war and early war armaments were “bespoke craftsmanship in an era of mass production”

It is, but when does operational necessity slide into operational policy? Sometimes it’s hard to tell them apart (especially nowadays when the slightest resistance - even by something as minor as an old man with an antiquated shotgun - is met by having the entire area bombed and shelled flat)

Hence my comment “and certainly not as a matter of policy”

I enjoy reading history and one of the periods of great interest is 1921 - 1956. In reading about the run-up to the Second World War, I noted that the War Office (now the MoD) was issuing specifications for armaments that were still pretty much WW1/1920s armament specs. If I recall correctly, the phenomenally successful Spitfire was a development of a plane designed to win the Schneider Cup and only tangentially related to the War Office specs for a monocoque fighter. It does seem that the War Office was a slow learner, When the Cromwell tank was developed - first entering service in 1944 - it had vertical slab sided armour entering the fray when all the other tanks entering service in 1944 had sloped and rounded armour. Although, to be fair, some claim that the War Office with its specs was only being realistic about what British industry was able to produce - given the woeful lack of modernisation and a poorly trained workforce (see previous discussions about riveted vs welded ships and tanks).

Indeed. I think that most people would agree that single-handedly storming and taking out an enemy pillbox staying behind, facing certain death and providing covering fire so that your mates can escape to safety rescuing badly injured comrades under heavy enemy fire are courageous, if not heroic, acts - worthy of recognition and medals. The SS did that The Imperial Japanese Army did that Just because they were fighting for odious regimes doesn’t mean they weren’t as brave or courageous as any of the Allies. And like all armies they had their heroes and villains. Before people get too sanctimonious, let’s not forget the Allies also committed war crimes - certainly not on the scale of the Axis powers and certainly not as a matter of policy, but commit them the Allies did (and would have committed more had it been thought militarily necessary). When the SS shot prisoners of war during the invasion of France during a fast moving campaign, it was a war crime; when the Allies shot prisoners of war captured just behind the Normandy beaches, it was the exigencies of war. Really? Moral and ethical relativism is nothing new…

The behaviour of the Imperial Japanese Army and the SS had origins in three common factors: militaristic ultranationalism (deriving from a sense of grievance on how the country had been treated); a belief that what they were doing served a higher purpose - to be achieved no matter the cost; and (critically) they had the concept that certain people were less than human - whether by reason of religion, ethnicity or (in the case of the Japanese) for not following a code of martial conduct . And whilst not excusing what they did, it shouldn't be forgotten that these young men - who would have turned out totally unremarkable under any other regime - paid an incredibly high price for their devotion to their cause and their fanaticism. Casualty rates were appalling and they were as equally disposable for their regimes as their opponents and victims. As has been observed many times by others, far too frequently the most despicable and horrendous acts have been committed by totally unremarkable individuals "just doing a job" Never underestimate the destructive power of ideology.

Very true. But think of the appeal of "recycling" ancient statutes for the powers that be. If you can't nick a villain with contemporary methods, an unrepealed ancient law can be quite useful. And some of the punishments were quite draconian up to and including the death penalty. You could be hanged (if lucky, other methods of dispatch were used) for Knowledge of counterfeiting currency or deeds Shoplifting goods worth five shillings - (approximately £40 in today’s currency) (I bet the supermarkets would like to see that one back on the books) Writing a threatening letter to demand money Cutting a tree in someone else’s garden Wrecking a fishpond Forgery Impersonating a Chelsea pensioner Begging without a licence if you’re a soldier or sailor Stealing horses or sheep Arson Being out at night with a blackened face Strong evidence of malice in children aged 7-14 Destroying turnpike roads Stealing from a rabbit warren Writing a threatening letter Wiki notes that there were 49 pages of "Capital Statutes of the Eighteenth Century" divided into 21 categories (and I have noted in some places who could be "done" under such statutes): High treason, including offences against the Protestant succession and the Protestant establishment (TV Evangelists) Other offences against the State (a lovely little "catch all" category) Offences against public order, including riot and destruction of flood defences and bridges (students, just stop oil, eco warriors) Offences against the administration of justice (lawyers) Offences against public health (anti-vaxxers) Offences against public revenue, including smuggling (tax lawyers) Petty treason and murder (take your pick) Stabbing, maiming and shooting at any person (as above) Rape, forcible abduction and other sexual offences Simple grand larceny and allied offences (your basic scrotes) Burglary and allied offences (slightly more clever scrotes) Larceny from the person (more scrotes) Larceny and embezzlement by servants, Post Office employees, clerks and other agents (well, that's the UK's top management ranks nicely thinned out) Blackmail Offences by bankrupts Forgery of deeds, bonds, testaments, bills of exchange, stocks, stamps, banknotes, etc. Falsely personating another with intent to defraud (internet "influencers") Destroying ships to the prejudice of insurance companies Coinage offences (companies forcing you to pay by card) Malicious injuries to property, including arson (council planning departments) Piracy A really dedicated Government, unconstrained by such trivial matters as empathy or fairness, who gets these back on the statute books and enforces them rigorously would not only make a good attempt in sorting out the UK but would be lauded and reviled in equal measure by the British.

