I have always had a lively interest in British colonial and world history around me as my life progressed and have had the good fortune to be able to realize many of these aspects requiring global travel. Born in the ancient Anglo Saxon community of High Barnet I attended a school chartered by Queen Elizabeth First at Highgate, North London and received career teacher training at Shoreditch college based in the old British Indian Army Engineering campus at Englefield Green. Below the escarpment to the East lay the fields of Runnemede, to the North we could see Windsor Castle and immediately to our South was the Commonwealth Air force Memorial with the names of 30,000 airmen with no known graves. We cross country ran over these ancient clay fields and through and around the copper horse at the end of the long mile leading up to the Castle. Many of us have recently observed the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth along the greater part of this road. I had the great privilege of singing Evensong with my Canadian Calgary choir in St. George's chapel, Windsor Castle, beneath the flags and animal symbols of the Knights of the Garter in particular that of Sir Edmond Hillary with the flags depiction of the Himalayas' and the Buddhist prayer scroll. His achievement and that of Tenzing, of the first ascent of Everest, was carried out in time to be announced prior to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Those same symbols of flag and the bird, a Chough, I have seen in the old Kauri pine Cathedral in Auckland New Zealand where they were placed after Sir Edmond Hillary's death. At various times in my life I have flown kites over the expansive sands of Coxyde at Dunkirk, and walked up Leighton Hill, Hong Kong, where in 1941 it was was defended by Z company of the Middlesex regiment. This 100 man company hastily made up of Regimental butchers, bakers, clerks and stenographers and trained as machine gunners slowly retired uphill until reduced to 40 in number who were then allowed to retire to the main Regimental lines. In the Commonwealth Cemetery at Sai Wan in Hong Kong lie those who did not survive alongside the members of the Winnipeg Rifles and the Queens own Rifles of Canada who made up Canada's brigade. I have walked the almost endless curved line of memorial stones at Kranje, Singapore, where lies Bombardier Jones with a flower painted oval Bethesda slate stone carefully leaning against his memorial. On gently turning the oval we read " Dear Dad, we never knew you but we now know were you lie. "I made a point of paying my respects to Sir Winston Churchill as he lay in state in the 12 century Westminster Hall, London. For 3 hours I slowly progressed towards the hall entrance and finally emerge into this vast space shadowed by the massive gilded oak hammer beams dimly seen from below. The muffled tread could barely be heard as I passed the catafalque guarded by members of her Majesties Armed forces in their ceremonial uniforms. In this same hall only a few years ago I attended a concert performed by choirs from both the German and British Parliaments, an act of reconciliation. This thread I have unraveled is a lifetime of experiences with many emergent facets of British Colonial, National and World history and in many ways representative of Britons contribution to the freedoms, peace, and good governance of the world. I have indeed been fortunate.
Don't forget Vera Lynn whose golden voice was the beacon of light for the war generation. I still listen to her music when I feel the need for nostalgia.
The death of historical literacy is mourned by only a few who once had intimate knowledge of the subject. There was a time when Canadian history was taught chronologically from its French / English origins to contemporary times. Children knew about the significance of the fur trade and the importance of the Hudson Bay Company. The Cypress Hills massacre and the formation of the North West Mounted Police. The prequel to confederation and the contribution of Darcy Magee and his assassination by the Fenian, Patrick Whelan. The Fenian raids into Canada following the Civil War, and the attempt to hold Canada as ransom for the freedom of Ireland from British rule. Tragically, this historic drama has been substituted for the falsehoods of the contemporary genre of horror fiction where Canada is a genocidal nation whose volunteer army of priests and nuns savagely murdered indigenous children. Pierre Burton and those like him have now been replaced by fiction writers like Stephen King.
Margaret Trudeau once promised Canada that, "we are not going to cross the stupid line". Regrettably, Justin must have been at Bhangra dance class that day and didn't hear the message. Pity !!!!
It is only by erasing our rich history that the Liberals and their woke allies can destroy our culture and vilify all it stands for.
As part of this process, Ontario High School students are required to take only one history course (Grade 10 Canadian history) so your average HS graduate has no clue about past world events let alone our British heritage.
The great Turd thinks it is more important today to teach things like "worm loves worm" and allowing perverts to share washrooms with little girls but he most assuredly does NOT want things like freedom to stand in the way of making this country truly anti English.
James Pew makes an essential point for all educators. “In Canada, perhaps the most important story to tell children about the founding of the nation concerns the transplantation of ‘British Liberty.’” With half the world’s population living under authoritarian rulers, we are so lucky here in Canada, but the liberty we enjoy was hard-fought for over 800 years or more, and we owe much to the nobles who gathered in a field in Runnymede in 1215 to contest the tyrannical, undemocratic rule of King John. The myth of Robin Hood springs from the reality of British liberty.
