Amazing Military Facts You Probably Didn't Know ( Part 2 )

Amazing Military Facts You Probably Didn't Know

( Part 2 of 3 )

Written by : Jeffrey R Hilton

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French National Guard

Charles Delahaye once played four sets of tennis wearing his French national guard uniform with a field pack and carrying a musket with bayonet fixed.  His opponent who was dressed in a tennis outfit, lost three of the four sets.

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Greek Fire

Greeks once set fire to a ships at sea from shore,  by reflecting the suns rays from their highly polished shields.  While it may sound a bit dodgy,  a modern day experiment was conducted and proved it possible.  Greek fire was a term used to describe the Greek practice of using an inflammable mixture of sulphur,  naphtha, and quick lime to fire at the enemy.  The Byzantines used the mixture in bronze tubes affixed to their ships,  which would spurt the flaming concoction at enemy ships.

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Raiders Of Dunkirk

Anglo-Dutch Wars, Sea Battle, Dunkirk, 1639

Dunkirk certainly has had it's share of hostile takeover plans

and thwarted almost as many.  While most people associate Dunkirk with the horrific and heroic evacuation of British troops in WWII,  with the coast heavily defended by the Germans,   in 1658, June 28, Dunkirk was in a single day of fighting,  owned by three different countries.  The Spanish owned it in the morning,  at noon,  it surrendered to the French, and it was captured by the English in the evening.

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Pizarro, Battle For Peru

Pizarro launched his first attack on the Inca Empire in Peru in 1524, with only 2 cannons in his arsenal.  Bad weather and the ferocity of the natives,  promptly turned away the attack.  Pizarro tried again in 1526 and again was turned away.  His persistence eventually paid off after even more attacks, and eventually,  he formed the city of Lima.  His popularity in Peru,  isn't exactly exalted as he is credited with destroying their indigenous culture,  language and religion. 

   

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First Cheap Knockoff Swords

At some point in history when the Vikings gained a foothold in Europe, they needed more swords and made a deal to buy these swords from fine craftsmen of the Rhineland that made made their swords to be of the best quality and superior to many other sword makers of the time.  These swords bore makers marks on the blades such as INGELRII or ULFBERHT and often took a month to make and were very expensive.  Eventually the Vikings unwittingly became perhaps the first victims of forged goods as hundreds of swords purchased at some point,  supposedly the usual quality ones, were so inferior  to the real thing that the blades would break in a heavy battle and their cutting power was almost non existent.  These swords bore the same inscriptions and looked like the real thing.  

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Bucket Wars

Wars don't always start for reasons of lofty ambitions and gains,  and such was the case when a  North Italian soldier in 1249 Bologna deserted to the other side taking an oak horse watering bucket with him to Modena. When he wouldn't give it back,  a war began between the two sides lasting 22 years and after all that the bucket is still in Modena.

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Robert Blake 1598-1657

Set The... Uh.. Mainsails.

Robert Blake,  no relation to Beretta, became England's second greatest Admiral.  This must have been quite a feat,  considering he was a merchant and knew nothing of nautical matters until age 51.

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Walter Devereux

Murder They Wrote

While England was ruled by Elizabeth I,  the English were particularly brutal and pressed their violence on Ireland regularly and in one instance alone the Queen's own Deputy Walter Devereux attacked the island of Rathlin near Antrim in 1575 knowing full well that the Macdonnells had left behind their women,  children, the sick,  the infirm and the elderly had been left there for their safety and guarded only by a small garrison.  Upon seeing it was greatly outnumbered,  the garrison offered to surrender to the English troops if they could be allowed to set sail for Scotland.  This refused,  Devereux ordered all men,  women  and children  on the island to be killed immediately.  A total of 600 vicious and heartless slayings.

Elizabeth I

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Don't Blame The Welsh

English Longbowsmen

The legendary English long-bows were invented by the Welsh.  Edward I,  1239-1307,  acquired the bows during his conquest of Wales.  Edward wasn't a man to keep promises
and after defeating the Welsh,  he promised them a non-English-speaking leader.  he then made his own son this leader,  declaring him the Prince Of Wales.  Well,  he couldn't speak English or Welsh,  true,  but the fact that he was an infant helped this lie.  Edward subjected the English to the same deceit as he promised no certain taxes would be collected without the consent of Parliament,  and then Welshing,  as the saying goes and collecting those same taxes.

