Saved from English Crowing by Roberto!

 

 

What the weather girls, in doors in a nice studio, call 'light rain showers,' have been falling for the last 24 hours on and off.  Late last night I had to check it was indeed rain that had water sweeping its way down the gutters rather than the tears of the loud English fans wending their way home.

Not long after the game ended I could hear shouting outside.  Individuals, groups of two or three, larger groups also, heading home under the influence and none too chuffed about the result.  

Indoors I was laughing! 

Twitter and I, plus a couple of million 'Jocks,' Welsh and Irish, were rejoicing at the end of the English imperialist dream of success.  Much wit was in evidence, and not a little smugness also.  This, not without reason.

Having England and the English as a neighbour has not made Scotland's life easy.  Since time began, let's say about a thousand years ago, the southern bullies have tried to steal what is now Scotland for their own personal glory.  It is probable that we can begin this in the reign of the big bully boy Edward I.  Being over 6ft tall at a time when most were not anywhere near that height gave him the ability to throw his weaight around.  As King of England he wished to subject Scotland to his rule also.  We refused, and while Edward tricked John Balliol, then King of Scots, into a prison cell and false subjugation, and while William Wallace led the opposition to the brute, Scotland remained free.  (Note, you can be King of England, but not King of Scotland.  You can only be 'King of Scots.'  If you fail the Scots democratically chop your head off.)  Having chopped up Wallace in 1305 Edward thought he was getting his Scotland at last.  However, by Edwards gracious death in 1307 Scotland was set to be a totally independent and efficient country in its own right.  

There were many attempts by the bully boys down south but none succeeded until the Lairds were bribed and threatened with loss if they did not sign Scotland over to what became laughingly known as 'Great Britain in 1707.'  This was rejected  by the people and still is.  This 'Great Britain' was soon to be seen as nothing more than 'Greater England,' and Scotland and Wales comprise England's last colonies.  

Add to this the  smug arrogance of the said English at all times.  Most recently under this Conservative government, no matter which PM, in which Scotland has been, like Wales and Northern Ireland, considered irrelevant in Brexit or indeed anything else.  Bully boy tactics do not make for peace.

English fans, led by the media who know what the readers want to see, have emphasised their dominance over all others, a truly xenophobic jingoism which pervades England, even among the 'nicer people.'  It is deep in their heart, the English consider themselves better than all others.  Facts do not intrude here, reality is not required.  An ill-thought vague view of History tells them they once ruled the world and therefore have a right to rule it again.  Hence Brexit!  The stupid idea that if you leave a successfull union and 'go it alone' you will succeed because 'You are English!'  This is turning out to be false, but they do not yet accept this.

All this adds up to Scotland, amongst other nations, despising England.  It is easy to like many of them, we have lots in common, but the attitude that prevails is 'England first' the rest are our colonies.  

You know what they can do with that!

 

 

So last night, a half decent, but lacking fire up front, England side, played a half decent, but not the best version of Italy in the Euro 2020 final.  Italy dominated after England's lucky goal in the first minute.  Had that goal not gone in we would all have been done and dusted before ten O'clock, as it was Italy, full of the usual style, lacked the flair we usually see to break through England's defence.  The goal came eventually, from a 'British' style corner that England failed to deal with, and somehow England survived until the end of extra time.  

Penalties are not the best way to win a cup final, however there is no alternative that makes sense.  With penalties there is no good in being clever, just do not look at the goalie, possibly glance at the opposing corner you are aiming for, and just hit it had into a corner, low or high.  Several players tried to be smart.  This rarely works.  Sure some talented players do this and make it look easy, it isn't, and it showed last night.  There have been many, mostly, but not only, young players who have failed at penalties in this competition.  I doubt they will fail next time.  It is good, once the manager has stopped hitting them, that he picks them up and rebuilds their personal belief.  One or two however could do with being whipped first!

There were many jumping on the bandwagon before the game, now they jump on the detractor bandwagon or disappear into the gloom.  Politicians abounded in praise of their team, even if they were not sure what shirt they were wearing.  Today they remain silent, except for the usual backbench Tory spouting gentle racism.  

The Brexit mentallity showed yesterday, England fans in various parts of the country, including Leicester Square, were fighting with one another, bottles thrown, near riots preveailing.  All this while TV folk spoke of the team 'Bringing the nation together.'

