#Comrade Ogilvy

[1984-daily]

"Comrade Ogilvy"

Comrade Ogilvy, unimagined an hour ago, was now a fact. It struck him as curious that you could create dead men but not living ones. Comrade Ogilvy, who had never existed in the present, now existed in the past, and when once the act of forgery was forgotten, he would exist just as authentically, and upon the same evidence, as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar.

[poems-from-around-the-world]

The Pearl Of Them All - William Henry Ogilvie - Scotland/Australia

Gaily in front of the stockwhip

The horses come galloping home,

Leaping and bucking and playing

With sides all a lather of foam;

But painfully, slowly behind them,

With head to the crack of the fall,

And trying so gamely to follow

Comes limping the pearl of them all.

He is stumbling and stiff in the shoulder,

And splints from the hoof to the knee,

But never a horse on the station

Has half such a spirit as he;

Give these all the boast of their breeding

These pets of the paddock and stall,

But ten years ago not their proudest

Could live with the pearl of them all.

No journey has ever yet beat him,

No day was too heavy or hard,

He was king of the camp and the muster

And pride of the wings of the yard;

But Time is relentless to follow;

The best of us bow to his thrall;

And death, with his scythe on his shoulder,

Is dogging the pearl of them all.

I watch him go whinnying past me,

And memories come with a whirl

Of reckless, wild rides with a comrade

And laughing, gay rides with a girl —

How she decked him with lilies and love-knots

And plaited his mane at my side,

And once in the grief of a parting

She threw her arms round him and cried.

And I promised — I gave her my promise

The night that we parted in tears,

To keep and be kind to the old horse

Till Time made a burden of years;

And then for his sake and one woman’s…

So, fetch me my gun from the wall!

I have only this kindness to offer

As gift to the pearl of them all.

Here! hold him out there by the yard wing,

And don’t let him know by a sign:

Turn his head to you — ever so little!

I can’t bear his eyes to meet mine.

Then — stand still, old boy! for a moment …

These tears, how they blind as they fall!

Now, God help my hand to be steady…

Good-bye! — to the pearl of them all!

[aidan-orwellian03]

Basic understanding of 1984

*SPOILERS AHEAD FOR 1984 BOOK* *This post is also just based on my view on the book based on what I understand and what I read(in the book)/watched on the internet* *and because I am posting this so just I can explain to my friend about 1984, I won't be putting any other sources nor putting them in order as followed in the book, and apologies for any mistakes*

Intro to the book: 1984 is a dystopian novel written by George Orwell (real name: Eric Blair) in 1948/49 which was directed at the Soviet Union and a bit of N*zi Germany (and other similar communist countries in general that has a dictatorship) and Stalin's dictatorship.

Scene Takes place in the year 1984 in dystopian Great Britain (In the book is called Airstrip One) Airstrip One is one of the three supercontinents in the book whic is Oceania (The three supercontinuents are Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia) Oceania spans from the British isles, the entire North and South American territory, parts of South Africa until Australia and New Zealand. Eurasia spans the entirety of Europe and Russia. Eastasia spans from Japan, through Korea and China, all the way down to Malaysia as shown in the pic below

Oceania is ruled under a party known as INGSOC (INGSOC = ING SOC = Inglish Socialism = English Socialism) and its leader, Big Brother. The English language (which in the book is called Oldspeak = standard english) is slowly being wiped out and replaced with Newspeak where terms are shortened, distorted or completely removed to fit INGSOC's agenda). The hierarchy is divided into three parts, the Inner Party (Higher-ups and officials most loyal to INGSOC and Big Brother), Outer Party (Other less prominent party members) and finally, the Proles (proletariat, according to the book are uneducated people, peasants)

Oceania, or more accurately INGSOC holds the following three principles: War Is Peace Freedom Is Slavery Ignorance Is Strength Part 1 We get introduced to our protagonist and the world of 1984, his name is Winston Smith, a worker in the outer partyThe poor living conditions in his home, Victory Mansion are soon mentioned. Orwell then introduced another "character" known as Big Brother, a person on posters who has a strict looking face and a moustache (A reference possibly to Stalin), it is not known if Big Brother is real. It becomes obvious how brutal the dictatorship is, all Inner and Outer party members have a TV (called Telescreen in the book) which shows propaganda videos and it comes with a camera that watches the members every move in their house. Any small hints of revolt means death for the person. In simple terms, what one speaks or even think(!!) can be illegal, which is known as Thoughtcrime (Even talking in your dreams about going against Big Brother is a crime, this will be mentioned later). One will be arrested by the Thoughtpolice if involved in such crime

We then learn about Winston Smith works at the Ministry of Truth (The propaganda wing of INGSOC where ironically lies are being produced) Winston is responsible with twisting the truth to meet INGSOC's agenda. (For example: A former high ranking officer was [possibly] accused of going against Big Brother and is now an unperson*, Winston now has to create a fake dead person who never existed to replace this actually dead person) "Comrade Ogilvy, who had never existed in the present, now existed in the past, and when once the act of forgery was forgotten, he would exist just as authentically, and upon the same evidence, as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar."