Not at all. I haven't forgotten your penchant for two wheeled motoring, but there are and there are I have never once imagined you may be one of these

I like it! But what happens if they don’t use original parts or - worse - just use duct tape/gaffer tape and body filler? And what about the perennial problem of “the big end”?

Having recently read a few books on the Hurricane and the Battle of Britain, I noted that the Spitfire and Hurricane were like the clichéd movie stereotype of the gorgeous blonde cheerleader and a her frumpy does-everything best friend. Everyone’s attention is on the blonde cheerleader (or in this case the Spitfire) and not the frumpy friend (the Hurricane). Needless to say both were superb aircraft that did everything expected of them (and then some). To continue the analogy further: towards the end in many such films, the frumpy friend looses her glasses, gets her hair styled , gets some makeup and a new wardrobe and voilà she’s a desirable, sultry brunette. Time for the Hurricane to “loose the specs’ (so to speak)?

Oh Dear Neil, I do feel for you, being swamped by insane motorcyclists. I’ve never much warmed to motorcyclists since that incident in Brighton in 1964, when I nearly had my brand new Carnaby Street suit smudged by a Rocker (fortunately, a handy beer bottle prevented any unwanted déshabillé). As a long time admirer of the The Royal Ramsey Enclave of The Sage and Venerable Priest Warriors of Donk (although not a Donkist myself*) I am sending you as a token of solidarity a couple of boxes of CCI GmbH’ “Tiger Claw” supa-tuff™ caltrops (guaranteed to stop anything up to a light tank). Use them wisely, dear Friend, and you will remain untroubled by those leather clad hooligans** Captain Cynical *I’m actually an Abbott-Commando in The Venerable and Revered Brethren of The Holy Legions of the Alpine Mist ** @PupCam obviously excepted!

Good God! If Britain’ forces start doing this and there is a concomitant increase in crime, it wouldn’t be implausible to see the rise of a “strongman” populist, who - when elected into office - becomes a de-facto dictator and radically changes how the police and the law operate. I think that there would be quite a few who would not look askance at martial law, drumhead tribunals and mobile firing squads. For many good reasons Britain has never really had a “proper” revolution (y’know, heads on spikes, Madame Guillotine, decimation of a social class, show-trials, that sort of thing). Has the hour come? What the UK needs is a couple of Judge Dredds 🤣😁🤣😳

ION It seems that I will have even more work to do in the near future: re-doing what I have already done. Not through any fault on my side, I hasten to add, but because one of the research teams sent me the “official” normal ranges for lab assessments, whilst using a completely different set of normal ranges in assessing their patients. The only reason it came to light is when I found a lab value that appeared incompatible with life - which I queried - only to be told that the lab finding was bang slap in the middle of the normal range. So all the analyses I have done will have to be redone and THAT cock-up will cost the sponsor several grand for me to sort out… I’m feeling slightly sorry for myself. I rapidly developed - yesterday - a most unpleasant eye inflammation, probably conjunctivitis, which did not abate with cold compresses and using artificial tears. So this morning I called my GP (got through on the 6th ring), explained the situation and asked for a consultation. The receptionist said she’d call me back and, lo-and-behold, five minutes later I get a call saying that my GP (yep, my GP, the same one I normally see [unless he’s on holiday]) can see me today at 09:45. God, I love the Bismarck System! Sometimes, when I “feel sorry for myself”, I indulge in comfort food (why not?), but now that I’m back on my diet, abnegation demands abstinence from pork pies, homemade sausage rolls, spaghetti alla puttanesca and so on. So now I am at a loss as to how to find solace. My chum, Captain Cynical, suggested that instead of comfort eating I could “annoy the bear” and pour scorn on those MR/LMS/LNER modellers on ER. When I pointed out that I am already “on the list” (several in fact). Captain Cynical then gently reminded me of the maxim that I “might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb” And on that philosophical note, I bid you a good day!

I’m not sure about the “multiple entries”, but I do know that my name is chiseled onto a tablet of stone, whilst other names are merely noted down in pencil on paper…. ”Annoying The Bear” - one of my life’s quiet pleasures…