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A Boy And His Dog

Not Easily Parted

John Granville of Kilkhampton England was a soldier of just 16 years old when he was wounded in The Battle of Newbury and buried right there on the battlefield.  Very soon after that,  his faithful dog appeared on the battlefield and dug him up in his shallow grave and he lived to be 73 years old after that miracle.

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It's All In The Name

General Lord Combermere,  captured the powerful fortress of Bhartpur in India in a single day.  The defenders laid down their arms and conceded to Combermere when they found out his name,  meaning Alligator in Hindi as this was a part of an ancient prophesy that the town would be captured by an alligator and were convinced that this was happening right  before their eyes. 

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Tamerlane ( 1336-1405 )

Could Tamerlane's Evil 

Have Caused WWII ?

Tamerlane was a tartar successor to Genghis Khan,  and no less a maniacal murdering marauding torturing heathen than Khan.  It's for that reason that his legacy is one of being labelled one of the greatest conquerors of all time.
On the pretext that he was abiding by the Koran, The Mongolian without remorse or regard for human life massacred 2 million men,  women and children, and that was just getting started.


When Tamerlane died,  he was laid to rest in a tomb in Samarkand.  The tomb was inscribed with a curse written on a huge Jade block.  The message read,  " If I should be brought back to earth,  the greatest of all wars will engulf this land. "   Soviet scientists on an expedition opened the tomb and removed his mummified body at 5 a.m. on June 22, 1941.  That same moment, 2,500 miles to the west, Russia was attacked by 160 German Divisions and 14,000 tanks,  turning the scientists homeland into a blood bath.

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Francisco Solano Lopez
1827-1870

Murderous Megalomaniac

History is full of them and Lopez fancied himself as the Napoleon of South America.  A Brigadier General at 18, and the eldest son of then President Carlos Antonia Lopez,  whom he succeeded on the throne, he was desperate to put Paraguay on the map.  In 1865,  he declared war on Argentina,  Brazil,  and Uruguay simultaneously thus causing the name the Triple Alliance War.


Paraguay lost nine tenths of it's population in this war before he was beaten and killed in 1870.  During his reign,  he was responsible for having put to death, 68,200 people on conspiracy and treason,  the number includes his two brothers,  two sisters,  two brother in laws and even his own mother whom had earlier admitted that he was born out of wedlock.

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The War Magnet 

Julius Brittlebank of Charleston S.C. was a most enigmatic man that somehow attracted war like iron to a magnet.  He was in Cuba when the Spanish-American War began,  in China when the revolution of 1912 started,  in Montenegro at the outbreak of the Balkans,  1912 conflict,  in Germany at the onset of WWII,  and in England when she declared war.

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Baron Karl Von Werther
1750-1822

Karl Werther was a gentle and peaceful German born statesman.  But everywhere he went, war followed him.

When he was Ambassador to Paris,  France went to war with Spain and Algeria.  He then became Ambassador to Denmark and the war of 1864 broke out.  He went to Russia and the Crimean war started.  He moved back to Germany and the Austro Prussian war began.  Fed up,  he went back to Paris,  but then the Franco- Prussian war broke out.  His last post brought him to Turkey where the Russo-Turkish War started.

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Blind Faith And Military Genius

John Zizka 1360-1424

John Zizka was a brilliant military strategist that got his start as no other than the Good King Wenceslas of the Christmas carol's namesake,  as a page boy.  He envisioned modern tank warfare, 500 years in advance,  using armored wagons and artillery.  He was born into Bohemian nobility and became a royal chamberlain before he started serving as a knight for the Teutonic Knights,  fighting the Poles.

He later fought for the Austrian's against the Turks. He fought for King Henry V in Agincourt.  He became commander of the Hussites and his brilliant military tactics came through again as he defeated the army of King Sigismund that was 10 times larger than his own,  capturing Prague.  He suffered the loss of one eye in an earlier battle and lost his other eye in a later battle at the siege of Raby

in 1421.  This didn't stop him from leading his troops to victory in 12 more brilliantly conceived battle plans over Sigismund,  whom decided to grant religious liberty to the Hussites.  He went on to fight another battle but died from the Plague during the fight in Przibislav and his own skin was used over a drum head and carried into battle so that he could continue to proudly serve,  even in death.

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PART 3 COMING SOON

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If you have made it this far down the page, I would like you to know that this blog currently has only 4 members.

While I'm not sure whether to take that personally or not

it remains as a bit of an insult.  Membership costs nothing

but a minute to join and anonymity is even an option.  So please show your support if you enjoy my blog.  Thank you very much in advance.  Sincerely; Jeff.

