One Hundred Years Ago

[21st Century Man]

That is a good point.  My mom didn't leave Norway until 1953, but her father and grandfather had already been to Seattle several times as sailors and knew all about Ballard, which was almost a Norwegian ghetto even when I grew up there.  Grandma could, and did, have several friends over for coffee she'd known from their town in Norway.

As a kid I remember running around outside with the cousins even when it was cold because Grandma's house was stiflingly hot.  It smelled of coffee, cardamom, fish, and mothballs, and the kitchen table was crowded by gruff old Norskies all talking ingeningeningeningening in that sing-song way.



This was above the kitchen table, and The Angelus was in the living room.  I don't think Grandma realized it was Catholic.

We had that first picture too.  I think it is still in my possession.

[K_Dubb]

We had that first picture too.  I think it is still in my possession.

Cool!  Grandma's is in my kitchen.

[K_Dubb]

Oh MY!!!!

Ha the thought that a hundred-year-old magazine cover can still provoke such a reaction gladdens my heart.  Of course it's French.

[Walks_At_Night]

It has been a while since we have looked in our friends from Her Majesty's Canadian Rifles 3rd Battalion.

They had some bad luck on April 9th, 1916:

Sunday, April 9, 1916
Location: BEDFORD HOUSE
Entry: LCpl NOEL killed by shell near SWAN CHATEAU. 3 n.c.o’s to 2nd Army School, Capt MARANI to Stokes course at TERDEGHEM. 1 O.R. to COLT course. Service at BEDFORD HOUSE at 5 pm â€" Rev. Capt. WARNER. 1 O.R. slightly wounded on working party. Weather â€" fine.

Lance Corporal  Arthur Gerald Noel was the son of John Henry and Rosina Charlotte Noel, of 9, St. Paul's Square, Southsea, England.  He was only 20 years
old when he was killed and is buried in the Divisional Cemetery in Belgium.

[Rix Gins]

On March 30, of 1916, Max Immelmann took off from Douai airfield on a routine patrol.  He was headed toward the French town of Bapaume  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bapaume when he spotted three British machines.  They were photographing the trenches and two of the aircraft saw Max's Fokker and made a hasty exit.  The third British plane was higher up and Immelmann was able to fire at it.  And that's exactly what happened...after an initial burst of Immelmann's guns, the enemy plane took a steep nosedive towards the ground.  Being the experienced pilot that he was, Max observed the plane as it plummeted to earth and he had one uppermost question about what he was seeing...Why didn't the plane's observer fire back at him?  He could only assume that both pilot and observer had been killed by the short burst of fire, but Max was wrong.  Unbeknownst to him, the plane's pilot Geoffrey Joseph Lightbourn Welsford (2/Middlesex Regiment and 15 Squadron Royal Flying Corps) had indeed been killed instantly and this left the observer Wayland Joyce (8/Bedfordshire Regiment and 15 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps) in a diving plane with a dead pilot in it.  To the observer's great fortune, he had, at an earlier time, paid his own money to learn how to fly a plane, so with great difficulty, he was able to climb partially into the cockpit and while he couldn't control the BE2c's tail rudder, he did get it to level out just before hitting the ground, and this saved his life.  This was Immelmann's 13th victory. 


           A BE2c.  (Photo from Wikipedia)

Now, here's the kicker in it's a small world kind of way.  The pilot, Geoffrey Welsford, had been in a ground unit (The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment) where he was wounded and sent back to his home to get over his injuries.    After he got better, he took some time to learn to fly (also at his expense)  and when he returned to the front he was given a flying position with the Royal Flying Corpse.  His assigned observer?  Well it was none other than his lifelong friend, schoolmate and neighbor, Wayland Joyce.

There is an interesting link that shows the wrecked BE2c (at top of page) and a group of German soldiers giving a memorial service for Welsford (further down on the page).  Here is the link...http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/aerial-photography-first-world-war/
The link also contains more info on Welsford plus what POW Wayland Joyce was allowed to write on a condolence card that was included along with a German message that was dropped behind enemy lines.