Winston remembers years ago, he saw a picture (before burning it) of three prominent INGSOC inner party members attended a delegation in New York, they were all arrested executed and became unperson/unpeople and history of them never existed. But the picture was proof that they did exist before. *Unperson means someone who is removed from history by a dictatorship / removed as in completely never born ever. *Before I continue, I should introduce the ministries of 1984. Ministries are as follows: -Ministry of Truth (Newspeak: Minitrue) -Ministry of Love (Newspeak: Miniluv) (the ministry where people are "reeducated" via [ironically] torture -Ministry of Peace (Newspeak: Minipax) (the war Ministry of Oceania which ironically is responsible for creating a forever war between Oceania and the other supercontinents) -Ministry of Plenty (Newspeak: Miniplenty) (Ministry that controls the food that is given to the people)

Another example of the Ministry of Truth manipulating the news was when one day they announced a bad news that chocolate rations were reduced to 20 grams from 30 grams. But the next day, the news announced that it has increased to 20 grams instead of decrease.

“It appeared that there had even been demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grammes a week. And only yesterday, he reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be REDUCED to twenty grammes a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours?"

And the most interesting part is that everyone seemed to believe it without once questioning it.

Next in this part, we are also met with Winston's neighbours, the Parsons. They have two children showing absolute loyalty to Big Brother and were throwing a big tamper tantrum for being unable to get to watch the hanging of war prisoners from Eastasia. Their loyalty was scary, children were taught to betray their parents of their parents ever showed one sign of betrayal towards INGSOC.

"It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened of their own children."

The party also holds a thing called Two-minutes Hate where Inner and Outer Party members are gathered in a large hall and a video of Emmanuel Goldstein is played (Goldstein was loyal to Big Brother before he worked with resistance groups and was assumed to be executed)(It is unknown whether Goldstein is actually real or made up by the party) In this two minutes hate, party members boo and jeer at Goldstein, showing their hate and anger until finally an image of Big Brother is played and the members shows relieve and start chanting B.B. (short for Big Brother). This shows how brainwashed people are by their government that they show absolute loyalty.

It is here we are introduced to a new character from the inner party known as O'Brien (who, to Winston's observations is an ally against Big Brother). In this part, we are also met with two other charcters, Julia and Mr. Charrington. Mr Charrington is a pawn shop owner, selling things from before the Revolution and where Winston got his diary from. Winston meanwhile, hates Julia, to him, she always looked suspicious, thinking that she works for the Thoughtpolice as a spy.

Finally another character we get introduced to is Syme, WInston's "friend" who is responsible in the production of the 11th edition of the Newspeak dictionary.

“It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words. Of course the great wastage is in the verbs and adjectives, but there are hundreds of nouns that can be got rid of as well. It isn't only the synonyms; there are also the antonyms. After all, what justification is there for a word which is simply the opposite of some other words? A word contains its opposite in itself. Take 'good,' for instance. If you have a word like 'good,' what need is there for a word like 'bad'? 'Ungood' will do just as well--better, because it's an exact opposite, which the other is not. Or again, if you want a stronger version of 'good,' what sense is there in having a whole string of vague useless words like 'excellent' and 'splendid' and all the rest of them? 'Plusgood' covers the meaning, or 'doubleplusgood' if you want something stronger still...In the end the whole notion of goodness and badness will be covered by only six words--in reality, only one word. Don't you see the beauty of that, Winston?”

That excerpt from the book gives a quick summary of how Newspeak works

*Okay I am writing a little too long, maybe I shall shorten for the next few parts* Now I will give a summary of a summary rather than story telling * 💀💀

Part Two

We reached the part where the subplot is introduced, Winston got to know Julia after she had confessed. They started dating though in secrecy (Dating between party members is a taboo). They met at a forest where they made love after they made sure the coast was clear.

Making love in Airstrip One is strict, almost forbidden, there is even the league, Junior Anti-Sex League which aims to end sexual pleasure once and for all. Sex is only seen as a chore like sweeping or cleaning the house, doing it out of obligation instead of an act of pleasure, the party eliminates the pleasure of making love.

And since Winston and Julia made love with pleasure, they are already criminals.

“The sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion. Desire was thoughtcrime.”

Later in the story, they decided to do making love at the room above Mr Charrington's shop where there was no telescreens to catch them.

After that, O'Brien suddenly called on Winston and Julia and invited them to join the resistance group known as the Brotherhood which was believed to be ran by Goldstein. They showed their pledge until when they were asked if they were willing to break up/betray each other if they were told to, they immediately said no, showing their love and loyalty to each other.

"Confessing isn't betrayal. I mean feelings. If they can make me change my feelings. If they can stop me from loving you, that would be real betrayal."

They were given a book which told them about the three principles of INGSOC (which I mentioned above)

“The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia, but to keep the very structure of society intact.”

Finally, one day when they were resting in the room after making love, there was a voice shouting at them, ordering them to stand still and not move. A picture fell down, revealing the telescreen hidden behind it and Big Brother was watching them all the while.

It is the Mr Charrington all the while was a spy for the Thoughtpolice andwas also responsible in the capture of Winston and Julia by the Thoughtpolice.

Part 3

Winston wakes up in what he believes is the Ministry of Truth, in a room where there are no windows and just a telescreen. He is starved and not allowed to eat and can only sit in one spot. If he even moves out of the sight of the telescreen, he will scolded. People came and went in the room with him. Until he saw Mr Pason, his neighbour. He was arrested after his 7 year old daughter turned him in to the Thoughtpolice for rebellious thoughts while sleeping (he was sleep talking as mentioned earlier)

"‘Who denounced you?’ said Winston. ‘It was my little daughter,’ said Parsons with a sort of doleful pride. ‘She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day."