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And A Brilliant Week

Jeffrey R Hilton

   

UNDERSTANDING OPIOID DESTRUCTION

Understanding Opioid Destruction 

Written by: Jeffrey R. Hilton

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Opioid Dependency is a very controversial topic.  Opioid addicts are often thought to be heroin junkies, but in Alberta, Canada that is a very large misconception.  Opioid use in Alberta is largely prescription drugs prescribed by physicians, at one time, so freely is was like going and buying candy from the corner store.  This was curbed a number of years back and not all physicians were able to continue writing triplicate prescriptions for opiates, so all of a sudden there was a large number of addicts who had been on these medications that were unable to attain them through legal channels. This in turn increased illegal methods of obtaining these drugs and caused a a very large increase in addicts with this particular issue.

Opioid's are often prescribed to people who have severe pain issues, but due to the current health system, doctors do not spend enough time with their patients to make the side effects clear and what the rate is of becoming addicted to some of the substances they are taking.  People who are in chronic pain, or waiting for surgery to cure their ailment, and who are waiting up to a year for their procedure, all of a sudden, get their treatment and therapy and figure no more medication only to find out when they get rid of it, the body has become addicted to their specific medication.  Many people don't realize that opiate medication is a drug that, half life's,  so if one is on it any length of time the quantity will increase as the original dose ends up not being sufficient which becomes a very vicious circle.

Many people die each year in North America from opioid related overdoses.  There are a lot of misconceptions in society regarding this subject.  Opiate addiction is very difficult to overcome, due to the severity of the withdrawal process,  the best way to describe the withdrawal is imagine having the worst possible flu, body aches, etc but multiply it by about 1000, and the length of time till one feels somewhat normal can be 21 days, just to get over the worst part.  That's the experience of detox.

There are many so called methods of coming off these addictions including Rapid Detox, Specialty treatments in foreign countries costing the individual substantial amounts of money.  The best way is to detox yourself very carefully if you can handle it by going cold turkey, as well as seek counselling to help you deal with the mental part of the addiction.  For those who feel they aren't strong enough there is Methadone.

Methadone in its self is very controversial, but with careful and controlled treatment and counselling to change behavior it can be very effective.  With this addiction the damage it does to the brain and the body is tremendous, but with methadone, it acts as a blocker in the craving centre of your brain and over time it can heal this area so that the detoxing is easier.  As well, with the heavier drug users a change in lifestyle, friendships and situations also has to happen,  which can make them feel very alone and not accepted.  Some addicts miss the "friendship" acceptance part of using, but they also miss the preparation part of getting high, which to someone who hasn't lived this lifestyle outside of the medical community cannot understand or fathom it.

Many people feel that this medication is one substitute for another, which may be somewhat true, but methadone doesn't make you high and with correct monitoring that is required when starting methadone and a real willingness to succeed these addicts can turn their lives around and lead a very successful and normal life.

Things are not always what they seem so, don't label all Opioid addicts under one umbrella. Stop and think, and the next time a physician prescribes you any form of opiates, ask questions and research as much as you can before taking that first pill.

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Do Have A Grand Day

 And Heal Yourself Through A Positive Life And Attitude.

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KEEP ON TRUCKING ( ACCIDENTS )

KEEP ON TRUCKING  ( ACCIDENTS )

Written by : Jeffrey R Hilton

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Trucking accidents happen frequently,  all over the world  and often with deadly results.  Some drivers escape with only injuries to their ego's and the embarrassment of making a really bad decision.  Here is a collection of the trucking woes that befall the unwary,  the inexperienced,  and the unlucky.

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Do Have A Good Day And Watch For Trucks.




Jeffrey R Hilton

Amazing Military Facts, You Probably Didn't Know ( Part 1 )

Amazing Military Facts

 You Probably Didn't Know
(Part 1)

written by : Jeffrey R Hilton

The military has a very long history around the world and with it comes a vast array of stories,  some of which are amazing accounts from days gone by that have a way of getting buried to obscurity.  It is for that reason I have gathered some of these stories to be told once again,  here.

The Victorian Cross Medal

The Victoria Cross with it's origin's in England in 1856,  is

 England's highest decoration for gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy.  In WWI,  634,  of these were awarded for actions on many battlefields,  two with bars.  Some Commonwealth countries have created their own versions of the Victoria Cross as late as 1993 as in the case of Canada.  But the British V.C. is the Holy Grail of decorations.  While most medals are made from silver or gold,  which is indeed valuable,  the British award is highly coveted and worthy of a value worth more than any precious metal.  This medal is made from several captured cannon's,  from the battle of Sebastopol, or Sevastopol in the Crimean War, 1854-1855.