[gabrielle]

The horrible battle at St. Eloi continued on April 9th 1916.  This is an excerpt from the Canadian Encyclopedia:

Canadians Driven Back
As night fell on 8 April, the Canadians again attacked but were stopped by German rifles and machine guns. Incessant rain made porridge of the battlefield. Germans attacked the next day but were likewise repelled. The Canadian leadership had little idea which craters they held and which were held by Germans. The leadership did not know what was happening at the front, as disoriented Canadians pinned down by artillery shells could not relay messages. Even the pigeons used to carry messages were dead.
Both sides shot at each other in the miserable conditions of the craters for another two weeks. More than 1,370 Canadians were killed or wounded, along with about 480 Germans. Aerial photography on 16 April finally showed the Canadians that they were in a terrible position, and the divisional headquarters ordered the battle stopped....

http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-st-eloi-craters/

[gabrielle]

On March 30, of 1916, Max Immelmann took off from Douai airfield on a routine patrol.  He was headed toward the French town of Bapaume  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bapaume when he spotted three British machines.  They were photographing the trenches and two of the aircraft saw Max's Fokker and made a hasty exit.  The third British plane was higher up and Immelmann was able to fire at it.  And that's exactly what happened...after an initial burst of Immelmann's guns, the enemy plane took a steep nosedive towards the ground.  Being the experienced pilot that he was, Max observed the plane as it plummeted to earth and he had one uppermost question about what he was seeing...Why didn't the plane's observer fire back at him?  He could only assume that both pilot and observer had been killed by the short burst of fire, but Max was wrong.  Unbeknownst to him, the plane's pilot Geoffrey Joseph Lightbourn Welsford (2/Middlesex Regiment and 15 Squadron Royal Flying Corps) had indeed been killed instantly and this left the observer Wayland Joyce (8/Bedfordshire Regiment and 15 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps) in a diving plane with a dead pilot in it.  To the observer's great fortune, he had, at an earlier time, paid his own money to learn how to fly a plane, so with great difficulty, he was able to climb partially into the cockpit and while he couldn't control the BE2c's tail rudder, he did get it to level out just before hitting the ground, and this saved his life.  This was Immelmann's 13th victory. 


           A BE2c.  (Photo from Wikipedia)

Now, here's the kicker in it's a small world kind of way.  The pilot, Geoffrey Welsford, had been in a ground unit (The Duke of Cambridge's Own Middlesex Regiment) where he was wounded and sent back to his home to get over his injuries.    After he got better, he took some time to learn to fly (also at his expense)  and when he returned to the front he was given a flying position with the Royal Flying Corpse.  His assigned observer?  Well it was none other than his lifelong friend, schoolmate and neighbor, Wayland Joyce.

There is an interesting link that shows the wrecked BE2c (at top of page) and a group of German soldiers giving a memorial service for Welsford (further down on the page).  Here is the link...http://blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk/blog/aerial-photography-first-world-war/
The link also contains more info on Welsford plus what POW Wayland Joyce was allowed to write on a condolence card that was included along with a German message that was dropped behind enemy lines.

Wow, that is an amazing story.  There are no coincidences.

[K_Dubb]

General Pétain's order of the day for tomorrow comments on today's fighting:



"April 9 is a glorious day for our arms.  The furious assaults of the soldiers of the Crown Prince were completely broken.  Infantry, artillery, sappers (originally siege-warfare specialists, probably the guys laying out the trenches) and aviators rivaled each other for heroism.  The Germans will no doubt attack again.  If everyone works and holds fast to obtain the same success as yesterday,
Courage...  We shall have them!

[gabrielle]

General Pétain's order of the day for tomorrow comments on today's fighting:



"April 9 is a glorious day for our arms.  The furious assaults of the soldiers of the Crown Prince were completely broken.  Infantry, artillery, sappers (originally siege-warfare specialists, probably the guys laying out the trenches) and aviators rivaled each other for heroism.  The Germans will no doubt attack again.  If everyone works and holds fast to obtain the same success as yesterday,
Courage...  We shall have them!

I guess it was a better day if you weren't stuck in a crater at St. Eloi.   

[K_Dubb]

A musical Homage to Armenia was given at the Sorbonne a hundred years ago today:



The program featured traditional Armenian songs, many arranged by the composer known as Komitas, who went crazy during the Turkish persecution and was institutionalized until he died in France about twenty years later.  Here is his "The Apricot Tree", played with piano, violin, and some funny recorder-looking thing with an extraordinary tone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfx3Su5b-gY

A couple of Saint-Saëns's Persian Melodies were also performed, accompanied by the composer himself (!), including this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RHHHkI5Trw

The composer Vincent D'Indy conducted the choir!

