History Archives - Page 4 of 6 - The Casual Observer

Churchill vs Lady Astor: The Age of Classic Insults and Witticisms

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 5 March 2015 9 Comments

In a long-forgotten era, the telling insult did not incorporate foul language or invective using four letter words mainly commencing with an F. Instead they exemplified the participant’s erudition, class, intelligence and wit. The putative insults between Winston Churchill and Lady Astor exhibited Churchill’s mastery of this art form. What is less well known is Lady Astor’s equally acerbic tongue and repartee skills. This lack will be put to rights in this blog.

One of the witticisms that have not yet made it into the history books, is one of the classic Mike Paxtonisms – a fellow runner – that he is so prone to intone. If Mike should ever obtain the recognition due to him and that he so richly deserves, this is one that he will be remembered by:

“I am not saying he is a slow runner, but the organisers know the race is over when he finishes”

The Tale of Four Women and the Sexual and Gender Liberation

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 23 February 2015 2 Comments

A century ago was the dawn of the sexual and gender liberation. It was a fitting time as it witnessed the passing of the eponymous Victorian era with the death of Queen Victoria in 1901. Like the commencements of all epochs, it was marked by stubborn resistance, resilient reformers and societal backlash. These four women in diametrically opposed manners led the charge for sexual and gender liberation.

Some innovators and crusaders will forever have an unblemished legacy, most however being stubborn and dogmatic in their opposition to the status quo; often create implacable foes in their endeavours. Whilst these traits might be overlooked in the broad sweep of history and change, they will forever be remembered both as bold reformers and as flawed characters.

Main picture: Marie Stopes in her laboratory in 1904

Exorcising the Demons of the Past

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 14 February 2015 1 Comment

It is not just the sufferers of torture who suffer but their families and more surprisingly often their torturers. Usually their sense of anger and hatred are suppressed for their whole lives but occasionally instead of retribution, unconditional forgiveness is given. Such a man, Eric Lomax, cast off those demons to confront his nightmares both real and imagined.

I first “became acquainted” with Eric Lomax in the mid-1990s when I encountered his harrowing book, “The Railway Man.” But this “encounter” was via a circuitous route. Sometime before hearing about the “Railway Man”, I had attended a book launch by a fellow compatriot of Eric Lomax.

Main picture: Eric Lomax and Takashi Nagase

How accurate is the Historical Record?

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 7 February 2015 0 Comment

How much reliance can be placed on historical facts especially those at the dawn of the age of writing? For that matter aren’t even current events recorded in a manner to represent and mirror the social milieu prevalent at the time?

Whilst reading an article on the earliest known writings on the nascent Scotland – it was then five disparate unrelated kingdoms – this fact struck me.

Calgacus is proudly proclaimed as the first authentic voice that Scotland produced. Apparently Calgacus was one of the Caledonian Chiefs who rose up against the invading Roman Army under Agricola in 80AD. His ignominious defeat by Agricola in a battle at Mons Graupius is recorded by Tacitus. Agricola’s son-in-law some 20 years later.

Isandlwana: Did Inane Bureaucracy Defeat the British?

By Dean McCleland in History, Military History 9 January 2015 1 Comment

Isandlwana is synonymous with the greatest defeat of British forces by a native army; that is, one only armed with spears and shields. The only way in which defeat is possible in such situations is by employing such overwhelming forces that the sustained rate of fire from the defenders’ guns cannot kill or wound sufficient of the indigenous forces thereby resulting in defeat. So how was that possible at Isandlwana?

Bureaucracy and discipline is what makes any organisation effective. Without it, nothing works. The men cannot be fed or ammunition will not be ordered. This applies to a myriad of other seemingly mundane aspects in any organisation which ultimately makes the army such a potent force.

Rhodes: The Enigma of his Close Male Personal Relationships

By Dean McCleland in History 1 January 2015 3 Comments

Rhodes’ legacy was immense but not always positive. Consider the Jameson Raid and his duplicitous and mendacious treatment of Lobengula, King of the Matabele as the Ndebele were called by the Whites. Today he would be characterised as being Machiavellian. Be that as it may but what were his close male personal relationships like?

On his arrival at the diamond fields in Kimberley in October 1871 as an 18 year old, Cecil John Rhodes was a tall, lanky, anaemic, fair-haired boy, shy and reserved in bearing. As an adolescent he was sickly. As such it had been recommended that he join his elder brother Herbert who was living in South Africa.

Hitler: The Measure/Mismeasure of the Man

By Dean McCleland in History, Military History 30 November 2014 0 Comment

Hitler is a byword for evil, racist cant & totalitarian rule. Is this an accurate assessment and does it reflect his philosophies over his whole life or did his psyche steadily become more morbid with age? What was the effect the Bomb Plot in July 1944 on his mental condition? Did it exacerbate these attributes in any way? In spite of the unending drama as the Third Reich rapidly sunk into the abyss after Stalingrad, how was Hitler still able to hold sway? Finally, were his acolytes so in awe of Hitler, and for what reasons, that their natural instincts did not forewarn them of the impending disaster?

These are merely an arbitrary selection of the litany of unanswered questions that I possessed regarding Hitler. Without any doubt, these issues have occupied my mind for at least four decades. Finally Ian Kershaw’s opus magnum entitled eponymously, Hitler, has finally shed light on all these aspects. As I did not have sufficient time to read the full unabridged 1550 page version, I will confess to reading to an abridged version which only comprises a modest 969 pages instead. The journey and wait was well worth it. Continue reading

Marilyn Monroe, the Showgirl, and Colin Clark: A Romantic Interlude

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 2 November 2014 0 Comment

Who one may well ask is Colin Clark, a nonentity, and many years Marilyn Monroe’s junior and what was his relationship with her in 1956 so shortly after her marriage to Arthur Miller?

Two superstars of the day, Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier both had designs on becoming even more famous. In both cases it was to highlight their versatility by also becoming famous movie stars. Marilyn had become an iconic model and singer and Lawrence Olivier a stage actor especially in the Shakespearean mould but both desired more accolades and had pretensions of being famous movie stars.

Kim Philby: The Ties that Bind

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 28 October 2014 0 Comment

The 1930’s was an epoch during which one’s loyalties were tested to the extreme. For some in contemporary Britain it was the Class or status that bound. Yet for others it was their lover, family or even friends. In the extreme as the season of treason evidenced, it was Communism. But which one would triumph when all three collided? Which would take precedence?

For some inexplicable reason, during the 1930’s the myth of a Communistic utopia was implanted in the imagination of the West. Instead of the lower classes being infected by this contagion, it was an array of the wealthy well-to-do students who contracted the most virulent strain.

Main picture: Kim Philby with a sunny disposition but a treacherous heart

King Edward VIII: Once a King

By Dean McCleland in History, Opinion Pieces 21 October 2014 0 Comment

King Edward VIII is notorious for two reasons. The first, the reason for his abdication in 1936, was his love for an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. The second, and for the most part unproved, was his pro-Nazi views during WW2. The first is fact but is there any substance to the second allegation?

In terms of the primogeniture rules of succession then applicable, young Edward, or David as he was known to his siblings, would become the next king of England. By the throw of the dice, Edward who was ideally suited to this role for he possessed the common touch was the heir presumptive. Unlike his parents, he was unafraid of being seen by the commoner.

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