These prisoners were taken to the infamous Room 101. Soon Winston was taken to torture (not yet in room 101). It was revealed that O'Brien too was part of the Thoughtpolice as well. This shows that in such a universe, you can hardly trust anyone. Who you may see as your ally may actually turn out to be an enemy. Same as assuming one is an enemy (Remember, Winston always assumed Julia was part of the Thoughtpolice and he thought O'Brien was an ally)

He was electrocuted as O'Brien confronted and "reeducated" him. Here we come to learn about the concept of 2+2=5. Doublethink as they call it, the act of accepting two contrary beliefs as one (Best example is the three principles of INGSOC) O'Brien makes Winston believe that 2+2=5 even though Winston knows that 2+2=4. In the end, Winston gave in because of the torture.

" ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. You will kill me if you do that again. Four, five, six—in all honesty I don’t know.’ "

O'Brien then confronted Winston about the picture (as I had mentioned above) Winston said he was certain he saw the picture, but O'Brien denied it, saying it never existed and gaslit Winston.

" ‘It exists!’ he cried. ‘No,’ said O’Brien. He stepped across the room. There was a memory hole in the opposite wall. O’Brien lifted the grating. Unseen, the frail slip of paper was whirling away on the current of warm air; it was vanishing in a flash of flame. O’Brien turned away from the wall. ‘Ashes,’ he said. ‘Not even identifiable ashes. Dust. It does not exist. It never existed.’ ‘But it did exist! It does exist! It exists in memory. I remember it. You remember it.’ ‘I do not remember it,’ said O’Brien. "

And finally Winston came to accepting it never existed even though he know it exists (this is another example of doublethink) It shows how dictatorship countries control info that their citizen possess.

But still, he loved Julia more than anything else, and of course O'Brien wants to change that, they sent him to be further reeducated in Room 101. A room where it is said they have your biggest fears. Winston's biggest fear is rats so he had a cage put around his head and a rat in that cage which is near to his face and almost biting him. He screamed in fear and finally broke down and betrayed Julia.

" 'Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!’ "

In the end, he loved only one person and that person is Big Brother.

Anyways, that's all comrades! (2400 words est.)

[prosedumonde]

Une étrange idée frappa Winston. On pouvait créer des morts, mais il était impossible de créer des vivants. Le camarade Ogilvy, qui n’avait jamais existé dans le présent, existait maintenant dans le passé, et quand la falsification serait oubliée, son existence aurait autant d’authenticité, autant d’évidence que celle de Charlemagne ou de Jules César.

George Orwell, 1984

English : It struck him as curious that you could create dead men but not living ones. Comrade Ogilvy, who had never existed in the present, now existed in the past, and when once the act of forgery was forgotten, he would exist just as authentically, and upon the same evidence, as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar.

[achildwithadhd]

1984 ~ Newtmas Fic

Just a little Newtmas Modern!AU

Thomas needs to get this book finished for his class, or he might fail. Luckily for him, Newt is a good boyfriend and offers to help. However, there is more flirting and mucking around that actual work isn't getting done.

Tommy is sprawled out on my bed as I sit at my desk finishing off my English essay. He’s looking frustrated, a copy of ‘1984’ in his hands. I watch him out of the corner of my eye as he stays on the same page for a few minutes. The sun streaming in from the open window outlines his head, making him look like an angel.

“This is hopeless,” he growls, chucking the book across the room. I turn to him, a slight smile on my lips.

“I can’t finish this book in time, and I really am trying to make an effort.” He half cries as he flops down onto the bed.

I stand up and pick up the book, which is lying near the window, spine up. Poor book, how this shuck face bullies you. It doesn’t seem too big. I walk over and scooch in next to Thomas, he repositions himself so his head is on my lap. I lean my back to the wall. I open the book.

“Chapter one: it was a bright cold day in April,” I start to reading. His hand comes up and pulls the book away.

“Newt, you don’t have to do this,” he whispers. I roll my eyes and pull the book back.

“It was a bright cold day in April and the clocks were striking thirteen.”

He doesn’t object any further, he really does need to pass this class. I hold the book in one hand and with the other I play with Tommy’s hair. It’s so soft, I can tell he has washed it recently.

We sit like this for a while, me reading and Thomas making comments here and there about the book. My voice is getting scratchy and my eyes begin to droop as I finish Chapter Four.

“Comrade Ogilvy, who had never existed in the present, now existed in the past, and when once the act of forgery was forgotten, he would exist just as authentically, and upon the same evidence as Charlemagne or Julius Caesar.”

I slide in a bookmark and close the book. I look down at Tommy, his eyes closed and his breathing slow.

“You’re hopeless,” I laugh as I push the hair out of his eyes.

“Shut up, I’m still awake,” he mumbles as he slowly opens his eyes and turns his head to look at me. I laugh again and poke his nose playfully.

“You’re gonna have to move, you’re killing my legs.”

“Are you calling me fat, shank?” he exclaims, jokingly offended.

“I’m not calling you light,” I snark back, pushing him off me. He rolls but catches himself, slowly slipping off the bed.

“Newt please, help me up,” he pleads.

I stand up on the bed, looking down over him and I gently push him with my foot and say,

“Long live the king.” As he fully falls off the bed and lands with a thud.

I jump off the bed and quickly run downstairs laughing, knowing, full well, he’s going to come after me.

“You’re gonna regret that Newt!” he yells from my bedroom, I hear him giving chase, clambering down the stairs. I watch him, from the kitchen, jump the banister and land softly at the foot of the stairs. Stupid parkour skills.

He charges at me, roaring, I laugh and try to dodge out of the way. Unfortunately, he is too quick, he picks me up and flings me over his shoulder. I yelp. It’s like I weigh nothing to him.

“Tommy! Put me down!” I half scream/laugh. My stomach is sore and I’m getting dizzy from being upside down

“Apologise,” he demands, also laughing.

“NEVER!” I call back. He starts spinning.

“No. No! Tommy put me down!” I shriek, but he continues.

“Say you’re sorry”

“Ok, ok,” I cried out of breath, “I’m sorry. Can you stop spinning now?”

He stops. The world is still twirling around me. He plonks me down on one of the couches and topples on top of me. knocking the wind out of my chest.

“Get off me you shank! You’re crushing me!” I whine, trying to push him off, with no avail.

“Nope!” he pops the ‘p’. we are face to face, him grinning like a madman, but a good madman. He looks so cute and happy. I only have one option left, to free myself from his crushing weight.

I start ticking him, my fingers swiftly attacking his sides. His eyes go wide and he begins to squirm.

“Newt! Please… stop!” he laughs. He eventually rolls off me, but the traitor brings me with him. We land on the carpet, Tommy flat on his back and me triumphantly lording over him sitting on his stomach. I stop tickling him and smile cheekily.

“Pinned ya!” I shout laughing. He laughs softly, slightly out of breath from being tickled. We sit in silence, just staring at each other.

When he leans up to kiss me, I don’t pull away. He sits up and presses his lips gently to mine.

[murdercide626]

Ogilvy “Sonic” Qillman

by bigdad

“The scout of the Knothole branch of the Resistance. Gifted with unnatural speed, he tries his best to help out his comrades against Robotnik and his regime, while also struggling to master his own abilities. He’s also an (almost) big brother type toward the resident genius, Tails who made Sonic his frictionless, reinforced boots.”

[livinglikebritishroyalty]

𝒫𝓇𝒾𝓃𝒸𝑒 𝐸𝒹𝓌𝒶𝓇𝒹

♕ 𝐹𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝒩𝒶𝓂𝑒: Edward George Nicholas Paul Patrick

♕ 𝐹𝓊𝓁𝓁 𝒯𝒾𝓉𝓁𝑒: His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Duke of Kent

♕ 𝐵𝓸𝓇𝓃: Wednesday, October 9th, 1935 at No. 3 Belgrave Square in London, England

♕ 𝒫𝒶𝓇𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈: His Royal Highness Prince George The Duke of Kent (Father) & Her Royal Highness Princess Marina Duchess of Kent (Mother)

♕ 𝒮𝒾𝒷𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Sister) & His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent (Brother)

♕ 𝒮𝓅𝓸𝓊𝓈𝑒: Her Royal Highness Katherine The Duchess of Kent (M. 1961)

♕ 𝒞𝒽𝒾𝓁𝒹𝓇𝑒𝓃: George Windsor Earl of St Andrews (Son), Lady Helen Taylor (Daughter), Lord Nicholas Windsor (Son), & Lord Patrick Windsor (Son: Stillborn on Wednesday, October 5th, 1977)

♕ 𝐸𝒹𝓊𝒸𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓸𝓃: Ludgrove (In Berkshire, England), Eton College (In Berkshire, England), Institut Le Rosey (In Rolle, Switzerland), The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (In Berkshire, England)

