#bay to birdwood

[e350tb]

Gallipoli: The End of the Myth by Robin Prior

Those interested in military history, in my experience, are prone to hyperbole. A while back, when I reviewed John Buckley’s Monty’s Men, I defended Field Marshal Montgomery’s reputation, for he is sometimes derided as a poor general. My defence was based on his strengths, but reading anything about Gallipoli reminds me of the other side of that coin - that there are many generals far, far worse.

It is worth clarifying what Prior means by ‘the myth’ in the title of this book, because one might initially think he’s speaking of ‘the Anzac myth.’ This isn’t the case. ‘The myth’ is that, had something gone differently, or had someone showed more gumption, or if the British troops had been less racially degenerate - yes, that’s a real suggestion that was made - the campaign might have been won. Prior responds very convincingly that it didn’t matter if the Dardanelles had been forced by the British Navy, or if the Sari Bair Ridge had been taken in the August Offensive - it would have made no difference, because the entire conception of the campaign was fundamentally flawed.

This book is a frustrating read, although this is not Prior’s fault. The constant failure of leaders - in the government, Navy and Army - to appreciate reality, the haphazard planning, the complete failure to regard the enemy, logistics, terrain, the capabilities of unsupported infantry and the complexities of amphibious landings is so prevalent - not just from Churchill but most his colleagues, Kitchener, Fisher, the Admiralty, Hamilton and his staff, Birdwood and dozens of others - that it reads almost like satire. One could imagine Blackadder’s General Melchett devising the Battles of Krithia. The few glimmers of competence, for example from Major Frankland at Helles and the inimitable Brudenell White during the evacuation, only make this circus of military ineptitude all the more infuriating.

In the process, Prior reevaluates some of the old scapegoats for the failure of the campaign. He notes Alymer Hunter-Weston - while he generally deserves his reputation as an incompetent butcher, Prior notes that Hamilton failed to show any control over him, and by the end of his time at Helles, he and his French counterpart were starting to change their tactics in response to the slaughters at Krithia. Suvla Bay, meanwhile, is evaluated in its proper context - not as any great strike across the Peninsula, but as an attempt to create a supply base in the north which, despite being conducted with little finesse, did ultimately succeed at its (ultimately pointless) task. Prior charges that General Stopford and his New Army men were in many ways a useful scapegoat for the failures of Birdwood down at Anzac.

Ultimately, though, Prior’s Gallipoli might be described as a Greek tragedy - not in the noble sense of Hector dying to Achilles at the gates of Troy, but in the squalid sense of the Greek army being slaughtered while Achilles has a sook in his tent. Ultimately, Gallipoli was a campaign that was an intensely pointless, intensely idiotic and intensely sad episode in the history of the First World War, and as Prior poignantly puts it, didn’t shorten the war by a single day. I would fully recommend this book as perhaps the archetypical example of how not to run a battle.

[moisseyev]

This 1926 Pontiac Tourer is the oldest car I have photographed as a full set and I really enjoyed it. Ryan and Kirsty with thei little son drove to Adelaide from Mt Gambier to take part in the Bay to Birdwood rally and while they were here I had a chance to capture a few moments the day before the event. Pontiac is in immaculate condition, looks and drives like brand new. Here is a small story from Ryan about it.

I inherited our 1926 Pontiac Tourer from my dad Brad Turner in 2011. He inherited it from my great, great Uncle Bill Turner. My dad was 15 when his great Uncle Bill died, so it was more like a toy for him at the time. According to my Nana, dad used to drive his Pontiac around a paddock behind the house and charge kids from the local area for rides!

The Pontiac wasn’t exactly well looked after during this period and often sat under a tree in between use. Dad often reflected on this time and wished he’d taken more care of it as a youngster! He moved it into the back of the service station he’d bought from my grandfather in about 1970.

When my dad died in February 2011 after a couple of years of illness he still owned the service station with my mum and the car was still parked in the same place. It hadn’t moved in about 40 years. During that time he had often talked about a restoration. He was going to get it ready for my oldest sister’s wedding but that came and went along with two other weddings in my family. Dad was a mechanic but apart from getting the engine to run one time in about 1995 no restoration work was started.

I wasn’t sure what we would do with the Pontiac when mum and I started cleaning up the service station for sale in late 2011. Not having any experience with vintage cars let alone restoring them, I initially thought it was sadly too far gone. I learnt however that anything was possible given enough effort, time and money. I was excited to think we might be able to get dad’s car back on the road!

The overwhelming feelings I had when we finished the restoration were happiness and relief, mixed with the satisfaction that we were able to make this happen and save the Pontiac from being lost to scrap metal. I couldn’t have done any of this without Kirsty who was my girlfriend when this started and is now my wife. Her support was without limits and it’s wonderful to now share the Pontiac with our little boy Flynn who is two and half and loves being in it even more than we do! We continue to drive it regularly and were lucky enough to win the Concours de Elegance at the 2016 Bay to Birdwood which was a very proud occasion. My dad and great, great uncle would be pleased their car has remained in our family and will hopefully be enjoyed for many more generations to come!

