When the Vulcan bombed Stanley airfield (the only time the Vulcan was ever used in anger) it actually used WW2 bombs and the crew had to "re-train" for the mission as they only knew how to deliver Nuclear Weapons to large targets i.e. Moscow!.
Like many others, both here on the Forum and in the outside world, I will be sitting next to she who must be obeyed this morning and watching the Baroness Thatcher funeral procession on TV. There has been lots of press coverage concerning the last time that there was a State Funeral for a former PM, namely Churchill on the 30th of January 1965, and I went on to GOOGLE images to see what pics were still available of that event. I found the pic below and was amazed to see that it shows exactly where I stood to watch the procession past by. I had arrived at Trafalgar Square at an obscene early hour to get myself a prime position facing Whitehall so that I could see the cortege coming from Westminster and then wheeling right into Trafalgar Square on it's way to St.Pauls. My original article was here: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/45273-churchills-funeral-30-jan-1965/?hl=%2Bchurchill+%2Bfuneral
For those truly mourning her loss you have my sympathies and for those who couldn't wait to see the back of her and the politics, let the healing begin. A Mam's A Mam For A' That
Now these are two men, who truly deservedly receiving the fullest honours at the time of their deaths. I seem to remember my father slipping away one day in 1976 going to Windsor for Monty's parade, and to thank him for the cigarettes that Monty gave to my father in 1943 somewhere near to the Sangro River - I only discovered much later that my father had gone down there without telling anyone what he was doing. There was no over the top 24 hr news coverage in those days. Apologies for the v.v.v. inappropriate advert at the start of Alex's clip. http://www.britishpathe.com/video/funeral-of-f-m-montgomery http://www.britishpathe.com/video/earl-alexanders-funeral best
I suppose it being a historically important garrison town and its connections with the military..seems more appropriate than that of St Paul's today, I would hazard. And Windsor does it well, despite its small size. We have a Middle Eastern despot here in a couple of weeks - with full carriage and a troop of galloping horses going past McD's, Starb's and WH Smith's I'm not even sure if the Queen attended either of the Field Marshal's funerals...though being at St George's I suppose she must have.
Thanks Richard I wonder if the connection is because both Monty and Alexander were Knights of the Order of the Garter and St George's is the Order's chapel? But then both Churchill and Baroness Thatcher were members too. Someone will know. Cheers Ian
Good one - might be right. I presume they had the "right" to have their funeral service at St George's Chapel. All the post war prime ministers were Knights of the Order, of course. A bit about the other bits of the "process" after death: "When a Knight Companion dies his Banner, Crest, Helm and Sword are taken down and the insignia returned to the Sovereign. The stall is roped-off and a laurel wreath bearing his name is placed in it. The Knights stall is not used again until his Banner is offered to the Altar. This ceremony which is reminiscent of medieval practices takes place some time after the Knights funeral which is attended by members of his family, Knights Companion and Officers of the Order. The Banner is brought in procession by the Military Knights during Evensong and is then received by the Dean and placed upon the Altar. Prayers are said for the Deceased Knight Companion and the Order." taken from here: http://www.heraldicsculptor.com/Garters.html
Not fussed either way about politics but the ceremonial aspect of that funeral was superb. GSM Mott , what a soldier.
http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/blog/2013/04/16/toby-harnden-the-welsh-guards-brothers-who-survived-the-falkland-war-together-and-will-accompany-margaret-thatchers-coffin-to-st-pauls/
Thank you for the story and for the links. May I ask who the older limping FM (?) at 0:30 at Alexander's funeral is? A few seconds later the riderless horse has a limp too!
we need to get the "limping field marshal" spotters onto it.. I'm not an expert. Strange one, that limping horse.
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/04/17/margaret-thatcher-funeral-live-updates/28536310/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
Yep I remember well Monty's funeral..and lets not forget Mountbatten...with the boots facing wrong way in stirrups......We do a good ceromonial funeral..no one can argue with that.
this one http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/04/17/thatcher-funeral-goldthorpe-miners-burn-effigy_n_3101236.html?utm_hp_ref=uk?ncid=GEP
I suspect Maggie would be disappointed there were not higher levels of protest in London, she liked a bit of conflict and expected it. Massed crowds in Leeds. I reckon bloke on right is a bemused Japanese tourist: https://twitter.com/IanWhiteNews/status/324469527922495489/photo/1
