#british army officer

[portrait-paintings]

Colonel William Fitch and His Sisters Sarah and Ann Fitch

Artist: John Singleton Copley (American, 1738-1815)

Date: 1800-1801

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, United States

Description

Lieutenant-Colonel William Fitch (died 1795) was a British Army officer, who was killed fighting the Jamaican Maroons during the Second Maroon War.

Fitch was commissioned into the 65th Regiment of Foot on 28 November 1775. He was promoted, in the same regiment, to lieutenant on 2 January 1779 and to captain on 7 December 1779.[3]

Fitch was then promoted to major in the 51st Regiment of Foot on 30 November 1791, and then transferred to the 55th Regiment of Foot on 25 April 1792, before being appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the 83rd Regiment of Foot on 28 September 1793.

Fitch embarked for the West Indies in May 1795 and was deployed to Jamaica where he was killed in action later that year during the Second Maroon War.

Newly arrived in Jamaica, Fitch ignored the advice of his experienced Maroon trackers, and led his forces into an ambush by the Maroons of Cudjoe's Town, which resulted in the deaths of Fitch, many members of the white militia, and a number of Accompong warriors.

[blue-and-gilt]

Grenadier Officers sabre in the style of the 1803 Pattern infantry officers sword.

Although I've posted this sabre to the blog previously, I took extra pictures over the weekend to upload my Instagram account, and I might as well share them here.

This is another of those fun Georgian era sabres that doesn't neatly fit into any specific pattern. While the hilt shares similarities with the 1803 Pattern, instead of having the Royal Cipher, this sword has the grenadiers' flaming bomb surrounded by a wreath. It is also has a very heavy blade that is 'fashionable' with it's extreme proportions.

With a length of 82 cm and a curvature of 11.5 cm there is a lot of steel to blade. And the weight can be felt in the 17 cm balance point making the sword heavy in the hand. Maybe the officer who commissioned it was particularly tall, or he was of sufficient rank to be mounted and wanted a sword to use from horse back. Maybe he just wanted the biggest sword he could get away with. Unfortunately we'll never know. By comparison, the other sabre is an 1803 Pattern Infantry officers by Bennett, this sword has a 81 cm blade and 13.5 cm balance point making it a much better handling sword.

[blackswaneuroparedux]

He might not be a born officer, but by God he was a born soldier. He was the son of a whore, bereft of God, but a God-damned soldier.

Bernard Cornwell, Sharpe's Rifles

What better way to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo than to watch a couple of episodes of Sharpe television series with Sean Bean in the titular title role of the gritty swashbucking Richard Sharpe of the 95th Rifles with your downstairs neighbour, a retired French army general and Napoleonic warfare history buff.

[vintagepromotions]

'A postmark betrayed this H.Q. - use the Army Post Office'

British wartime safety poster (1942). Artwork by Abram Games.

[cid5]

circa 1919: Afghan officers stand in a line in front of a rocky hill during the Third Anglo-Afghan War.

[dangerliesbeforeyou]

the few 'best sitcom' polls ive seen have been so american heavy and like... british comedy is better soz lol

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

“An impressive photograph of Lieutenant N. Naillie-Stewart of the Seaforth Highlanders who has been held for a month in the Tower of London as a "secret prisoner" on charges of violating the Official Secrets Act of Great Britain. The prisoner (with arrow pointing towards him) is seen here taking his daily exercise walk around the grim old walls of the Tower of London escorted by an officer of the Coldstream Guards.”

- from the Kingston Whig-Standard. March 2, 1933. Page 12.

[famousborntoday]

Major General John Dutton Frost, was an airborne officer of the British Army, best known for being the leader of the small group of British airborne troops that...

Link: John Frost (British Army officer)

[gone2soon-rip]

SIR MICHAEL JACKSON,GENERAL JACKSON (1944-Died October 15th 2024,at 80). British Army officer and one of its most high-profile generals since the Second World War.He was Chief of the General Staff,the commander in chief of the British Army,from 2003 to 2006.Mike Jackson (British Army officer) - Wikipedia

[portrait-paintings]

Teyoninhokarawen (Major John Norton)

Artist: Mather Brown (American, 1761–1831)

Date: c. 1805

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Collection: Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, CT, United States

Description

John Norton or Teyoninhokarawen (born c. 1770, Scotland (?) – died c. 1827, Upper Canada (?)) was a Mohawk chief, Indian Department interpreter and a school master. He was adopted by the Mohawk at about age 30 at their major reserve in Canada. After deserting the British military in the late 18th century, he became a military leader of Iroquois warriors in the War of 1812 on behalf of Great Britain against the United States. Commissioned as a major, he led warriors from the Six Nations of the Grand River into battle against American invaders at Queenston Heights, Stoney Creek, and Chippawa.

Likely born and educated in Scotland, he had a Scottish mother and a Cherokee father. His father was born in Keowee circa 1740, and was saved by British soldiers when they burned the town during the Anglo-Cherokee War. They took him to England and placed him with an English family. As an adult with the baptized surname Norton, he married a Scottish woman, whom he had a son with.