♕ 𝐼𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓇𝑒𝓈𝓉𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒲𝓸𝓇𝓀: Interests: Armed Forces (Air Force, Allied Code-Breaking, Arms, Armour, Army, Artillery, Aviation, Blues and Royals, Children of Deployed Parents, Defense Studies, Fallen Soldiers, Lifeboat Services, Life Guards, Navigators, Navy, Pilots, Retired Service People, Security Studies, World War 1 & 2), Business (Business Leaders, Community Leaders, Investments, & Trade), Education (Electronics, Engineering, Chemistry, Global Aerospace, Heritage of Counties, Informational Technology, Science, & Vocational Training), Health (Apothecaries, Burn Treatment, Chest Illness, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Dentists, Doctors, Environmental Medicine, Heart Illness, Hospitals, Leukemia, Myalgic Encephalopathy, Occupational Medicine, Pharmacists, Plastic Surgery Treatment, Post Viral Fatigue Syndrome, Strokes, Surgical Research, & Veterinarians), Other (Agriculture, Conservation, Geography, & Railways/Trains), People (Boy Scouts, Civil Servants, Freemasons, Joint Cultures, Motor Safety, Polish People, Social Clubs, The Disabled, & Young People), Sports (Alpine Ski Racing, Bobsled, Cricket, Croquet, Falconry, Fishing, Golf, Hunting, Lawn Tennis, Race Car Driving, & Skiing), & The Arts (Art History, Broadcasters, Cloth-making, Dance, Journalism, Literature, Music, Opera Music, Photography, & Writers). Work: Associate Member of The International Lawn Tennis Club of Great Britain, Chancellor of The University of Surrey, Fellow of The Royal Society, Founding Member of The International Baccalaureate School, Freeman of The City of London, Freeman/Liveryman of The Honourable Company of Air Pilots, Freeman/Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Mercers, Gold Card Life Member of The The Children’s Charity Variety, Grand Master of The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Grand Master of The United Grand Lodge of England, Grand President of The Masonic Charitable Foundation, Honorary Chair of Gilwell Fellows, Honorary Doctor of Law of The University of Leeds, Honorary Doctor of Philosophy of London Metropolitan University, Honorary Fellow of The Charted Management Institute, Honorary Fellow of The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Honorary Fellow of The The Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Honorary Fellow of The Royal Aeronautical Society, Honorary Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, Honorary Fellow of The Royal Society of Literature of the United Kingdom, Honorary Fellow of The Royal Society of Medicine, Honorary Freeman of The Worshipful Society of Apothecaries of London, Honorary Life Member of The Band of Brothers, Honorary Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Clothworkers, Honorary Liveryman/Assistant Emeritus of The Worshipful Company of Engineers, Honorary Member of Cambridge University’s Scientific Society, Honorary Member of The Guild of Motoring Writers Limited, Honorary Member of The Household Division Yacht Club, Honorary Member of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Honorary Member of The Royal Automobile Club, Honorary Member of The Royal Photographic Society, Honorary Member of The Work Foundation, Honorary Membership of The Old Wellingtonian Lodge, Honorary Preses of The Royal Caledonian Hunt, Honorary President of The Airlander Club, Honorary President of The Royal Geographical Society, Honorary President of The Royal United Services Institute International, High Steward of The Borough Council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Joint Associate Member of The Lawn Tennis Association, Joint Patron of The Anglo-Jordanian Society, Liveryman of The Worshipful Company of Salters, Master of The Lodge of Antiquity, Member of The Blue Seal Club, Member of The Countryside Alliance, Member of The Honourable Artillery Company, Member of The Mountbatten Medal Advisory Panel, Patron of Bal Polski, Patron of Bloodwise, Patron of Boundless by CSMA, Patron of Buck’s Club, Patron of The Canterbury Cathedral Trust, Patron of The Catalogue Raisonne of Works by Philip de Laszlo M.V.O. P.R.B.A. 1969-1937, Patron of Combined Cavalry Old Comrades, Patron of Endeavor National Youth Organization, Patron of Everyone Can!, Patron of St. Mungo’s, Patron of The Army Winter Sports Association, Patron of The Bartok Festival, Patron of The Bletchley Park Trust, Patron of The British Computer Society, Patron of The Charles Douglas-Home Memorial Trust, Patron of The Devonshire and Dorset Regimental Association, Patron of The Edge Foundation, Patron of The Freemasons’ Fund for Surgical Research, Patron of The Gallantry Medallists’ League, Patron of The Hanover Band, Patron of The Institute of Advanced Motorists, Patron of The Institute of Export, Patron of The Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at Birmingham University, Patron of International Musicians Seminar Prussia Cove, Patron of The Kandahar Ski Club, Patron of The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Preservation Society, Patron of The Kent County Agricultural Society, Patron of The Kent County Cricket Club, Patron of The Lifeboat Fund, Patron of The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Patron of The Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Association, Patron of The National Army Museum, Patron of The Newbury Spring Festival, Patron of Opera North, Patron of The P.G. Wodehouse Society, Patron of The Polish Hearth Club (Ognisko Polskie), Patron of The Restore Burns and Wounds Research, Patron of The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, Patron of The Royal Armored Corps War Memorial Benevolent Fund, Patron of The Royal Institution of Australia, Patron of The Royal West Norfolk Golf Club, Patron of The Scots Guard Association, Patron of The Ski Club of Great Britain, Patron of The Society for Army Historical Research, Patron of The Staff College Club, Patron of The Supreme Council 33°, Patron of The Tank Museum, Patron of The Tree Council, Patron of Trinity College London, Patron of The Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, Patron of The UK Friends of the Felix-Mendelssohn-Bartholdy-Stiftung Foundation, Patron of The University of Surrey’s Postgraduate Medical School, Patron of The Watlington Hospital Charitable Trust, Patron of The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum, Patron of Wigmore Hall, President In Chief of The British Racing Drivers’ Club, President of The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club, President of The Anmer Club, President of The Army and Navy Club, President of The Association of Men of Kent and Kentish Men, President of The Cavalry and Guards Club, President of The Chest/Heart/Stroke Medical Research Funds of Scotland, President of The Commonwealth War Graves Commission, President of The Duke of York’s Royal Military School, President of The Engineering Council, President of The Football Association, President of The Henley Society, President of The King Edward’s VII’s Hospital (Sister Agnes), President of The King’s Lynn Festival Limited, President of The Noel Coward Society, President of The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, President of The Royal Armories Development Trust, President of The Royal Choral Society, President of The Royal Institution of Great Britain, President of The Royal Nation Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), President of The Royal United Services Institute for Defense and Security Studies, President of The Scout Association, President of The Stroke Association, President of The Board of Trustees of The Imperial War Museum, President of The UK Trustees of The His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conference Leaders, President of Wellington College, Royal Bencher of The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, Royal Fellow of The Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Member of The Royal Society Club, Royal Patron of The Admiral Ramsay Museum, Royal Patron of The American Air Museum in Britain, Royal Patron of The British-German Association, Royal Patron of The Dresden Trust, Royal Patron of The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, Royal Patron of The Last Night of the Proms in Crakow, Special Representative (Formerly a Vice-Chairman) for The United Kingdom’s International Trade & Investment, Vice-Chairman of The British Overseas Trade Board, Visitor of Cranfield University, & Visitor of The Centenary World Scout Jamboree.

