Category Archives: History

1 July 1916: a sobering fact

Posted on July 1, 2014 by odeboyz

When the British launched their attack on the first day of the battle of the Somme they lost 19,240 dead. This is the equivalent of six 9/11 massacres. Unlike 9/11 this wasn’t a one off, the battle lasted until mid- … Continue reading →

Posted in History, War | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Military Service Act, 1916: Conscription

Posted on May 23, 2014 by odeboyz

The Military Service Act changed Britain forever. The act meant that the state had the right to put British men in lethal danger i.e. the trenches. But these reluctant warriors didn’t want to fight and, worse, they were literally second … Continue reading →

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Futility

Posted on May 13, 2014 by odeboyz

French fields, frenetic Absurd political inanity Trenches dug ever more… Towards, ‘The Line’ Paling boards holding back mud Latrines, where some cried Some prayed, each afraid Never to see home again. Now in hell where serendipity ruled Next to comrades … Continue reading →

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Emotional Blackmail: British Women 1914- 15

Posted on May 8, 2014 by odeboyz

European men were overjoyed when war broke out in August 1914. Jingoistic newspapers and politicians didn’t lie when they said that they thought that the war would be over by Christmas: they really believed it. As a consequence there was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, War | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The 9/11 Massacre: a statistical comment

Posted on April 25, 2014 by odeboyz

In 2001 2,416,425 Americans died. However, only 2985 of them really, really mattered. Those 2985 people were the victims of the 9/11 massacre orchestrated by Osama bin Laden. Immediately military action was called for, coalitions created and America was at … Continue reading →

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From Mark Twain to Barack Obama

Posted on April 11, 2014 by odeboyz
Posted in History, Literature, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Winter cold.

Posted on April 3, 2014 by odeboyz

When the coalmen came to deliver two or three cwt. of coal from their horse drawn cart. Mum and me would hear them coming down the street, and by the time they got to our house, one would have flipped … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, History, housing | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Drug Laws: an echo of fascism

Posted on March 28, 2014 by odeboyz

Mao Zedong, North Korea’s Kim dynasty, Hitler and Stalin attempted to control individual choices using the finest 20th Century techniques. Their ferocious efforts led to millions of deaths. They made every attempt to eradicate their enemies, all their enemies! And … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The End of the Great European Peace, 1914

Posted on February 14, 2014 by odeboyz

The Great European Peace* began and ended with German military action. German Unification (1871) followed, as planned, from crushing victories; leading again, as planned by Bismarck, to peace. Forty- three years of European peace and an entire generation of German … Continue reading →

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Harold Hill history.

Posted on January 17, 2014 by odeboyz

True stories to my granddaughter Kay. Hi Kay, as with most things, the most tenuous threads of fate pull together in forming both a personal as well as an interactive history of me with others and others with me.  So … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, History, Politics, tenants rights | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments