ALL-TIME CLASSIC MOVIE FAVOURITES – THEY WERE NOT DIVIDED (1950)

“They Were Not Divided” is a World War II drama, written and Directed by Terence Young.

The movie begins in a World War II at Caterham Barracks training depot of a British Guards Armoured Regiment where recruits from many walks of life learn to survive the strict discipline and training before going into battle in tanks.

The story features Philip Hamilton (Edward Underdown) and David Morgan (Ralph Clanton) in their interactions with their comrades like Smoke O'Connor (Michael Brennan) and Major “Bushey” Noble (Michael Trubshawe) and their respective personal relationships, Wilhelmina (Helen Cherry) and Jane (Stella Andrew).

Once the training is over the film follows the Guards as they leave England on D-Day and follows them as the Allied front progress’s deeper into Europe.

There is a cameo appearance by the real Regimental Sergeant Major Brittain, who was famous in the British Guards Regiments.

 

This film particular significance for me as my father was a Sherman Tank Driver with the Guards Armoured Division and “They Were Not Divided” mirrored the path he took into Europe.

THE HAWKER SIDDELEY HARRIER

 

The Hawker Siddeley Harrier

Is more popularly known

As the “Harrier Jump Jet”

And was the first operational

Vertical take-off aircraft

Its unique abilities

Made it easier to disperse

An attack squadron

Away from vulnerable sir fields

The Harrier is quite simply

The most remarkable

Aircraft ever made

IN TIMES OF PERIL

 In times of peril

And personal plight

Backs against the wall

Stay strong and fight

But keep your integrity

Do things right

With merciful compassion

Fight the good fight

And in the end

Adversity will take flight

And victory be attained

By right over might

HMHS GLENART CASTLE

The Glenart Castle

Was steaming home

On a cold February night

In 1918

The hospital ship

Headed for safe haven

Her lights green

Clearly visible

Against the dark horizon

Red lamps lit her side rail

Her masthead light burned bright

Fishermen could see her

Red Cross light

Then a torpedo struck her

In the number two hold

In eight minutes

She was gone

With 162 souls 

ALL-TIME CLASSIC MOVIE FAVOURITES – THE WAY AHEAD (1944)

 

“The Way Ahead” is a World War II drama, written by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov and Directed by Carol Reed.

The movie begins with a number of British recruits being plucked from various walks of life on civvie street, Ted Brewer (Stanley Holloway), Evan Lloyd (James Donald), Luke (John Laurie), Sid Beck (Leslie Dwyer), Herbert Davenport (Raymond Huntley, (Bill Parsons (Hugh Burden) and Geoffrey Stainer (Jimmy Hanley) and we see them as they struggle to adjust to military life under sergeant Ned Fletcher (William Hartnell) and Lt. Jim Perry (David Niven).

Once the troopers are whipped into shape they are slated to sail to French North Africa to participate in Operation Torch, the invasion of Vichy France's colonies Algeria and Tunisia.

So they have to say goodbye to family and friends but a group of wives form a support group, Mrs. Perry (Penelope Dudley-Ward), Mrs. Brewer (Esma Cannon), Mrs. Hilda Parsons (Eileen Erskine) and Mrs. Fletcher (Grace Arnold) and track the progress of their loved ones from the moment they embarked, especially the sinking of the troop ship by a German U-boat, with half the battalion lost in the Mediterranean Sea.
As a result the men miss the invasion and from then on seem to be one step behind the action all the way and it's not until the battle of El Alamein starts to turn against the British Eight Arm that Perry's men are immediately sent to the front lines to stop the German Afrika Corps advance.

Apart from the principles there is also a strong supporting cast, Reginald Tate, Leo Genn, Renée Asherson, Tessie O'Shea, A.E. Matthews, Jack Watling and Peter Ustinov is excellent as Rispoli the Cafe Owner.

 

THE SHORT STIRLING

 

The Short Stirling

Was the very first British

Four-engine heavy bomber

The RAF had in the World War 2

It first entered service in 1941

And had a very brief career

As an operational bomber

Quickly being surpassed

By the Halifax and the Lancaster

Relegating the Stirling

To second line role

But it still had a significant

Contribution to make

First as a glider tug

And then as a resupply aircraft

During the allied invasion

Of Europe in 1944-1945

THE BATTLE OF SHANGANI

 

St Crispin’s day has been

A bloody day in history

Famous for being a day 

When battles were fought

High in the cost of life

Among these, in 1893

The Battle of Shangani

In the First Matabele War

When a British column

Was attacked by a large force

Of Matabele warriors.

The British repulsed them

With heavy loss of life

To the Matabele force.

The battle is best noted

For being the first battle

In which the Maxim gun

Was used to great effect