[blogfanreborn777]

Dark Mechanicum 2 by Comrade-Ogilvy

[yourbeauties]

JM Barrie, “Margaret Ogilvy”

She had a son who was far away at school.  I remember very little about him, only that he was a merry-faced boy who ran like a squirrel up a tree and shook the cherries into my lap.  When he was thirteen and I was half his age the terrible news came, and I have been told the face of my mother was awful in its calmness as she set off to get between Death and her boy.  We trooped with her down the brae to the wooden station, and I think I was envying her the journey in the mysterious wagons; I know we played around her, proud of our right to be there, but I do not recall it, I only speak from hearsay.  Her ticket was taken, she had bidden us good-bye with that fighting face which I cannot see, and then my father came out of the telegraph-office and said huskily, ‘He’s gone!’  Then we turned very quietly and went home again up the little brae.  But I speak from hearsay no longer; I knew my mother for ever now... My mother lay in bed with the christening robe beside her, and I peeped in many times at the door and then went to the stair and sat on it and sobbed.  I know not if it was that first day, or many days afterwards, that there came to me, my sister, the daughter my mother loved the best; yes, more I am sure even than she loved me, whose great glory she has been since I was six years old.  This sister, who was then passing out of her teens, came to me with a very anxious face and wringing her hands, and she told me to go ben to my mother and say to her that she still had another boy.  I went ben excitedly, but the room was dark, and when I heard the door shut and no sound come from the bed I was afraid, and I stood still.  I suppose I was breathing hard, or perhaps I was crying, for after a time I heard a listless voice that had never been listless before say, ‘Is that you?’  I think the tone hurt me, for I made no answer, and then the voice said more anxiously ‘Is that you?’ again.  I thought it was the dead boy she was speaking to, and I said in a little lonely voice, ‘No, it’s no him, it’s just me.’  Then I heard a cry, and my mother turned in bed, and though it was dark I knew that she was holding out her arms... At first, they say, I was often jealous, stopping her fond memories with the cry, ‘Do you mind nothing about me?’ but that did not last; its place was taken by an intense desire... to become so like him that even my mother should not see the difference, and many and artful were the questions I put to that end.  Then I practised in secret, but after a whole week had passed I was still rather like myself.  He had such a cheery way of whistling, she had told me, it had always brightened her at her work to hear him whistling, and when he whistled he stood with his legs apart, and his hands in the pockets of his knickerbockers.  I decided to trust to this, so one day after I had learned his whistle (every boy of enterprise invents a whistle of his own) from boys who had been his comrades, I secretly put on a suit of his clothes, dark grey they were, with little spots, and they fitted me many years afterwards, and thus disguised I slipped, unknown to the others, into my mother’s room.  Quaking, I doubt not, yet so pleased, I stood still until she saw me, and then—how it must have hurt her!  ‘Listen!’ I cried in a glow of triumph, and I stretched my legs wide apart and plunged my hands into the pockets of my knickerbockers, and began to whistle... When I became a man and he was still a boy of thirteen, I wrote a little paper called ‘Dead this Twenty Years,’ which was about a similar tragedy in another woman’s life, and it is the only thing I have written that she never spoke about, not even to that daughter she loved the best.  No one ever spoke of it to her, or asked her if she had read it: one does not ask a mother if she knows that there is a little coffin in the house.  She read many times the book in which it is printed, but when she came to that chapter she would put her hands to her heart or even over her ears.

- JM Barrie, “Margaret Ogilvy” 

[inquisition-curations-blog]

Howling Banshee by Comrade-Ogilvi

[blogquantumreality]

Just in case anyone misses the significance of the magnitude of Fox News inventing “Nils Bildt” out of whole cloth. ( x )

[1984-daily]

"Comrade Ogilvy"

At twenty-three he had perished in action. Pursued by enemy jet planes while flying over the Indian Ocean with important despatches, he had weighted his body with his machine gun and leapt out of the helicopter into deep water, despatches and all—an end, said Big Brother, which it was impossible to contemplate without feelings of envy.

[inoxhammer]

Forge world spring by Comrade-Ogilvi

https://comrade-ogilvi.deviantart.com/art/Forge-world-spring-267624856

Visit My Store: https://inoxhammer.com/

[random1984quotes]

The lesson--which is also one of the fundamental principles of Ingsoc--that,' etc., etc.), easy to imitate. At the age of three Comrade Ogilvy had refused all toys except a drum, a sub-machine gun, and a model helicopter.

[notesonphotography]

What was needed was a piece of pure fantasy. Suddenly there sprang into his mind, ready made as it were, the image of a certain Comrade Ogilvy, who had recently died in battle, in heroic circumstances. There were occasions when Big Brother devoted his Order for the Day to commemorating some humble, rank-and-file Party member whose life and death he held up as an example worthy to be followed. To-day he should commemorate Comrade Ogilvy. It was true that there was no such person as Comrade Ogilvy, but a few lines of print and a couple of faked photographs would soon bring him into existence.