The complete program is here:  http://www.globalarmenianheritage-adic.fr/fr/5culture/musique/8_groung3_1916avril.htm

The Armenian Genocide is usually portrayed these days as something hidden, but clearly influential people were aware of it.  Seattle had its own Armenian concert at a church a few weeks ago (a hundred years ago, I mean haha).

[K_Dubb]

I guess it was a better day if you weren't stuck in a crater at St. Eloi.   

Oops, I forgot "Honor to all!", which I hope included your Canadians.  Yeah, I suspect his words fell flat to many ears.  Didn't things get really mutinous in the French army later in the war?

[albrecht]

General Pétain's order of the day for tomorrow comments on today's fighting:



"April 9 is a glorious day for our arms.  The furious assaults of the soldiers of the Crown Prince were completely broken.  Infantry, artillery, sappers (originally siege-warfare specialists, probably the guys laying out the trenches) and aviators rivaled each other for heroism.  The Germans will no doubt attack again.  If everyone works and holds fast to obtain the same success as yesterday,
Courage...  We shall have them!

Really an amazing character. He helped put down the various mutinies that were happening (general opinion was 'wait for the Americans', he was quoted as saying ""I am waiting for the tanks and the Americans."
Talk about going from hero to goat- national hero and then to be convicted of treason and sentenced to death (sentence commuted) and stripped of all honors and medals, save one. Some people on the far-right and traditional/severe Catholics still like him though. Some fans stole his body in 1973 in the hopes that it would be buried in a military graveyard. The government got it back and reburied it but with a Presidential wreath.

[gabrielle]

Oops, I forgot "Honor to all!", which I hope included your Canadians.  Yeah, I suspect his words fell flat to many ears.  Didn't things get really mutinous in the French army later in the war?

Yes, they did get mutinous in 1917, with the "Nivelle offensive," named after Robert Nivelle, Commander and Chief of the French army.

[WhiteCrow]

Yes, they did get mutinous in 1917, with the "Nivelle offensive," named after Robert Nivelle, Commander and Chief of the French army.

Thanks for all the "war" posts .. Very interesting and depressing too.

Need to day dream a bit to renew my spirits..

[Walks_At_Night]

In 1916 the Hudson Motor Company was building cars in Detroit, Michigan.  Formed in 1909,  the tale of Hudson Motors would be a long and
interesting one.  It would involve a Department Store magnate, an incredible engine, D-Day, the 'Damsel of Design', Mit Romney's Dad
and actor Paul Newman.  So let's take a closer look.........

In 1909, a group of eight Detroit businessman got together to start a new car company.  Foremost about them was J.L Hudson - the
founder of Hudson's Department stores.  J.L. Hudson would lend his name to the new company but the chief car guy would be
Roy Chapin whom had worked for Ransom E. Olds of Oldsmobile fame.  The Hudson Factory would be located in the Fairview
section of Detroit near the corner of Connor and Jefferson Avenue - katty corner from the Chalmers Motors plant.   As we learned in the
Chalmers post,  the only auto factory entirely in the city limits of Detroit endures to this very day. This is Chrysler's Jefferson Avenue plant
where Jeeps are built.

With plenty of capital and a factory in place, Hudson got busy building cars.  They were a very innovative firm and would be the first to have
dual brakes, dashboard oil-pressure and generator warning lights, and a balanced crankshaft. The crankshaft was vital because this allowed
the famous Hudson 'Super Six' engine to pump out more power for its size than other companies offerings.  This engine would be the bedrock
of the company and would remain the heart of Hudson Motors for more than forty years.

By 1929 Hudson would reach it's peak - building more than 300,000 automobiles.   The Great Depression would hit Hudson very hard
and the firm would never really recover but they would keep innovating.  In 1935 they would ship a column-mounted electro-mechanical
shifter, called the Electric Hand, which replaced the floor shifter.  In 1936 they came out with the “rhythmic ride” suspension
which used longer and softer leaf springs that allowed for a smoother ride.  Still by 1938 production was down to 111,000 units.