I have always had a lively interest in British colonial and world history around me as my life progressed and have had the good fortune to be able to realize many of these aspects requiring global travel. Born in the ancient Anglo Saxon community of High Barnet I attended a school chartered by Queen Elizabeth First at Highgate, North London and received career teacher training at Shoreditch college based in the old British Indian Army Engineering campus at Englefield Green. Below the escarpment to the East lay the fields of Runnemede, to the North we could see Windsor Castle and immediately to our South was the Commonwealth Air force Memorial with the names of 30,000 airmen with no known graves. We cross country ran over these ancient clay fields and through and around the copper horse at the end of the long mile leading up to the Castle. Many of us have recently observed the funeral procession of Queen Elizabeth along the greater part of this road. I had the great privilege of singing Evensong with my Canadian Calgary choir in St. George's chapel, Windsor Castle, beneath the flags and animal symbols of the Knights of the Garter in particular that of Sir Edmond Hillary with the flags depiction of the Himalayas' and the Buddhist prayer scroll. His achievement and that of Tenzing, of the first ascent of Everest, was carried out in time to be announced prior to the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth. Those same symbols of flag and the bird, a Chough, I have seen in the old Kauri pine Cathedral in Auckland New Zealand where they were placed after Sir Edmond Hillary's death. At various times in my life I have flown kites over the expansive sands of Coxyde at Dunkirk, and walked up Leighton Hill, Hong Kong, where in 1941 it was was defended by Z company of the Middlesex regiment. This 100 man company hastily made up of Regimental butchers, bakers, clerks and stenographers and trained as machine gunners slowly retired uphill until reduced to 40 in number who were then allowed to retire to the main Regimental lines. In the Commonwealth Cemetery at Sai Wan in Hong Kong lie those who did not survive alongside the members of the Winnipeg Rifles and the Queens own Rifles of Canada who made up Canada's brigade. I have walked the almost endless curved line of memorial stones at Kranje, Singapore, where lies Bombardier Jones with a flower painted oval Bethesda slate stone carefully leaning against his memorial. On gently turning the oval we read " Dear Dad, we never knew you but we now know were you lie. "I made a point of paying my respects to Sir Winston Churchill as he lay in state in the 12 century Westminster Hall, London. For 3 hours I slowly progressed towards the hall entrance and finally emerge into this vast space shadowed by the massive gilded oak hammer beams dimly seen from below. The muffled tread could barely be heard as I passed the catafalque guarded by members of her Majesties Armed forces in their ceremonial uniforms. In this same hall only a few years ago I attended a concert performed by choirs from both the German and British Parliaments, an act of reconciliation. This thread I have unraveled is a lifetime of experiences with many emergent facets of British Colonial, National and World history and in many ways representative of Britons contribution to the freedoms, peace, and good governance of the world. I have indeed been fortunate.
Thank you for sharing this.
Don't forget Vera Lynn whose golden voice was the beacon of light for the war generation. I still listen to her music when I feel the need for nostalgia.
The death of historical literacy is mourned by only a few who once had intimate knowledge of the subject. There was a time when Canadian history was taught chronologically from its French / English origins to contemporary times. Children knew about the significance of the fur trade and the importance of the Hudson Bay Company. The Cypress Hills massacre and the formation of the North West Mounted Police. The prequel to confederation and the contribution of Darcy Magee and his assassination by the Fenian, Patrick Whelan. The Fenian raids into Canada following the Civil War, and the attempt to hold Canada as ransom for the freedom of Ireland from British rule. Tragically, this historic drama has been substituted for the falsehoods of the contemporary genre of horror fiction where Canada is a genocidal nation whose volunteer army of priests and nuns savagely murdered indigenous children. Pierre Burton and those like him have now been replaced by fiction writers like Stephen King.
Margaret Trudeau once promised Canada that, "we are not going to cross the stupid line". Regrettably, Justin must have been at Bhangra dance class that day and didn't hear the message. Pity !!!!
Hadn't heard that Margaret Trudeau quote before : )
She made it when they were trying to produce an avalanche safety / awareness program following Michael's accident.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcDoqebezTA&t=95s
Great article.
It is only by erasing our rich history that the Liberals and their woke allies can destroy our culture and vilify all it stands for.
As part of this process, Ontario High School students are required to take only one history course (Grade 10 Canadian history) so your average HS graduate has no clue about past world events let alone our British heritage.
The great Turd thinks it is more important today to teach things like "worm loves worm" and allowing perverts to share washrooms with little girls but he most assuredly does NOT want things like freedom to stand in the way of making this country truly anti English.
James Pew makes an essential point for all educators. “In Canada, perhaps the most important story to tell children about the founding of the nation concerns the transplantation of ‘British Liberty.’” With half the world’s population living under authoritarian rulers, we are so lucky here in Canada, but the liberty we enjoy was hard-fought for over 800 years or more, and we owe much to the nobles who gathered in a field in Runnymede in 1215 to contest the tyrannical, undemocratic rule of King John. The myth of Robin Hood springs from the reality of British liberty.
I get constant support from someone with the handle Donna Cat. I am deeply grateful to her. I believe it to be a real person.
I second that, Jim. Not only is she a superb writer she is a loyal supporter of the cause. Accolades to Donna Cat.
We’re a small but influential group who matter to each other.
As Canadians come out of their coma, I am optimistic that things will improve and we will no longer exist in a bad episode of the Twilight Zone.
A great read!
Good catch. Fixed it.