1984

George Orwell

[k2kid]

The seems to be no lack of enthusiasm for the Galtonians that joined the 18th Battalion to get into the fight. Even with the advent of static trench warfare due to the mechanization of combat from the use of rapid-fire weapons and massed artillery ending in casualties that had amounted to 9,182 Canadian casualties since the deployment of the 1st Canadian Division to Belgium[i]. These casualties only reflect the battles of Second Ypres and Festubert and does not account for those that died and were wounded during the time preceding or after these major actions.

This enthusiasm is reflected in one such soldier from Galt. He was a diminutive 5’3.5” tall when he enlisted at 20-years old. He was a handsome machinist who was working in Flint, Michigan, but, being a Galt native, he returned to his hometown to enlist to be with men who he knew. His enthusiasm to engage in combat with his battalion is witnessed in his concern about missing the opportunity to go to the Continent with his Battalion because he took ill suddenly.

The 18th Battalion had been in training in England since late April 1915. The Battalion training worked up from individual soldiers’ skills, such as musketry, to company exercises within the Battalion; to larger brigade level exercises; to, finally, divisional exercises. The 18th Battalion was engaged in these exercises starting August 6 with a “Brigade in attack” culminating with a 4-day divisional exercise that started August 22, 1915.

All during this time Private Harry Drinkwater of Galt was missing these exercises and his illness was putting his chance to get into action in peril. He was chomping at the bit to get out of hospital so he would not miss the imminent departure of his Battalion to the Continent and battle.

The problem was he had suffered a burst appendix on July 4, 1915, and he had been operated on promptly on July 5, 1915. But the recovery would be slow, and at the time of writing his letter about his situation he would have had no idea exactly how long he would be in hospital care recuperating.

His letter does not express this fear of being left behind, it will only be later that this sentiment is express by other who knew and admired him.

His letter brings forth some aspects of military service during this time for soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF).

Galt’s Ambulance Saves One of Our Own Soldiers[ii]

HAD THIS SWIFT MOTOR CONVEYANCE NOT BEEN AT HAD, HE MAY HAVE LOST HIS LIFE—”SO YOU KNOW I APPRECIATE IT,” HE WRITES IN LETTER HOME.

From the Royal Army Medical Corp Hospital at Shorncliffe, Kent, England, Pte. Harry Drinkwater, of the 18th Battalion, writes the following letter to Mr. And Mrs. Joseph Beer, 147 Water street south.[iii] In it he tells of suddenly taking ill and having to be rushed to hospital for an operation for appendicitis. As luck would have it, the motor ambulance called into service was donated by the people of Galt. “It rode as smooth as glass and at an awful speed,” says Harry. Later the doctor told him that if he had reached the hospital only one hour later, all would have been over. Galtonians would think it well worth it if the life of only one Canadian were saved through the agency of an ambulance, but it has doubtless performed this splendid service many times.

Private Drinkwater’s letter in full is:

“I am getting down to it to write you both although it has taken me a long time, hasn’t it? I am in the hospital now with, or rather I did have, appendicitis. I was operated on a week ago – that was July 5th. I took a pain in my side Sunday morning July 4th, and was operated on on Monday. My appendix had burst before I got to hospital and the doctor said to me: “Another hour, Drinkwater, and you would have been past saving,” so you see I had quite a close shave. I sure am used fine here. We have Canadian nurses and doctors, and everything in Canadian. One of my nurses is a Berlin nurse.[iv] Talk about eat – I eat everything in sight. I get a whole chicken everyday, and we get port wine and lemonade and jelly, in fact everything that is nice and light and tasty.

There are ladies in Shorncliffe who come around and give us books and writing paper and have a nice talk with us. The only think is that I’m afraid the battalion will be in France by the time I am better. However, I’ll have to get better and hope for the best. Please excuse [the] lead pencil and also the writing in bed. I received your letter about June 26th or 27th. It had been astray. It was posted in Galt on May 18th.

It was quite a coincidence, but the ambulance that took me to the hospital, about a 10-mile ride, in a stretcher, was an ambulance donated by the Galt Red Cross Society, so you know how I appreciate this gift from the people of Galt. It rode along as smooth as glass and it as going at an awful speed, for they wanted to get me [there] as soon as possible, and they did get me there.

PWell, I hope and suppose you are quite proud of Galt being a city now. It will be such a big place when I get back I won’t know it. I sit in bed and watch the ships going up and down the English Channel all day[v].”

Source: Galt Daily Reporter. August 27, 1915. Page 1.

There is a wonderful story of coincidence. That a Galt man was conveyed by an ambulance that was donated from the very city he was born and bred in must have been almost talisman like for Private Drinkwater. One can almost sense his relief at having an ambulance available to transport him to hospital, saving his life. The ambulance represents a common aspect of war life and society where individuals and organizations pooled financial and other resources in support of the war effort. The ambulance was, but one, of the many items offered to the soldiers of the CEF. Sometimes the money or items would be for specific units, usually hometown or regional units, and sometimes the resources raised would go into a general pool to be administer by the Red Cross or YMCA overseas.

Lt.-Col. Wigle, Commander, 18th Battalion, forground; Rev. (Honouray Captain) Arthur Carlisle, 18th Battalion, center; then Major Henry Raymond Casgrain, MD., background.