Tee Hee.

Not long after midnight, the cries of the departing fans ringing out in the darkness outside, we saw Blue flashing lights as police cars left the station behind me to 'investigate' parties of failed celebrants.  No stories from these have been released sadly.  The rain did not deter the cries, and I was too cowardly to open the window and shout "Forza Italia!"  The landlord would not like his windows removed.

From the time the penalties were missed the three Black players who missed theirs have been subject to clear racist abuse.  I noticed one man on Twitter, named MALIK, telling Mr Sako to, 'Get out of my country!'  I thought that interesting.  Much worse was seen and some published in the press will be costing a few their jobs today.  Even the 'Met' police will be investigating this.  This was to be expected, just under the surface of the English lies a 'white only England,' and it takes little for this to emerge into view.

We can all understand how easy it is to be racist if the world in which you are brought up changes, especially when it appears to change so fast.  The governments of the day ignoring the 'white working class,' and indeed recently encouraging them to believe they are being robbed by immigrants, have all led to such attitudes deepening.  There is no easy answer to this, and Brexit has multiplied the xenophobia greatly.  

Italy however, with masses more immigrants than the UK, celebrate in style.  Many grateful for Scotland's support, and all Italians resident in the UK wary about their windows being put in.  None round here it appears.  

Today all was normal, the media trying to avoid stabbing players in the back, but that will come, and a quick trip to Tesco offered no comment from anyone re the game.  Tee Hee again!

I have tried to get people to offer manager Roberto Mancini the 'Freedom of Edinburgh' for his work in saving Scotland, Wales and Ireland, from the arrogant crowing an England victory would have thrust upon us.  Such service to mankind deserves a reward, and Scotland must not be slow to offer this I say.    

Viva Italia! We Hope...

 

Searching Again

@BraintreeMuseum

To keep me awake the museum have ordered me to find an Italian Prisoner of War, or at least details regarding his stay here for a visitor.  This I find is not an easy task!  You might expect a list of such people to be located in some archive but this it appears is unlikely.  The Red Cross appears to have more chance of providing an answer to individuals seeking individuals than the UK government.  

Thousands of such men arrived here after being captured, or surrendering in droves, in North Africa during the early part of that campaign.  Only the hardened Mussolini Fascists were keen to continue the war and cause upset in POW camps, most just wanted to go home and get back on with drinking wine and leering at women.

Once the Italians had left the war a vast number of Italians were allowed to roam comparatively free around the nation or at least near to the camp.  In our case it is clear they were moved out as German POW's moved in, I met one a couple of years ago and listened to his story.  

In our case it appears the local man with a lorry trundled out on special petrol coupons to carry the Italians to various farms round about where they kept themselves fit by seeding, ploughing or harvesting or one of the million or two other jobs available on the farm in those days.  In summer this could be very pleasant indeed especially if 'Land Girls' were also working there, in winter however this would be hard and often unpleasant work, freezing cold, handling beets and turnips by hand, small food allowance and cold berths back home in the camp.  Often I suppose not much different for many from the land they had left but for city dwellers this would be a hard life.

Anyway so far I have discovered little, the museum has less, and I cannot trace official lists.  That may be resolved by the Red Cross but it will not be resolved by official channels.

I am back off to sleep... 

   

Sergeant Edward James Cuming 1270898

Wellington

A few days ago Tony contacted me re his research of a downed Wellington Bomber, and in particular the Wireless Operator, Sergeant  Edward James Cuming (1270898). (note the spelling)  As always I find things such as this interesting in so many ways.  During Tony's research he discovered the wireless operator came from this area yet was not one of those mentioned on the Braintree and Bocking WW2 War Memorial site that I created.  That indeed intrigues!  I had no details of this man and it appears like so many others he has left little imprint on the area, although by 1939 Braintree had around 7500 of a population. From the details given I looked around but nothing comes up which always annoys me.  Plenty of RAF sites and some indication regarding the operations at the time but nothing re the man's home or family.  However it is indeed amazing what arises when you search 'Cuming!'  

