Recent content by OldBrit

It's happening over here (UK) too; Autumn International Rugby matches played in deserted stadia that sounded like full- capacity crowds were sitting in them. England -v- Wales match even had Welsh Male Voice Choirs belting out favourites like Cwm Rhondda and Calon Lan, for goodness sake! It...

A lovely piece of craftsmanship, Sir! I'm right-handed so please don't include me (and I'm on the wrong side of the Atlantic too!) but I just wanted to say how much I admire your work, and your generosity of spirit.

No surprises there - the BBC, often known here as the "Biased Broadcasting Corporation". Their coverage of the whole 3 years to Brexit thing was a tour-de-force of agenda-driven disaster predictions, but if you really want to hear how we're all going to die courtesy of Covid-19. try Sky...

Amen to that! Long ago, I knew a couple of the genuine articles, and (a) you would never have guessed by looking at them and (b) they certainly didn't advertise! God bless em all (and everybody else, everywhere, in the uniform of any nation in the free world who keeps my poor, ancient arse...

Went to Uni there - seems a VERY long time ago now!

Llongyfarchiadau (= 'Congratulations') Hearty congrats in the old language of Cymru and the best of luck to you!

I remember hearing that when Prince Albert introduced evergreen spruce/fir tree type Christmas Trees into Britain from his native Germany, that is exactly how it was hung (i.e. upside down). We Brits then loved Queen Victoria so much (even if her husband 'Bertie' was a bit too much of...

As a Brit, I have always admired the respect you in the US show for your flag. I think it is rather special and quite wonderful. Here if you ran up the Union Flag, just because, rather than on a special day, you'd be thought a bit odd - though here in Wales, we do get a bit more freedom to fly...

Nadolig llawen (Welsh) And however you say it in whatever language and where ever you are - have a lovely one yourself, all the best to you and yours from me and mine over here in the welsh-speaking Celtic heartland of Britain. Here's hoping for a little of the Christmas spirit will infuse the...

Happy birthday! Saw a USMC silent drill display at the (British) Light Infantry barracks in Shrewsbury a long, long time ago and I've never forgotten it. If I may be allowed to say it - Semper Fi.

That's semi auto rifles in .22LR, not pistols, I'm afraid (other calibres it's bolt/slide actions or single shots for rifle shooters). The good old twenty-two handgun is now as extinct in GB as all the rest....

Sorry, wasn't trying to deny your suggestion right at the outset. I was referring to the exact number correlation being pointed out 'twixt the flag bars and the torpedo horseshoes, and the idea that the plaque you could have on permament display in the boat, the flag you couldn't. Apologies if...

Oh well played, Sir! Never even thought about that ..... I think we have a winner!

If you do decide to do that, you might like to try the guys at the Submariners Association (Index) The chairman is Jim McMaster ([email protected]). I don't know these folk at all, but as a general rule (and please don't quote me over this side of the pond) our official military...

From my (increasingly failing) memory of what my grandad (on minesweepers, not a sub-mariner) said: The life-ring = they rescued sailors from a sunken vessel or aircrew from a downed plane. The bars need colour to be sure, but denote ships sunk White = Merchant ship Red = Warship Yellow bar...