A review of his medical records shows that the surgeon of record was Lieut.- Col. Henry Raymond Casgrain, a Canadian born surgeon who was serving at the Shorncliffe Military Hospital at the time of Drinkwater’s illness. On July 20th, 1915, Dr. William John Ogilvie Malloch, formerly of Toronto, examined Private Drinkwater and found that his “general condition good” but there was a “considerable discharge of pus” and that there was “healing by granulation”. Private Drinkwater would be in hospital a bit longer.

News clipping regarding his death.

Biography from the University of Toronto.

Dr, Mallochs home in Toronto.

This operation and the length post operative treatment and rest is in stark contrast to a medical intervention for appendicitis and the resulting appendectomy now. The recovery time for appendectomies at the turn of the last century was typically over 3-weeks, with the patient under bed rest and minimal physical movement for some time.[vi] Now, with the use of modern surgical techniques and medicines, and without complications, a patient can be discharged the next, if not, the same day after an appendectomy.

Bevan Hospital, Sandgate.

Within 11-days the wound was healing well, and he was transferred to the Bevan Military Hospital from August 1 to 30, 1915. This recovery time must have been interminable for a young man missing the training of his unit. No doubt he was being visited by his comrades of his platoon and being kept up to date about the progress of the Battalion’s training, which only led to more frustration.

Private Drinkwater eventually got his wish with the help of the influence of an officer of his company, as he was discharged just in time to join his battalion on August 30, 1915, to the Base Company the next day and is recorded being then assigned to “D” Company on September 9, 1915 and he embarked to France with the Battalion on September 15, 1915 to fulfill his desire for active combat.

The importance and outcome of Private Drinkwater in realizing his goal is illustrated, sadly, by two letters.

On May 11, 1916, the Galt Reporter reported a transcription of a letter of Company “D” commander, 18th Battalion, Captain S.M. Loghrin[vii]. In the letter this officer related several details of Private Drinkwater’s death, but it was his desire to not be left behind that standouts out in the context of this story:

“I remember before leaving England he had appendicitis and was to be left behind. He came and pleaded with me to be taken with the 18th Battalion. I spoke to the doctor and we arranged it, and for a time I lightened his duties until he was strong and well.”

Source: Galt Weekly Reporter, May 11, 1916, Page 1.

Thus, the reference to Private Drinkwater being assigned, temporarily, to the Base Company was part of Loghrin’s efforts to lighten his duties as the Base Company was involved with clerical and administrative tasks.

A Welshman serving with the 18th Battalion wrote about Private Drinkwater regarding his bravery at the Battle of St. Elois Craters:

“Now the hellish sounds of crashing bombs rent the air. Fritz was getting his iron rations. Then it was hell let loose. The enemy opened up this artillery, and huge shells raced through space, high explosives and shrapnel burst among the Canadians. The sky was now lit up with hundreds of flares of many colors. Our artillery was more than equal to the Germans and the guns poured forth murderous volleys. While the battle was at its highest, young Drinkwater, who was in the think of the hellish destruction, was called upon as guide for an officer. From place to place he led the way unflinchingly. The shells falling all around and the very earth quivering from the might explosions. Yet he accomplished his heroic task. Then again he went back to the crater, and this time he volunteered to bring in one of our bombing parties just before daybreak. Again he was successful, bringing back every man safely. It was, indeed, a plucky daring deed, and the hero came through unhurt.”

Source: The London Advertiser. June 6, 1916.

Private Drinkwater’s desire to serve was recognized by his peers, and him being saved by an ambulance donated by the citizens from Galt may have led to the saving of more men during the confused and perilous battle for the St. Elois Craters as witnessed by the Welshman, Bartlett. His desire may have been fueled by youthful and impetuous thoughts but having served with his comrades for several months before the action at St. Elois created the bonds of shared combat experience and personal privations would have replaced any immature feelings of wartime zeal.

Ironically, Joseph Beers, the neighbour who lived just down the street from the Drinkwater’s, witnessed the permission form that Private Drinkwater’s mother had to sign in order to allow him to enlist. At least two families mourned when the news of Private Harry Drinkwater’s death was announced.

That ambulance that Galt donated saved more than one man by saving one man.

[i] Cook, T. and Stewart, W. (2019). War Losses (Canada) | International Encyclopedia of the First World War (WW1). [online] Encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net. Available at: https://encyclopedia.1914-1918-online.net/article/war_losses_canada [Accessed 28 Aug. 2019].

[ii] This letter has been transcribed and formatted for greater clarity.

[iii] Private Drinkwater’s mother lived at 177 Water Street, South, Galt.

[iv] Berlin would be familiar to a modern reader as the City of Kitchener. For more information about the name change from Berlin to Kitchener see this blog post.

[v] The Channel was, and is, one of the busiest navigable transportation routes in the world. During World War 1 16,500,000 souls where transported between England and France (both ways and does not include American personnel movements) and French freight traffic increased 3-times that of peace-time levels at French Channel ports. SOURCE

[vi] Hamill, J. and Hill, A. (2019). A history of the treatment of appendicitis in children: lessons learned. [online] Onlinelibrary.wiley.com. Available at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/ans.13627 [Accessed 28 Aug. 2019].

[vii] Captain Loghrin was later to perish at the Somme and is commemorated at Vimy Ridge.

The seems to be no lack of enthusiasm for the Galtonians that joined the 18th Battalion to get into the fight.