To End All Wars

[andyfg]

Thanks for heads up. Ordered it.

[macwilkin]

"...in 1941, the 2nd Battalion The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were in Malaya when war with Japan broke out. Stationed over 300 miles north of Singapore on the Thai border, their task was to provide the rearguard to the withdrawals. Outnumbered and ill-equipped, they fought with outstanding determination.

In January 1942 at Slim River, the regiment was so depleted by a Japanese tank attack that only scattered groups survived. Several of these groups fought on in isolation in the jungle. The remainder, with only three officers and 90 soldiers under Captain Tom Slessor, began the withdrawal to Singapore.

After a return to and reinforcement in Singapore, this group was joined by courageous Chinese volunteers and a party of Royal Marines who were survivors of the battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repluse. This fighting combination quickly gained the nickname the 'Plymouth Argylls'. With the pipers playing A Hundred Pipers and Highland Laddie, the Argylls eventually crossed to Singapore Island and the causeway was blown.

Two weeks later, the few survivors were taken prisoner and the heroic 2nd Battalion The Argylls and Sutherland Highlanders ceased to exist. Isolated groups fought on in the jungle until they were captured. However, two men, Private Stewart and Private Bennett, remained at liberty for four years, until the return of British forces to Malaya."

(The Scottish Regiments - Diana M. Henderson)

It was from this action that a special association was developed & maintained through the years between the A&SH's and the Royal Marines.

Thanks for the headers, I'll have to look for it!

Information:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/MOM/index.html

Regards,

Todd

[Jack Daw]

I can't let myself miss this one. To Blockbuster I go. I'll probably have to wear my government kilt, red-and-white diced hose, and badger mask for that viewing.

[BoldHighlander]

Information:

http://www.britains-smallwars.com/MOM/index.html

Regards,

Todd

Oooo
Thanks Todd, was wondering if there was more info on this episode with the Argylls. Now on my MUST read list!

Thanks again!
-- Terry

[macwilkin]

Oooo
Thanks Todd, was wondering if there was more info on this episode with the Argylls. Now on my MUST read list!

Thanks again!
-- Terry

Let me know what you think of it. I haven't read it yet, but it's on my list as well.

Back in 1985(?) The Bands of the Argylls & the RM went on a North American tour and played at the Sundome in Sun City. My grandfather, who loved the pipes (he picked it up from his time in India during WWII) sent me a tape of the bands (still plays!) and a program book that had a brief history of the "Plymouth Argylls".

The RM and the Argylls have another connection in Kenneth J. Alford (F.J. Ricketts), who served in both bands. To bring the thread around full circle, it was Alford who wrote Colonel Bogey, which is the tune that the squaddies are whistling in several scenes in "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Supposedly Ricketts was inspired to write the tune after playing golf in Scotland with a fellow officer who whistled instead of yelling "fore!" -- hence Colonel Bogey.

http://www.mvdaily.com/articles/1999/04/bogey.htm

Another Aford tune, The Voice of the Guns, was used in "Lawrence of Arabia" by David Lean. This is played when Lawrence and General Allenby retire to the bar after Lawrence captured Aqaba.

Regards,

Todd

[Jack Daw]

The Colonel Bogey March is heard in another movie BEFORE "Bridge on the River Kwai". In "The Lady Vanishes", Michael Redgrave whistles the tune when he is in the bathroom at the hotel. It's my understanding that there are dirty lyrics to the march. Is that correct?

[thescot]

. . .It's my understanding that there are dirty lyrics to the march. Is that correct?

Say it ain't so.

Soldiers? Scottish soldiers? Singing dirty lyrics?

I know we never sang any dirty songs in the Marine Corps, and I'm quite sure the A&S's were the same.

(If anybody knows the lyrics, pass them on and I'll get you some of Burns's dirty poems.)

[macwilkin]

The Colonel Bogey March is heard in another movie BEFORE "Bridge on the River Kwai". In "The Lady Vanishes", Michael Redgrave whistles the tune when he is in the bathroom at the hotel. It's my understanding that there are dirty lyrics to the march. Is that correct?

You are of course thinking of the WWII-era paraody, Hitler has only got one b***, which was not the original lyrics (I don't believe there are any lyrics by Ricketts).

T.

[thescot]

You can buy the movie from Amazon for $10.99 new; used from $4.50.

Guess who's ordering up.

[Jimmy]

Yes, Great film also starring Scots actor James Cosmo, not in the film for long but makes a great impact and I think the actor that played Ernest Gordon was Irish actor, Ciaran McMenamin (hope thats correct) who spent a lot of time doing bar work in Glasgow pubs,great performance from him, very brutal film.
My father worked with a former Japanese prisoner of war in the Post Office in Motherwell, this chap was very bitter about the Japanese and was still suffering great trauma all the time until his death.