"Forces With History"--Glory Days

Amazing--the next few days are in the 'never a dull moment' category. Consider that this blog and my newsletter concern themselves with pretty disparate subjects: cavalry, submarines, and other things that catch my eye

Cavalry:

On July 30th the Vancouver Public Library will screen the movie "War Horse" at 1:30 pm, downstairs in the Alice MacKay room. I'll be there, taking another look at Steven Spielberg's version of Michael Morpurgo's children's story. My recollection is that the scenes of a cavalry charge are shockingly well done. The photo at left is "A Canadian Trooper and His Horse" by Sir Alfred Munnings.

That same evening, I'll be speaking to people interested in hearing about a real-life cavalry trooper and his experiences. My father was the inspiration for Soldier of the Horse, and I look forward to presenting some images that help understand what cavalrymen and their mounts were up to in 1914-18.

Submarines:

The first week of August is Submarine Week in Victoria: the 100th anniversary, to the day, of the birth of the Canadian submarine service. I'll be there, taking in the sights and sounds at the commemorative luncheon at the Union Club (where the deal for our first two boats was cobbled together), a banquet, and a historical presentation at the Royal BC Museum by fellow author Julie H. Ferguson. Photo at right is HMCS Okanagan off Gosport in the UK in 1968

As a personal highlight, my submarine thriller "Terror on the Alert" will be available at the submarine events, although official launch is September 30th.

Details of Submarine week can be accessed at the Submarine Association of Canada (West) website.

What more could a blogger about cavalry and submarines ask for?

"War Horse" Images

The novel War Horse, followed by the play and movie of the same name, has sparked much interest in the activities of British and Commonwealth cavalries in World War I. Michael Morpurgo's novel had plenty of inspiration to draw on for its battle scenes, from early cavalry charges in 1914, through the desperate fighting at Moreuil Wood by the Canadian Cavalry Brigade, and the last 100 days of the war.
Popular images of cavalry charges, with well-organized lines of mounted men sweeping into battle, were reinforced by such paintings as "The Charge of Flowerdew's Squadron" by Sir Alfred Munnings. (For a look at that painting, see my website.) The reality was much different. Indeed, the cavalry continued to be decimated up to the final days, whenever machine guns and artillery were ready and waiting for them.