In 1939, Hudson hired one of the industries first female industrial designers.  Her name was Betty Thatcher Oros and she was  called the
"Damsel of Design".  She was hired to bring in a female point of view and she added side lighting, enhancements  to the dash board and
improved interior fabrics.

Hudson Motors would play their part during World War Two.   The Higgins Boats used at D-Day would be powered by  Hudson Invader
engines.  In addition, Hudson would build more than 30,000  20MM anti-aircraft guns for the US Navy. As a little personal aside, my Uncle
Clarence would handle one of these guns in the Pacific during the war.

With World War Two over Hudson would get back to building cars.  They would come out with the Hudson Wasp,  the compact Hudson Jet
and of course the famous Hudson Hornet.   The Wasp would never really take off,  the Jet was a costly failure. It was meant to compete with
the Nash Rambler and several Plymouth models but  it was a dud and the precious capital invested in its development would be a big drain
on the company.

With the Hornet, Hudson had a winner.  In 1951, the indomitable Hudson six cylinder engine got a new block and  some of other tweaks and the result was
sh*t hot.   Both torque and horsepower were dramatically  increased and the Hudson Hornet would dominate NASCAR in 1951, 1952, 1953, and 1954.
It was not enough - sales  for Hudosn were way down and only some military contracts kept the company afloat.

On May 1, 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to become American Motors. The Hudson factory,  located in Detroit, Michigan, was converted
to military contract production at the end of the model year,  and the remaining three years of Hudson production took place in Kenosha, Wisconsin. 
American Motors CEO was George Romney - Mit's Dad.  AMC would keep the Hudson name until 1957 when the last Hudson was built on the Kenosha
assembly line on June 25, 1957.  Romney had concluded that the only way for AMC to compete with GM, Ford and Chrysler would be to build small vehicles.   
AMC would always struggle -  it barely survived a hostile take over bid in the late 50's.   AMC would come out with the Javelin, the Matador, the Pacer and the
Gremlin but they would always live hand to mouth.   In 1987 the end came when AMC was acquired by Chrysler.

Hudson Motors would probably be totally forgotten today by most if it was not for the movie Cars.   Paul Newman would voice the Hudson Hornet in the movie
and revive the Hudson name.


J.L. Hudson


Hudson Motors Logo


The old Hudson plant located at the corner of Jefferson and Connor in Detroit


1910 Hudson


1916 Super Six Hudsons



1916 Hudson Speedster


'36 Hudson Pickup


Betty Thatcher Oros


Higgins Boat


20MM AntiAircraft Gun


'52 Hudson Hornet


Hornet Dash


Dual Carb Hudson Straight Six Engine


Hudson Wasp


Hudson Jet


George Romney


Cars - Movie

[Rix Gins]

A personal thanks for this article, Walks because it brought back some memories of when I was a kid.  Grandpa would gather us grand kids up and pack us into his 49 Hudson.  He would then drive Nana and us out to a Dairy Queen like place called Swamp Water...Best hot fudge sundaes I ever ate.  Anyway, we always seemed to leave at night and I will never forget the beautifully soft glow of the Hudson's dash panel.  That, and Grandpa's melodic rendition of "Shine On Harvest Moon." 

[Rix Gins]

I found a Sunday paper that had some interesting items in it.  The Sunday Telegram from Clarksburg, W. Va.
 

[Walks_At_Night]

A personal thanks for this article, Walks because it brought back some memories of when I was a kid.  Grandpa would gather us grand kids up and pack us into his 49 Hudson.  He would then drive Nana and us out to a Dairy Queen like place called Swamp Water...Best hot fudge sundaes I ever ate.  Anyway, we always seemed to leave at night and I will never forget the beautifully soft glow of the Hudson's dash panel.  That, and Grandpa's melodic rendition of "Shine On Harvest Moon."

Sure thing.  I learned alot - not the least of which is that Mit Romney is sooooooooooo not adopted!

[Rix Gins]

Also some articles on these two men.

[WhiteCrow]

Thanks Walks at Night... Ask and you will receive.
Excellant post.  I worked at the Kenosha final assemble plant, as a line relief man. I would have a different job most everyday. Fill in, if someone called sick or was on vacations etc..
Pay was good for a college kid, work was mind numbing boring. Plant was insanely loud,  super hot in summer and very cold in  winter. Also an undercurrent of Union vs Management always going on. As a union workers I refused to testify again a manager that pick up a bumper bracket to show me how it was placed on the car..A big no no for a non union manager to do that.. After the investigation and my refusal to testify. The Union guys made it very clear, quit or else.