The Bombers story commences at the RAF base at Protville in Tunisia at six thirty in the evening of the 16th September 1943.  It must be remembered that the Italian campaign had only just begun, Italy surrendering on the 3rd of September, the war at this time was far from over and victory uncertain, and the crew knew they were flying into heavily defended territory.  Nevertheless the Wellington Bomber, FU-K, of 458 Squadron (An RAAF, Royal Australian Air Force Squadron, flown by RAF personnel) headed out into the night on a routine scouting mission along the coast of Italy beginning at Civitavecchia and heading up to the Savona Gorjona islands from where they intended to turn towards Bastia in the north of Corsica, and then run down the coast of Sardinia and home. This appears to have been a common routine for this squadron at the time with the danger being clear as several others were shot down, alone, in similar fashion. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to base. One man's body was however recovered, Flight Sergeant E.L.Wilson, the second pilot, who now lies buried in the Florence War Cemetery. This indicates the plane came down as it approached or passed over the islands but the wreckage has so far not been discovered.  Was there engine trouble, did enemy fire deal with them, German anti aircraft fire was very effective, or did a night fighter bring them down?  The second pilot got out and possibly the rear gunner, why not the others?   If they got out they may have landed in the sea, and during the day this was hazardous, at night such a situation would be perilous!  No message was sent, does this indicate the wireless operator or his equipment were hit and put out of action?  German pilots entered details of their hits into the squadron log, I expect German efficiency required anti-aircraft guns to report in similar manner.  One day the details may hopefully be discovered

The crew of FU-K comprised:-

RAF FO Driver, P R Captain (Pilot)
RAF Sgt E L Wilson (2nd Pilot)
RAF FO Holt, G (Navigator)
RAF Sgt E J Cuming, (Wireless Operator)
RAF Sgt G R Potter, (SE/Operator)
Sgt D A E Salt, (Rear Gunner)

Driver, Holt, Potter and our man E.J. Cuming, are commemorated on the RAF Malta memorial to those missing in the the Mediterranean area. Wilson in the Florence Cemetery and it appears no record can be found re Sgt D.A.E. Salt, possibly he survived, but like so many other war mysteries it may never be known what happened to him. He, like so many others, remains 'Known unto God.'

With so little details regarding Sgt Cuming it would be good for Tony to discover more about this man and his family. Sadly people often leave so little trace and no details of their lives are ever found. The hope is one day more information will arise. I have placed Edward James Cuming on our memorial along with two others who were not placed on the official memorial by their relatives. On occasion there are good and various reasons the names are withheld. It would be good to know why those omitted were left off the memorial also.

RAF Memorial Malta

News Today

On this April Fools Day the news offered to us via screaming headlines and chattering voices informs us, to some extent, that the Conservative Party's vain attempt to amend the 'Welfare State' is once again under way.  Having spent the past few years informing 'Middle England' that all on benefit were scroungers, that the vast majority of those on sickness benefit were fit for work and that those on housing benefit had plenty more cash than those working, a state of divisive hate has arisen between those poorly paid ion work and those on benefit.

A note on language here.  We used to refer to 'Social Security,' a system that secured the individual from poverty, starvation and homelessness, whether through unemployment, sickness or other outside situation.  Now we used the word 'Welfare,' an American term that implies all such are lazy scroungers.  A small but important use of language encouraged by the Tory press.

There are, and have always been, people deliberately refusing to work while claiming as much as they could get for nothing.  Liverpool and Glasgow know much of this.  However the fact remains that the near three million unemployed would take suitable work tomorrow if it was on offer!  Where I ask are such jobs?  The Tory's claim a million have found work, but the vast majority are part time, and then on minimum wage.  Refusal to accept such work, even if highly qualified elsewhere, is not an option given by this government of millionaires who would never dirty their hands by working.  Ian Duncan Smith never stacked shelves when he was twice unemployed!

The amendments to the Social Security budget is merely an attempt to cut the bill, understandably, and get the 'Daily Mail' reader to vote Conservative by encouraging a hatred of benefit seekers and a false promise of tax cuts.   Sadly as so many middle classes now find themselves claiming dole money I fear this will not be successful,  especially as both Dave and George have missed many opportunities to improve the nation and instead turned it into a liberal ghetto, losing their core voters while doing so.  

The Labour Party?  Ed Milliband will follow a similar course.  After all Labour began the use of the ATOS company to weed out those fit for work from those genuinely unfit.  The money made by declaring an individual fit ensured many, whether missing limbs or mentally sick, were declared fit, in spite of the vast majority winning appeals backed up by medical records.  The sick in Afghanistan get better care.  Labour offer nothing, and it is Ed's fault.

