Re: OT: Ridin' tall on the Santiago Canyon Road (was Re: What could

Chuck Stevens wrote:
> Only G&S I actually sang in was HMS Pinafore.  I don't think I'll ever
> forget the opening chorus.  I'm pretty sure this is correct:
>
>     We sail the ocean blue,
>     And our saucy ship's a beauty.
>     We're sober men and true,
>     And attentive to our duty.
>     When the balls whistle free o'er the bright blue sea
>     We stand to our guns all day;
>     When at anchor we ride o'er the Portsmouth tide,
>     We've plenty of time for play (Yo-ho, Yo-ho)!
>
> Wonder if Sir William would have used the same words today ...

Not likely above would apply to day as above was written in the hey day
of Empire and 'Rule Britannia'. As for Pompey (Portsmouth), saw it last
in Feb '75 making my farewell to my father.

Big naval dockyard in my time along with Chatham, Kent and Plymouth,
Devon. Back then (D-Day 6th June 1944) was the focal point for Operation
Overlord. Ike had his HQ at Southwick House, on the Downs just north of
Portsmouth Island.

Isle of Wight roughly 8 miles due south of Portsmouth, and on most days
can be seen low-lying in the distance. 7th June 1944 - they opened the
beaches, taking down barbed-wire etc. You couldn't see the Isle of Wight
for the mass of ships in between. Note I wrote "7th" - and an equal
number or more of vessels had filled that area the previous day (6th),
and were off the Normandy coast. We were viewing the backup reserve !
Coupled with that the thunderous roar of THOUSANDS of Allied aircraft
overhead making their way to France.

As Erwin Rommel said,, "We have to stop them on the beaches". He had
chanced a vacation home to Germany for his wife's birthday. Fortunately
for the Allies they weren't stopped on the beaches.

I'm told the Dockyard is completely gone - but Nelson's flagship HMS
Victory at Trafalgar (Oct 1805), still sits there proudly in a drydock,
plus a museum dedicated to D-Day.

History Channel has been inundating us with D-Day stuff, Canadian
involvement (naturally), Ike docudrama starring Tom Sellick, (excellent
!), the superb Spielberg/Hanks series 'Band of Brothers' and other
documentaries, covering airborne troops etc. The most meaningful comment
came from an old US soldier.

"Granddad, were you a hero ?"

The old guy caught his breath with emotion before answering, close to
tears.

"No. Your granddad wasn't a hero".

But then he continued for the TV audience, "But I'm proud I served with
men who were heroes".

LEST WE FORGET ...........

Jimmy