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Most Expensive Ammunition

In Delhi India, 1296,  the Mohammedan conqueror

Allah-udin-Khilji,  invaded India and laid siege to Delhi.

The defenders were running low on food and water and the attackers were running low on ammunition,  due to the prolonged siege. When Allah-ud-din was advised that there were no more stones for his giant catapults,  the battle was so close to being a victory for the attackers that he decided to  load the war engines with 100 lb. sacks of gold,  and after the precious commodity showered the city with several hundred rounds,  the balance was tipped in favor of the attackers,  causing the city to surrender.

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THE US ARMY

TOO MANY CHIEFS

In the early seventies,  it was revealed that the U.S spends as much for the military as China and Russia combined.  Strangely,  most of this money went to administration rather than the  fighting forces.  In 1973,  there were about one and a half million officers.  More Admirals,  Captains, Colonel's and Generals than there was at the height of WWII.  In the same year, out of 42,000 military men in South Korea,  29,000 of them were in offices in non combatant roles.  The same went for Thailand with 29,000 out of 36,000 were involved in non combatant roles.  4 out of every 5 worked in an office in 1973.  If present day spending and military trends have any parallels to times past,  it's no wonder the country is broke.

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DRAFT DODGERS

We tend to think of draft dodgers as a relatively new thing and dated from the world wars, and particularly the

 Vietnam War,   but this practice has always been in vogue for some.  In the 1840s,  Life in the Egyptian Army was far from glamorous and army life was as tough as any of those times.  Many men there,  went as far as taking their own eye out, claiming it accidental,  so they could be excused from service.  This practice of self mutilation, amazingly enough caught on and became a popular way to dodge conscription.  Mohammed Ali,  a common soldier,  rose through the ranks to become a Pasha.  He was well aware of the draft dodge trickery and soon he created an entire two regiments of men with one eye.  These units were maintained for more than 50 years.  Mohammed Ali eventually succumbed to insanity, and died in 1849, but his one eyed army continued on.  Talk about an eye for ideas !

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"Fin de la guerre"
( END OF THE WAR )

During the Spanish-Dutch war in 1585, the Dutch built a new battleship,  so powerful, they thought for sure it would end the war,  hence the name of the ship, Fin de la guerre.
Instead, it was sank by the Spanish immediately and the war went on for another 63 years.

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GREASY DEFENSE

When the Spanish attacked the Italian island of Palmaria in 1494, they tried unsuccessfully for 8 hours to climb the rocky slopes before giving up.  The Italians had coated the rocky cliffs with a liberal helping of grease.

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BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

By Nov.15, 1315,  the famous Swiss Pikemen,  and accompanying archers  numbering only 1,500,  during the battle of Mortgarten,   trapped the Austrian Army between a high mountain lake and a steep mountain.  They then proceeded to annihilate the 8000 strong Austrian Army by hurling boulders and trees down upon them.

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WARRING KING OF POLAND AND SAXONY

AUGUST  II ( THE STRONG )

1670-1733

August may well have been a great warrior,  but he had other great interests as well and fathered 355 children.  Only one of these was legitimate,  and succeeded him on the throne as August III.

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DUAL PURPOSE MILITARY GARB

Military sashes of dark red,  have been part of the British and American army uniform for a long time.  Some of these were known to be up to 11 feet long.  When George Washington went to battle against the British,  he wore an 8 foot long sash,  that doubled as a hammock.

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ON THE ROAD WITH HANNIBAL

Hannibal,  arguably one of the greatest Generals of all times,  fought continuously for 15 years in enemy territory without any supplies from home,  without losing a single battle.  His army of 26,000 men won 1600 battles,  killing 300,000 Romans.

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VARRO

ROMAN STRATEGY

Polybius was a prolific writer of 40 Roman history books

portraying the message that Rome was destined to rule. At least one of his accounts contradict that greatly,  as at the battle of Cannae in 216 B.C. against no other than Hannibal

who trounced the Romans,  killing 70,000 of them in the battle. Before the battle was fought,  Rome put together their largest army ever.  The two Roman consuls argued about strategy,  Varro favored a head on clash with Hannibal, while Paullus,  advocated  a more cautious approach.  Ironically it was Varro that won the argument,  lost the battle,  but was among the few that survived,    while Paullus was killed in the battle.

HANNIBAL

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END OF PART 1

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Jeffrey R Hilton