Pontiac Motor Company was started by General Motors in 1926 as a companion car to Oakland.

• This car was imported to Australia as a rolling chassis from the USA and the body assembled by Holden Bodies in Woodville, Adelaide. • Approximately 1,100 Pontiac Tourers were sold in Australia in 1926 at a cost of 225 pounds each. • The engine is a 6-cylinder side valve which produces 40hp at 2400rp. Capacity is 186.5ci with 4.6:1 compression. • Top speed around 50mph but it cruises comfortably at 45mph. • Rear wheel brakes only. These are a contracting band style. • Emergency brake is a more conventional drum on the rear wheels. • When Pontiac stopped manufacturing in 2010 it was the oldest GM brand in existence that was started by GM.

Here is also the screenshot from the newspaper

    Here is the full gallery

  Pontiac 1926 4 Door Soft Top Tourer This 1926 Pontiac Tourer is the oldest car I have photographed as a full set and I really enjoyed it.

[aidenwendts]

Avenue south residence

There are many things to do with children in your Melbourne holidays that don't have to cost the earth.

Melbourne's weather is great most of the time and lends itself for outdoor activities, picnics and bike rides - but there are also rainy day things to do that are affordable and fun.

The Children's Garden The Children's Garden is part of the Royal Botanical Garden. It is a great place to discover the world of plants, particularly for younger children. There is a garden section where they can dig and create. There are labyrinths to hide in and many different types of landscapes to explore. Prepare for a day out as children don't want to leave that magical place. The easiest way to get there is from Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra. The Beach Melbourne is located on Port Phillip Bay with many beaches, particularly along the eastern side. The city beaches tend to be backpacker's paradise, but even 15 minutes out from the city you get more pristine beaches for your Melbourne holidays. There are no dangerous waves because it's in the bay, which makes it safe for children, a great place from swimming, kites and water play.

A Bike Ride The best way to see Melbourne is by bike. You can get virtually anywhere with it. With children there are great rides along the Yarra and Merri Creek, which branches off the Yarra in Clifton Hill. Along the Maribyrnong river in the Northwest of the city is another great ride, and also along the eastern bay as far as you can make it. You can take bikes on trains in Melbourne, so you can plan out your trip one way and return via train.

Community Environment Park - Ceres Ceres is a community environment project that is located on the Merri Avenue south residence  Creek in Brunswick. It is a great place to hang out. Children love exploring the wind pump and generators, the gardens, pond and chucks. There is also a nursery, a bicycle recycle shed, an adventure playground and a café with homemade delights. A visit to Ceres makes a pleasant afternoon for the whole family if you want to have a break from the gadgets of modern life and relax in a sustaining environment. Scienceworks Museum This is not free but good value for money and if we ever get stuck for something it always does the job. It is located in Spotswood on the other side of the Westgate Bridge. The most pleasant way to get there is with a Yarra Ferry that stops there on the way to Williamstown. Children just love the many hands-on activities and explorations, where they learn through play about the planet, light, mechanics... Melbourne is a liveable city - has been voted one of the most liveable cities in the world many years in a row. What makes it so is that there is room for life, relaxation and exploration. It is a city for the people with many things to do on your Melbourne holidays.

[bai4zi]

Although a kit car, these Bolwells are pretty gorgeous. Today’s Bay to Birdwood rally in South Australia. 撸先生：看片神器，每日更新，高清流畅，无需翻墙，t.cn/EVvnoK4

[gliset-t2]

Just pinned to InstaLikes: Liked on InstaGram: Bay to Birdwood ready. 2 of 2000 classic cars in today's rally. #halliethekombi #ourhappyplaceonwheels #teamcruzer #busjunkies #diy #vwkombi #vwcamper #camperlife #projectvanlife #theroadlesstraveled #vanlife #homeiswhereyouparkit #vanlifediaries #kombiclub #VanCrush #vanlifeexplorers #vanlifers #backroads #kombi #kombilust #vw #vwlife #roadtrip #vwfamily #sunshine #surf #surfing

[ericinaustralia]

This shiny, cherry-red MGA joined the Bay to Birdwood Classsic Rally

[seannzeus4ever-blog]

Bay To Birdwood Few Years Ago With My Sister And Mother #classiccar #baytobirdwood #family #love (at Birdwood, South Australia)

[drunk-dingo]

For two weeks you have endured Bay to Birdwood spam, this is the last of the Bay to Birdwood photos. I hope you enjoyed it and didn’t get too bored of seeing your dashboard filled with old cars! Not sure what I’m going to post next, but I can assure you I have something in the queue by now :)

[theportraitgroans]

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‘A day out’

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This couple posed for a photo when they saw I had a camera, amazingly friendly community. 

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‘Picnic in the countryside’

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There was a cheeky picnic going on behind this car

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[drunk-dingo]