The junior John Norton joined the British Army, serving in Ireland before being assigned to Lower Canada after the American Revolutionary War. While there he became interested in the Six Nations of Grand River, ultimately learning the Mohawk language and culture, and being adopted into a family of the tribe. In 1804 on a diplomatic trip representing the Iroquois to England, he translated the Gospel of John into Mohawk for the British and Foreign Bible Society. This work was distributed in Upper Canada beginning in 1806.

Norton traveled in the American Southeast in 1809–1810, visiting many Cherokee towns and meeting some of his father's relatives. He documented much about Cherokee culture and included this material in his journal, which primarily recounted events of the War of 1812. It is unique for his perspective on the war as an acculturated Mohawk raised in the British Isles. The memoir, The Journal of Major John Norton, 1816, was not published until 1970 in an annotated edition by The Champlain Society; other annotated versions have also been published, including the Society's 2011 version.

[blue-and-gilt]

New sword day. Covering a number of centuries here; Dutch Walloon hilt cavalry sword circa 1650 - 1700. British 1796 light cavalry style officers sabre with horse-head pommel circa 1800 French m1845 infantry officers sabre circa 1850 - 1880 (not my area of expertise so feel free to correct me there).

[blackswaneuroparedux]

The road to the next duty is the only straight one.

- George MacDonald

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith was the youngest Head of the British Army in over a century, the longest serving Chief of the General Staff since the Second World War and the most senior Special Forces officer in Defence.

The son of a major-general, Carleton-Smith went to Eton and later Durham University to read history. He joined the Army 40 years ago in 1982 on a university scholarship and graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst as an Infantry officer in the Irish Guards. 

He passed the SAS Selection Course in 1990 and served around the world with the SAS for most of the following 15 years in the Gulf, South America, Africa and the Balkans. Carleton-Smith was Commanding Officer of 22 SAS Regiment after 9/11 and commanded all Special Forces operations in Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan.

He subsequently assumed command of 16 Air Assault Brigade, the Army’s high readiness parachute intervention force which culminated in his command of all British Forces in Afghanistan during one of the war’s most intense periods.

Promoted to Major General as Director of Special Forces, he commanded all the United Kingdom’s Special Forces for 3 years which included implementing the strategy to defeat ISIS in Syria and Iraq. 

Prior to taking up the post of Chief of the General Staff, the professional Head of the British Army in 2018, he was Defence’s Director of Military Strategy and Operations which included directing the UK response to Russia’s invasion of Crimea and military support to Ukraine. 

General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith has also been Honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards and of Oxford University OTC and also been a member of the England Rugby mentoring team preparing the squad for the 2023 World Cup and Colonel Commandant of the SAS.

Photo: General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, KCB, CBE (As Colonel Irish Guards) Portrait Sitting London. (Rory Lewis Photographer) London 2023.

[ukexpointl]

Warrant Officer Irish Guards Tunic

The Warrant Officer Irish Guards Tunic is a distinguished garment that embodies the heritage, discipline, and regal tradition of one of the most esteemed regiments in the British Army. Crafted with precision and adorned with symbols of honor, it stands as a proud symbol of service and loyalty.

Constructed from the finest materials, the tunic boasts a deep shade of scarlet, a color synonymous with the Irish Guards and evocative of their storied history. Its immaculate tailoring and precise stitching reflect the regiment's commitment to excellence and attention to detail.

Adorning the tunic are the iconic buttons bearing the insignia of the Irish Guards - a stylized shamrock encircled by a garter strap with the regiment's motto "Quis Separabit" (Who shall separate us). Each button is a mark of distinction, signifying the wearer's allegiance to one of the most prestigious units in the British Army.

Emblazoned on the sleeves are the regimental rank badges, denoting the wearer's status as a Warrant Officer, a position of leadership and authority within the Irish Guards. These badges, meticulously embroidered with gold thread, command respect and admiration, symbolizing the wearer's dedication and service to Queen and country.

Completing the ensemble are the various accoutrements, including the ceremonial belt and sword, which further enhance the tunic's grandeur and ceremonial significance. Whether worn on parade or during formal occasions, the Warrant Officer Irish Guards Tunic exudes an aura of dignity and pride, serving as a timeless tribute to the gallantry and valor of those who have served before.

In every stitch and detail, the Warrant Officer Irish Guards Tunic embodies the storied legacy and unwavering commitment of the Irish Guards, a testament to their enduring tradition of service and sacrifice.

[totallyhussein-blog]

Why did Britain fail to stop the war?

Back in 2005, the Washington Post reported that they asked Margaret Thatcher, whether she would have invaded Iraq given the intelligence at the time. 

Apparently, Lady Thatcher replied: "I was a scientist before I was a politician. And as a scientist I know you need facts, evidence and proof - and then you check, recheck and check again."

She added: "The fact was that there were no facts, there was no evidence, and there was no proof. As a politician the most serious decision you can take is to commit your armed services to war from which they may not return."

