armourersergeant Posted 24 September , 2006 Share Posted 24 September , 2006 I am in the process of reading the Spanish Farm trilogy by R H Mottram. A classic novel of the Great War and as I get to page 86 and a glaring mistake shines out at me and I realise that it is not just modern authors who make mistakes. The scene is mid to late 1916.... 'They passed about her , Easthamptons, Lincolns, Norfolks, ASC, RAMC, RAF, gunners, Engineers, French Mission in blue and strawberry, wonderful staff people, in khaki and leather so perfect.....' Spot the deliberate mistake! regards Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 24 September , 2006 Share Posted 24 September , 2006 RFC instead of RAF? Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 24 September , 2006 Share Posted 24 September , 2006 I get it!! Staff people aren't wonderful. Or...there are no such people as Easthamptons!! Or....he meant RFA instead of RAF!! Or.......the Norfolks weren't in that part of the line at that time!! Or....the French actually wore blue and raspberry!! What it comes down to is that this guy was there and had a wonderful talent for descriptive writing and I love it. Cheers, Ian PS Grow a full beard. You know you want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 24 September , 2006 Author Share Posted 24 September , 2006 Yep, RAF! Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 PS Grow a full beard. You know you want to. That wasn't aimed at Marina, was it? I agree, though - The Spanish Farm trilogy is (are? - ooh pedants are about ) a wonderful bit of writing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marina Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 That wasn't aimed at Marina, was it? It better not have been! Marina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 Arm knows who it's aimed at Incidentally, Arm, lots more Mottram to go after that if you like his stuff! Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delta Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 never heard of this trilogy so must add it (them) to my Christmas list /:-{) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 Often findable as a bound volume of all three. The French heroine is a fascinating character and whoooooar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartinWills Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 Surely there must have been someone from the Royal Aircraft Factory in the passing mob .......... My favourite unit, oft referred to in volumes of the period and some official records is the North Hampshires - whose derivation comes from the North Hants, if you see my meaning.... Presumably "whoooooar!" is sadly lacking in Baston? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 25 September , 2006 Share Posted 25 September , 2006 Just in case anyone is vaguely interested, t'other books of Mottram worth reading are: 'Ten Years Ago' (Chatto & Windus, 1928) and 'A Personal Record' published in '3 Personal Records of the War' (Scholartis Press, 1929). Cheers, Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 26 September , 2006 Share Posted 26 September , 2006 Presumably "whoooooar!" is sadly lacking in Baston? Other than my wife, yes, I fear so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathie Posted 27 September , 2006 Share Posted 27 September , 2006 Didnt a Mottram marry the beautiful daughter in Brideshead Revisited? Kathie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred van Woerkom Posted 28 September , 2006 Share Posted 28 September , 2006 kATHIE, yES, A mOTTRAM MARRIED sEBASTIAN'S SISTER, BUT HE WAS A C A N A D I A N . RATHER A SILLY UPSTART, I SUSPECT JUDGING BY THE SIZE OF THE COGNAC GLASS HE PREFERS AND BY HIS OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO BE CONVERTED TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH SO THAT HE TAKES LITERALLY ALL HE IS TAUGHT BY THE PRIEST, PLAYED IN THE TV SERIES BY THE INCOMPARABLE JOHN LE MESURIER OF 'DAD'S ARMY ' FAME. ALL THE BEST, FRED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timf311 Posted 1 October , 2006 Share Posted 1 October , 2006 These delightful threads are what makes this forum so enjoyable as well as knowledgeable. Many thanks for sharing the humour........................Tim Sydney kATHIE, yES, A mOTTRAM MARRIED sEBASTIAN'S SISTER, BUT HE WAS A C A N A D I A N . RATHER A SILLY UPSTART, I SUSPECT JUDGING BY THE SIZE OF THE COGNAC GLASS HE PREFERS AND BY HIS OVERWHELMING DESIRE TO BE CONVERTED TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC FAITH SO THAT HE TAKES LITERALLY ALL HE IS TAUGHT BY THE PRIEST, PLAYED IN THE TV SERIES BY THE INCOMPARABLE JOHN LE MESURIER OF 'DAD'S ARMY ' FAME. ALL THE BEST, FRED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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