I was wondering what the "Warsaw Concerto" was! I just finished reading book #1, which was awfully funny. As far as accuracy goes, there is a forward which says that the salient facts are correct. I suppose it is possible that Milligan invented scenes out of whole cloth because there is also a comment that a particular gunner in the battery is not the fellow he meant in the manuscript, who he says was a fictitious character! But whether a particular conversation took place - well maybe it didn't, but I think we can assume that the military facts about the battery are pretty accurate. But some of the wider points made in the online discussion stand, about soldiers' humour and about 90% of the time being waiting around. PS I recognized a couple of jokes that he used in the Goon Show, which seem like pretty likely to be original. "It's something about the shortage of money", for instance.
Whoops, I meant UNLIKELY to be original. Spike also sometimes added more jokes to Goon Show scripts that were published and... Well, he sometimes did repeat himself.
“That sun’s hot.” “Well don’t touch it.” I grew up not very far from The Yorkshire Grey, which he mentions in Adolf Hitler: My Part In His Downfall. It was a pub back then but is now a Maccy D. I’m still not that far away now.
As the man himself said: "I have described nothing but what I saw myself, or learned from others of whom I made the most careful and particular enquiry." - Thucydides, Peloponnesian War "I've just jazzed mine up a little." - Milligan, World War II.
This repeat is currently scheduled for next Sunday evening, 730pm on Radio 3... BBC Radio 3 - Drama on 3, I Told You I Was Ill I Told You I Was Ill Drama on 3 I Told You I Was Ill - A tribute to Spike Milligan In 2018, the centenary year of his birth, this was a special homage to Spike Milligan. Three writers respond to Milligan’s style, his work, his legacy. Hosted by comic poet and singer John Hegley. 1. Going, Going, Goon by Toby Hadoke - Spike is called to a Heaven he doesn't believe in, in a synthesis of fact, fantasy and supposition. 2. 2 Clowns, 1 Trumpet by Lee Mattinson - combines clownery and childhood in a bizarre birthday party. 3. Deadline by Jessica Hynes. Hynes stars as a writer on the edge of a nervous breakdown as she attempts to reach her deadline. Performed live at the University of Hull’s Middleton Hall in 2018 as part of 'Contains Strong Language', a season of poetry and performance from Hull. Cast Jessica Hynes Mark Heap Pippa Haywood Stephen Wight Jonathan Keeble Toby Hadoke Connor Elliott Fiona Clarke Trumpeter - Simon Desbruslais
I enjoyed this clip. Spike Milligan tells Bob Monkhouse about joining the army. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1775105510905176118
