Author Topic: Insubordination (Read 492 times)

Dowding · « **on:** May 02, 2003, 04:46:26 AM »

I was reading about the Duke of Wellington the other day and came across this. The fella didn't take any crap from anyone.

Quote

MESSAGE FROM THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON TO THE BRITISH FOREIGN
OFFICE IN LONDON--
written from Central Spain, August 1812

Gentlemen,

Whilst marching from Portugal to a position which commands the approach to Madrid and the French forces, my officers have been diligently complying with your requests which have been sent by H.M. ship from London to Lisbon and thence by dispatch to our headquarters. We have enumerated our saddles, bridles, tents and tent poles, and all manner of sundry items for which His Majesty's Government holds me accountable. I have dispatched reports on the character, wit, and spleen of every officer. Each item and every farthing has been accounted for, with two regrettable exceptions for which I beg your indulgence.

Unfortunately the sum of one shilling and ninepence remains unaccounted for in one infantry battalion's petty cash and there has been a hideous confusion as the number of jars of raspberry jam issued to one cavalry regiment during a sandstorm in western Spain. This reprehensible carelessness may be related to the pressure of circumstance, since we are war with France, a fact which may come as a bit of a surprise to you gentlemen in Whitehall.

This brings me to my present purpose, which is to request elucidation of my instructions from His Majesty's Government so that I may better understand why I am dragging an army over these barren plains. I construe that perforce it must be one of two alternative duties, as given below. I shall pursue either one with the best of my ability, but I cannot do both:

1. To train an army of uniformed British clerks in Spain for the benefit of the accountants and copy-boys in London

or perchance

2.To see to it that the forces of Napoleon are driven out of Spain.

Your most obedient servant,

Wellington

deSelys · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:14:22 AM »

He would have written devastating posts on this BBS

Mini D · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:16:09 AM »

LOL! Classic.

MiniD

Nash · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:43:23 AM »

That's great. I'd love to see the reply. Better yet, just the look on the faces of the people at the Foreign Office when they received it.

beet1e · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:50:09 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by deSelys
He would have written devastating posts on this BBS

Of course he would! He lived in the same county as ME, Royal Berkshire, just a few miles from here. Other famous people who come from Wellington's area - Sarah Ferguson, former wife of HRH Prince Andrew.

That missing 1s 9d was because the infantryman went for a pint of Guinness.

Wellington was a good wartime PM, but a bit of an arse afterwards. The Iron Duke. I don't think Dowding would have liked his high Tory attitude. Kind of like Maggie x10, but minus the handbag. So unpopular was Wellington with some, that his windows had to be barred up.

Arlo · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:56:31 AM »

2 great mysteries:

1: Spanish Guinness

2: Beet1e's ignore list hasn't grown in over 12 hours.

Dowding · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:58:51 AM »

He was famous for his acidic remarks and quips and was known as a fairly cold hearted, aristocratic man. But his leadership qualities were without question; he was hero-worshipped by his men, and in turn cared deeply for them. He was also a military genius who risked his life many times in his military career.

There's alot of stuff from Waterloo in particular, such as the one about Lord Uxbridge. He received a wound whilst sitting on his horse next to the Iron Duke. A cannonball whizzed by his horse and struck his left leg. He looked down and said "My God, Sir, I have lost my left leg!". Wellington emotionlessly replied "My God, Sir, you have."

Different times back then, Beetle. Maggie would have fitted into a 19th century society that hadn't abolished slavery, given women the vote or recognised worker's rights.

beet1e · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2003, 06:16:06 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dowding
There's alot of stuff from Waterloo in particular, such as the one about Lord Uxbridge. He received a wound whilst sitting on his horse next to the Iron Duke. A cannonball whizzed by his horse and struck his left leg. He looked down and said "My God, Sir, I have lost my left leg!". Wellington emotionlessly replied "My God, Sir, you have."

Dowding, I saw that movie - with Christopher Plummer as Wellington. My favourite quote was "The next saddest thing to losing a battle is winning one", as victorious in battle he surveyed the carnage around him afterwards.

Saintaw · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2003, 06:46:14 AM »

Hehe Beetle, I wonder if you sometimes walk around with a hand in your jacket, like Napoleon did

T0J0 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2003, 09:25:55 AM »

They traded jam for liquor whilst on the march?!

~~0J0T~~

beet1e · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2003, 10:03:13 AM »

TOJO! Can I borrow your avatar? I need it for when I tell Mini D "You can't handle the truth!", which is often.

Mini D · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2003, 10:24:20 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by beet1e
I need it for when I tell Mini D "You can't handle the truth!"

Which hasn't been yet... at least not from you.

MiniD <- no smiley as if I didn't really mean it