During my recent sojourn in London, I had occasion to take 3 long-ish black cab Taxi rides and despite the fact that the 3 taxi drivers could not have been more different in terms of age and ethnicity, they were uniform in their condemnation of what the Mayor’s office had done to London’s streets. Apart from the stupidity of favouring Über (anyone can be an Über driver) over Black Cabs (done “the knowledge”, properly insured) and the incessant alteration of speed limits and one-way street directions, a MAJOR gripe was with both the narrowing of already narrow streets for cycle lanes and the “Lycra Louts” who ignore both the expensively created cycle lanes and the highway code (whilst cabbies, if caught exceeding the speed limit by as little as 1mph, get hammered by a hefty fine). Having seen for myself how a huge number of London’s cyclists (Lycra clad or not) behave (riding on pavements, speeding through traffic lights at red and so on), it occurred to me that not only do the Cabbies have a point, but that TfL/The Mayor’s office have missed a significant opportunity to increase road safety and at the same time raise significant revenue. I look at this way: the Police should conduct a mammoth “cycle safe, cycle lawfully” campaign using a mixture of traffic police in plain clothes and in uniform, on foot, on bicycle, on motorcycle and in squad cars, all equipped with mobile radar guns and supported by a fleet of Black Marias. A particularly bad spot (of which London has plenty) is chosen. Plain clothes officers identify those cyclists breaking the law (no lights, riding through red lights) and radio their particulars to uniformed colleagues further down the street, who apprehend the culprits (and by having police on bikes and motorbikes, cycling down narrow alleys or the wrong way down a one-way street will not afford escape). Those who stop would then have to pay an on-the-spot fine of £100+ and if they can’t pay they get a sponsored ride to the nearest nick until someone pays their fine for them. Those who try and do a runner and are caught will be arrested and then face at least a doubling of the fine and confiscation of their bike. And if they can’t prove ownership of the bike, then they are also charged with theft. OK, some details will need to be worked out, think how popular such a campaign would be. To safely walk London’s streets without fear of being mown down by criminal cyclists; to safely drive in London without worrying about hitting or being hit by a helmetless cyclist speeding through a red light. Plus, think of all that lovely revenue from fines. It’d be a winner!

The Swiss actually DO have a Navy (of sorts) - they have gunboats on the Alpine lakes Switzerland shares with Italy and France I think with a few tweaks it'd make for a pretty decent Launch for those (ahem) energetic, "fun" weekends...

Dyslexic much?

False modesty, feigned humility are sins! I am very good at what I do (which is why I can charge The Big Bucks). But what I do must remain veiled in secrecy....

Not me. Just being honest 🤣😁😄

I never came off it…..

Perhaps so, but let us not forget that the Swiss metre gauge railways paint their locomotives (and sometimes carriages) in bright, sunny and Holy Papal Red, not the dark, demonic, Midland Red. I have NO problem with being associated with both infallibility and saintliness. Let me help you with that: GOOD (adjective) in the sense of excellent Definition positive moral qualities Synonyms excellent great (informal) fine pleasing capital (old-fashioned) choice crucial (slang) worthy first-class divine splendid superb awesome (slang) world-class admirable first-rate tiptop etc. And YES, all do apply to me!

First all things MR and now this! What did they inject into you when you had your Op?

Sirrah, may I gently suggest you clean your glasses? For they must not have been clean enough to distinguish the difference of the PAPAL RED used by the Rhätische Bahn and the SATANIC RED of the Midland Railway - a much darker red behooving a realm of semi-darkness and sulphurous fumes; a railway in league with The Prince of Darkness himself.

Oh dear! That’s going to set back your recovery quite a bit. You obviously haven’t read this medical classic: ”…’tis an established medical FACT, well known to all who practise RAILWAY MEDICINE, that just the sight of Locomotives painted in SATANIC RED is enough to unsettle the strongest constitutions and quickly lead to DISTURBANCES OF THE MIND. And if the afflicted person is also exposed to all the various NOXIOUS AND VILE EMANATIONS emitted by THE DEVIL’S LOCOMOTIVES then there is no hope, only INSANITY and PREMATURE DEATH await. Such afflicted individuals are a PITEOUS SIGHT, uncontrollably DROOLING, shaken by PALSY, prematurely SENILE, sallow skinned and ASHEN FACED, HUNCHBACKED, TWISTED and BANDY-LEGGED, only those practicing the SINFUL PRACTICE of ONANISM fare worse. There is NO CURE, even the miraculous healing powers of GWR GREEN - a PANACEA FOR MOST ILLS cannot help such pitiful WRETCHES. AVOIDANCE of ALL THINGS MR is the only way to avoid such a TRAGIC AND NEEDLESS WASTE. A Doctor (Swindon)” The Lancet, 1878

And whilst on the subject of rain. We had an incredibly heavy thunderstorm - literally over our heads - last night and poor Schotty (who hates thunder) went absolutely frantic, poor lad. Fortunately, he had just been prescribed by the vet a liquid anti-anxiolytic - which is administered via a syringe (without a needle of course) into the back of the mouth between teeth and gums. This means the normal swallowing reflex takes over and ALL the medication goes in. Unfortunately last night we had to double-dose him, as one dose was not sufficient (this was the vet saying "if one dose doesn't work, give two"). Unfortunately, it is not a fast acting anti-anxiolytic (which also has sedating properties) so I had to keep soothing him until the medication "kicked in" at which point we had a zonked-out Schotty on the floor, a zonked out iD on the bed ('though no drugs were involved) and a deaf but disgruntled Lucy - who didn't want share her sleeping space. It really was the heaviest and longest thunderstorm we've had around here for quite a while. Had it not been for poor Schotty being so terribly, almost frantically, anxious; I would have enjoyed the thunderstorm. I find thunderstorms and rain to be incredibly soothing.