'The welfare reforms' have been badly thought out, rushed through, and incompetently handled.  IDS will still insist they work however. and work is something he has never managed successfully before.

Not only, but also the Tory plan for selling off the NHS has taken another step forward today.Since the days of the vile Thatcher women destroying the nation the NHS has been under threat.  To save the taxpayer a penny, and earn votes for herself, she began to sell the NHS, that failed, but only just.  All governments since have puzzled how to maintain a free health system while cutting the ever increasing costs, all have failed.  On the same day that a failed reorganisation of the Social Security is introduced the government introduce a revamped NHS.  In theory doctors will control the spending, in practice it will do nothing for patient care, and fail to stop the overspending.  Hamfisted and ideologically led the overhaul will be amended by the next Labour government, quite how we await with anticipation.   Not exactly eager anticipation I must say. The Labour Party has nothing to offer but Tory failings, and that is not enough.

The biggest news however, according to the number of times it has been mentioned on the news, is David Milliaband's resignation as a director of Sunderland Football Club because they have chosen to sign Paulo Di Canio as manager.  Di Canio, an unstable character, was recently fired from lower division Swindon Town, but is seen as the man to fire up Sunderland as they fight the danger of relegation and all that means.

Now Milliband's problem is not a football one. No sensible Premier club would appoint this man Di Canio.  Let me give an example of his character.  While playing for Celtic some years back he won a penalty kick, probably rightly.  He took the penalty, he scored the penalty, then he, not they, he began to argue with the Heart of Midlothian defenders.  He got sent off!  Rarely do Celtic players get sent off, rarely does any player get sent off for winning and scoring a penalty kick!

David Milliband objects however not to the nature of the man but to his politics.  Italian football is very politically motivated.  Silvio Berlusconi, when not running his TV stations, bouncing around on young women, or even in one of his court appearances owns A.C.Milan, one of Europe's premier football teams.   In Rome Lazio, who Di Canio played for, represent the right wing in Italian politics.  All other teams have leanings one way or another, something which makes overall control of football in Italy very difficult for any government, and Italy has had lots of them  since the war.

Di Canio famously used the Fascist right arm salute during one game, for reasons I know not, and gained much opprobrium for doing so.  Whatever his reasons, I forget those now, it matters not.  This, especially in the left leaning press, was a great evil and a wonderful way to fill space.  He has never been allowed to forget this.  David Milliband has resigned he says, because of this man's political beliefs.  Is he right to do so?  Is he telling the truth?

I cannot stop dealing with people because of their political beliefs, to do so would be 'undemocratic.'  For Milliband to resign because the manager appears to support Mussolini is likewise 'undemocratic,' and somewhat over the top.  However let us remember that David has also resigned from the Labour Party and taken a job in the USA leading an 'International Charity,' for which incidentally he will be paid some £200,00 a year.  During the past year he has already, it has been claimed, received almost a million in payments for his 'other projects.'  Not bad for a man who failed to become the popular leader of the Labour Party because of the Unions choosing his more amenable brother.   

David has made a splash here.  This news has gone worldwide.  His stand against fascism and Nazism is clear.  What is also clear is that when Ed, his brother and present leader of the Labour Party fails to ensure a decisive defeat of this shoddy government then David will return as the great white hope, ascending from the Americas to the delight of the desperate Labour accolites and then lead them into a brave new world.

Aye, he cares about fascism right enough.

It is an interesting aside that while the dangers and horrors of Fascism, as seen during the 20th century, are real enough the dangers and horrors of the left as noted under Communism are less dangerous in some eyes.  The chattering classes in the UK, that is the middle class socialists, not those that have to work and get their hands dirty socialists, lean to the left while paying lip service to the wrongs of Stalin or Mao, Pol Pot or Castro.  Dictatorship is OK if we do it apparently.  I must add that the first to object to living  under such a system as run by those men would be the chattering classes.  Their left wing approach is to let them dictate to others, while keeping their wealth, and demand their rights to progress while pretending to themselves that they do this for everyone.  The Blairite Milliband flying to his wealthy abode in new York has laid his plans to possess the vote of such as they.  While pandering to middle England he will soon be pandering, from afar, to the Guardian reader.  Both share a delight in their money, both vote accordingly.

The people?  They know their place, and the news agenda is fixed by their betters to ensure they keep it. 

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