Author Archives: Magicfingers

Austro-Hungarian Hand Grenades of the Great War Part One – The Rohr Stielhandgranate

Posted on November 6, 2021 by Magicfingers

Many of the early hand grenades in use during the first few months of the war, across all the combatant nations, were improvised explosive devices, tins full of bits of metal or anything likely to cause damage, often attached to … Continue reading →

Posted in Austro-Hungarian Grenades, Weaponry & Relics | 2 Comments

Aldershot – Holy Trinity Church Roll of Honour

Posted on October 23, 2021 by Magicfingers

For quite a few years, until fairly recently, when we found a new home, I used to attend meetings of the Aldershot Military Society in a hut next to this church. Over the years, the church was always locked, except … Continue reading →

Posted in Hampshire, U.K. Churches, Memorials & Cemeteries - Back in Blighty | 2 Comments

Falmouth – Operation Chariot Memorial

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Magicfingers

What’s the collective noun for Victoria Crosses, I wonder, because we appear to have a scattering of them here,… This is the memorial, on what is now the Prince of Wales Pier in Falmouth harbour, to the men who participated … Continue reading →

Posted in Cornwall, U.K. Churches, Memorials & Cemeteries - Back in Blighty, Victoria Cross | Leave a comment

The Rifle Grenade Part Three – The German Karabingranate M17

Posted on October 16, 2021 by Magicfingers

The Germans’ response to the French Viven-Bessière grenade we looked at last time was the Karabingranate M17, introduced in 1917. 

Posted in German Grenades, Rifle Grenades, Weaponry & Relics | Leave a comment

Lelant – St. Uny Churchyard

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Magicfingers
Posted in Cornwall, U.K. Churches, Memorials & Cemeteries - Back in Blighty | 2 Comments

Puttenham Church & War Memorial

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Magicfingers

I’m sure that someone thought they were being highly artistic, or exceedingly modern, or deferentially retrospective,… …when they chose the typeface for the Great War names,… …but the truth of the matter (in the background here, across the road, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Surrey, U.K. Churches, Memorials & Cemeteries - Back in Blighty | Leave a comment

St. Pancras Station Workers War Memorial

Posted on October 9, 2021 by Magicfingers

St. Pancras Station, one hundred and fifty three years old next month. Thus it was, on 8th November 2018, the station’s one hundred and fiftieth birthday, that this war memorial was unveiled on the Grand Terrace, not so far from … Continue reading →

Posted in London, U.K. Churches, Memorials & Cemeteries - Back in Blighty | 6 Comments