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R2Icon
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
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John W
Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK
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 Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 5:47 pm Post subject: Re: Don't mention the war. |
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| R2Icon wrote: |
To celebrate this happy event, a local military reenactment group fired canon at the ship as it was leaving..... |
Well, I suppose shooting at it with members of the cathedral clergy is safer than explosive shells! 
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John W |
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R2Icon
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 1444
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| Posted: Wed May 22, 2013 9:38 am Post subject: |
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It was a real coffee spurting moment when I read it. Just imagine the meeting.
"What should we do to show our German visitors that we have no hard feelings, they're more than welcome here, and all that war business is in the past :all forgotten?"
Any ideas?
Yes! I've got just the thing!
Let's fire a big gun at them!
Brilliant! |
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unclebuck
Joined: 19 Apr 2010
Posts: 276
Location: Warwickshire
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| Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 9:23 am Post subject: |
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In the 17th Century, the firing of salutes ship-to-ship and between ships and shore had become so OTT that massive amounts of powder were being wasted at great expense, to the point that it was discussed in parliament.
As an example, when the British fleet arrived at Malta, they were greeted with a 45 gun salute that lasted a couple of hours. Each British ship reciprocated with a 21 gun salute!
Battleships passing Plymouth Castle saluted with nine guns. The castle would respond with nine guns, and the ship would then fire three by way of a 'thank you'.
Such fun! |
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FleetingEileenM
Joined: 30 Mar 2010
Posts: 5747
Location: Hampshire
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| Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 9:24 am Post subject: |
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Great story R21con. Loved your typo! What a picture that conjures up  . Dave Allen springs to mind for some reason. |
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R2Icon
Joined: 10 Sep 2009
Posts: 1444
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| Posted: Thu May 23, 2013 10:49 am Post subject: |
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Ah I see the typo now.  I'm quite poor at spelling, especially where double letters are concerned. My camera just happened to be nearby. |
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