[Walks_At_Night]

Thanks Walks at Night... Ask and you will receive.
Excellant post.  I worked at the Kenosha final assemble plant, as a line relief man. I would have a different job most everyday. Fill in, if someone called sick or was on vacations etc..
Pay was good for a college kid, work was mind numbing boring. Plant was insanely loud,  super hot in summer and very cold in  winter. Also an undercurrent of Union vs Management always going on. As a union workers I refused to testify again a manager that pick up a bumper bracket to show me how it was placed on the car..A big no no for a non union manager to do that.. After the investigation and my refusal to testify. The Union guys made it very clear, quit or else.

Typical insanity.........    I would guess being a Utility Man would be more interesting than doing the same gig over and over.   When I finished
High School I had the choice between hanging tail gates on F-150's or going to Engineering School.   There are days when I wonder if I made the right choice.  :

[albrecht]

I found a Sunday paper that had some interesting items in it.  The Sunday Telegram from Clarksburg, W. Va.

Wow, simply wow. Those are some of the best stories I've seen on here! "Hysteronic ability..." will appear nude. Hilarious. (Anyone have updates on the mysterious double murder that I will dub, Perry Mason fashion, "The Case of the Couch-Sleeping Nephew?")

[Rix Gins]

Wow, simply wow. Those are some of the best stories I've seen on here! "Hysteronic ability..." will appear nude. Hilarious. (Anyone have updates on the mysterious double murder that I will dub, Perry Mason fashion, "The Case of the Couch-Sleeping Nephew?")

Haha.  Now that is a perfect title!

[albrecht]

Haha.  Now that is a perfect title!

Unfortunately I was unable, with a quick search, to find any more references, or pictures, of the hysteronic but beautiful model! Dang it.

[WhiteCrow]

A personal thanks for this article, Walks because it brought back some memories of when I was a kid.  Grandpa would gather us grand kids up and pack us into his 49 Hudson.  He would then drive Nana and us out to a Dairy Queen like place called Swamp Water...Best hot fudge sundaes I ever ate.  Anyway, we always seemed to leave at night and I will never forget the beautifully soft glow of the Hudson's dash panel.  That, and Grandpa's melodic rendition of "Shine On Harvest Moon."

My father had a connection with Hudson too.
Sailor during WWII, maned a  20mm anti aircraft gun.
Outer fleet protection and pre island invasion, softening up Japanese defensive positions. Pacific Theater, aboard a Mighty Midget.

[Walks_At_Night]

These old newspaper clippings are so cool.   They make me laugh so much - still chuckling over the 59 year old cougar marrying the
lad of 18 over the objections of Mom.


No means of support!   

[K_Dubb]

Also some articles on these two men.

Very cool, yeah, he should have kept his pipe, poor guy.

Whatever is fusel oil?  Did they mix the rum with molasses as a sweetener?  I heard a recorded interview with a French survivor of Verdun who reported they were given brandy, extra before an assault.  He said they could smell ether given to the German soldiers.

The Star doesn't have a Sunday edition, so tune in tomorrow for the third episode in "The Case of the Couch-Sleeping Nephew" hahaha

[albrecht]

Very cool, yeah, he should have kept his pipe, poor guy.

Whatever is fusel oil?  Did they mix the rum with molasses as a sweetener?  I heard a recorded interview with a French survivor of Verdun who reported they were given brandy, extra before an assault.  He said they could smell ether given to the German soldiers.

The Star doesn't have a Sunday edition, so tune in tomorrow for the third episode in "The Case of the Couch-Sleeping Nephew" hahaha

The only thing I know about "fusel oils" is that they supposedly cause hangovers, a by-product of fermentation and distillation. Why, at least in theory, you are more hung-over if drinking "brown" stuff (whiskey, whisky, dark rums, etc) or homemade stuff (moonshine etc) versus vodka, Korn, white rum, pure grain alcohol ("Everclear") etc. Apparently some remnants of stuff "tailed off" if not properly distilled out or left in to get color/taste?

[Rix Gins]

Everett True, April 10, 1916. 

[Rix Gins]

The Chicago Day Book, April 10, 1016.