As The Guardian reported; The invasion was launched on “evidence” about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) that consisted mostly of whatever it was Iraqi informants knew our intelligence agencies most wanted to hear and would happily pay for. 

The biggest contributor to this self-fulfilling dossier was an alcohol-fixated defector called Curveball, who later admitted his improvisations about chemical weapons weren’t true.

As Armando Iannucci explained, At the time, I was numb with confusion and horror that the British democratic system could allow a prime minister, fixated on a threat people were telling him wasn’t there, to get his party and his opponents to back a war with no purpose, no target, no endgame and no rationale. We all told Blair at the time it wasn’t going to end well.

Although it’s 20 years since the Iraq war started, and coming up to 19 years since my son was killed, it still feels like yesterday to me. As Rose Gentle described to The Guardian; For years after my Gordon’s death in Iraq, I campaigned for justice – until the 2016 (Iraq) inquiry and that encounter (with then British Prime Minister Tony Blair).

For years and years there was no resolution and no consolation – until the Iraq inquiry finally gave its verdict in July 2016. All the families sat in that room as everything we had said was shown to be true: Blair had deliberately exaggerated the threat posed by Saddam and WMD; peaceful alternatives had not been exhausted; the military were not properly equipped. 

Blair said afterwards that some mistakes had been made, and I thought: “Well, why did you make those mistakes?” Not once during the inquiry did he look at any of the families in that room. As he walked by me with his security guards, I said to him: “You murdered my son.” They just rushed him out of the door.

[sleepyconfusedpotato]

⚔️ MWII (2022) Character Ages (as of 2022) ⚔️

I was on a character age brainrot back in January and now It's back because of @angelsarewatching so I'm gonna go ahead and post this on Tumblr. Tell me what you think tho and discussions are open!

🐑 Gen. Shepherd - Around late 50s, Pushing 64. I searched it up and apparently, the mandatory retirement age for all general officers is 62, in some cases 64. But if he got into the recommendation list after Brigadier General (O-7), it's allowed to be more than 62. He's a Lt. Gen, so that's O-9. Also, Glenn Morshower (Shepherd's actor) is 64 so let's go with that.

🧠 Laswell - 47-ish. At MOST 55. (Rya Khilstedt is 52. AMAZING BEAUTIFUL SHOW -STOPPING)

🚁 Nikolai - 45 as well. I would go with 48 though.

🪦 Graves - 40. He gives Texan cowboy energy. I just know he's an old dude and is actually older than the rest of the gang.

🛖 Alejandro and 🦂 Valeria - 37. Maybe 38. I don't know at what age someone could make the rank Colonel 'cause that's quite high up the ladder. (They might as well be older than Price. Shit, they might be 40.)

🚬 Price - 37 (Canon) c. 1985.

🐎Rudy - 36. He's been close with Alejandro for 20 years now. Assuming they're bestest of friends and knew each other even before military, Rudy would be around 36/37 as well.

💀 Ghost - 35 or lower. As far as I know, lieutenants are usually young, unless he enlists first before a few years later he went to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS). OR. His preference and efficiency of working alone are far better for use on the battlefield. The higher you are in the ranks, the more soldiers you are responsible for. So the higher-ups might purposefully don't promote him (and he prefers and agrees to it as well) so that he can continue working alone rather than leading a squad. He surely can lead a team, but he's better at doing shit alone. Crazy theory but hey, it's fiction.

🦿Alex - 35 (Alex was a Delta Force until 2013. Assuming he's around 26 when he finally goes to the CIA, that means he's around 32yo in 2019 and 35yo in 2022)'

🔭 Hadir - 33/34 (Canon) 1986/1987. I’m choosing 34 tho since in the ‘Hometown’ mission he was almost a teenager.

☀️ Farah - 30 (Canon) January 12th 1990.

🧢 Gaz - 26 (Canon). The bio says he enlisted in the British Army in 2014. Assuming Gaz finished high school first, he must’ve enlisted when he was 18yo. That means he was 23yo in MW19 and 26yo in MW22. 

🧼 Soap - 26 (Canon). He’s canonically the youngest one in Task Force 141. The bio mentioned that his cousin is in SAS and he often time visits the base. Setting aside the fact that the cousin brought a fucking kid to a top-secret base, lil’ Johnny must’ve been like “I DON’T WANNA GO TO SCHOOL I WANT TO BE AN SAS SOLDIER” and he canonically LIED about his age. Apparently, he went in when he was 16 but got caught several times, until finally when he was 18 he got in. 

--

That's it folks! Tell me what you think (｡･∀･)ﾉﾞ

[if-you-fan-a-fire]

"British Parliamentarians Visit O.T. C.," Windsor Star. June 24, 1933. Page 1. ---- TWO of the British parliamentarians now touring Canada to study the Dominion's war effort close-up, are pictured here as they visited the Officer's Training Centre of the Canadian Army at Brockville. Left to right are Rt. Hon. Sir Percy Harris, M.P., Lt.-Col. Ernest Poole of the Training Centre, and Rt. Hon. Viscount Stansgate.