squirrel Posted 12 April , 2008 Share Posted 12 April , 2008 In MacGill's book on Loos, he describes one character in his platoon who, when in the front line fire trench, just after Stand To morning and evening, or when he had woken from a sleep, would get on the firestep and blast off 10 rounds rapid at the enemy trenches with a shout of "Nark it I say. Nark it you lot". He was never put on a charge for this and when asked why he did it had no explanation. He just felt that he had to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 12 April , 2008 Share Posted 12 April , 2008 Got to like the man, hey? Hope he made it through the war. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 12 April , 2008 Share Posted 12 April , 2008 After the waiting in the desert, the sea journey to Lemnos, at last the soldiers climbed into the tows, with a smile, a joke; the time had come for action. Now was the time for them to do their bit. The blackness of the high cliffs loomed large, outlined by the milky dawn sky, flashes of rifle fire peppering the darkness. Large cliffs? They were not on the orders, not on the maps of the landing. The plop of bullets hitting the water, the twang as they hit the boat, the thud as they hit living flesh, the swish as they flew past. There were no smiles now, few jokes. Every man held his own counsel, the wounded, the dead and the living. The order came, and it was if an animal had been unleashed, a confused, angry beast, enraged by the enemy that was goading it from the safety of the hills. Men spilled out into the sea, the sea that was rapidly turning red. The water dragged at their packs, their bandoliers, their uniform, slowing their urgent need to find cover on the pebbled shore. Men sank, men drowned, men forced themselves forward. Shouting, strangers mixed with strangers. A hail from one officer, orders from another. Confusion, death. A pause as slight cover was reached, stripping off of heavy packs and rations, then a rush up the cliffs; cliffs covered in spiny, vicious growth, loose gravel sliding underfoot. Crawling on hands and knees, men grunting, swearing, screaming, sweating, bellowing. Rifle fire raining lead, running enemy, snipers. Dead officers, old orders, men rushing to take the cliffs, men pushing inland, men scattered, men lost, men digging in, men wounded, men never sighted again. Pockets of soldiers fighting through valleys, and upwards again, knowing they had to gain the heights, individuals becoming leaders, no communications, no new orders. The enemy hiding, sniping, resisting. It was not yet noon. It was madness, it was death; it became a legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 12 April , 2008 Share Posted 12 April , 2008 Soren, Thanks for the link to the sketches of Silas I first came across him as he is quoted quite often in 'Across the Bar' by Tom Curran. I think that he quickly wore himself out as the signaller for Margoline Great sketches and an impressive intro from Hamilton Kim, That's really great; you can feel the gasping, breathless, rush as the men scramble up from the beach to the higher ground [Wasn't Hemmingway's advice to write as if someone was sitting on your chest?] A fine tribute to the men Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 12 April , 2008 Share Posted 12 April , 2008 Nice one Kim. Breathless and absorbing. Ref yr post 27 - I hope the chap in question made it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 13 April , 2008 Share Posted 13 April , 2008 Thanks Guys. Re Hemingway, interesting advice. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 14 April , 2008 Share Posted 14 April , 2008 Wonderful Kim, I got a real sense of the shock and incredulity at being sent to attack sheer cliff faces and the determination to overcome the enemy...not because of the orders but to look out for each other (now taking bribes NOT to sit on anyones chest ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landsturm Posted 18 April , 2008 Author Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Here's mine, I first painted the ANZAC landing-scene but decided that I wanted to do more, so here goes. I didn't break the rule of 'one-per-person', this is 3 piece work Once again, the size caused problems so for better resolution details view from my gallery; ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) landing 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers landing on the 'W' Beach Turkish soldier guarding a valley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Foster Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Lands, one word...fantastic!! Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Good work Landsturm - especially like the ANZAC pic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 18 April , 2008 Share Posted 18 April , 2008 Great entry Landsturm. Cheers Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gongie Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 Here's mine for this month. Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Foster Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 Another top draw !! Gongie, Its looking like its going to be a bumper month. Regards Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 Goodness me the artists are pulling out all the stops this month. Lands incredible! absolutely wonderful stuff Congie I really like your loose style of drawing, wonderful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 Oh dear picking the art one is going to be hard this month. Great work Congie! Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 19 April , 2008 Share Posted 19 April , 2008 Nice one Congie - plenty of movement in the drawing. Tough choices this month as has been said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soren1916 Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Hi Pals Lancashire Fusilisers, I know about the helmets, but artistic licence on this one http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/passchendael...958633115354930 Soren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunboat Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Beautiful and very poignant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soren1916 Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Cheers Mate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squirrel Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Great sketch Soren. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Foster Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Soren, A really great composition !! it works very well. The balance is spot on Have you toned the back ground or are you working on coloured paper. Kindest Regard Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soren1916 Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Thanks Guys. Chris - Coloured paper with graphite. Cheers Soren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Like I said, this is going to be a hard art one to pick this month. Soren, this one is good. You have captured the moment of impact, the going forward under fire, of a second in time in the hours of landing. With understated lines, which in turn, gives a powerful image. Cheers Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest soren1916 Posted 22 April , 2008 Share Posted 22 April , 2008 Whey Hey!! I've added a picture! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 29 April , 2008 Share Posted 29 April , 2008 You back with us properly, Yes!! Cheers kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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