Matthew Palmer
@so3brocktree
🇬🇧 Former soldier learning how to be a civvie. Accidental journalist. Fellow at the Council on Geostrategy. Thoughts & feelings on defence and other things. Views my own. Longer thoughts & feelings on substack:
Saw Akira Remastered at the BFI last night. Fuck me it was good - better than I remembered. Story - bonkers. Violence - brutal. Dystopian cyberpunk vibes - impeccable. Music - excellent. Aesthetic and Animation - sublime. An undoubted classic that holds up exceptionally well.
Today is VJ Day. On the 15th August 1945, the Japanese Empire announced its surrender to the Allies, effectively bringing an end to the Second World War. The most devastating conflict in human history had finally come to a close.
Idly procrastinating by working out how many Shakespeare plays I have either watched or read. Turns out the number is (I think) 20, so roughly halfway through his works. This reminds me that I need to go to the Globe more often. A £10 ticket within walking distance is ridiculously good value.
Absolute banger that details how Britain mobilised for and won a 22-year struggle in a true ‘whole-of-society’ effort, among political and societal upheaval. Highly recommended to anyone interested in the machinery of government and mobilisation. There is so much we can learn from the French Wars.
'The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time.' On this day in 1914, Britain declared war on the German Empire. What followed was a catastrophe that caused millions of deaths and defined the course of the 20th Century.
Saw The Odyssey in IMAX. Overall, fantastic spectacle, though the start and certain parts are ropey/could be cut. Some of the poem's most famous episodes however are done brilliantly. Slightly let down by common 'Nolan-isms' (clunky dialogue, aloof viewpoint), but well worth seeing in theatres.
On this day, 109 years ago, the Battle of Passchendaele began. Though there were effective tactics employed, the Allied attack eventually slowed into an attritional slogging match, fought in utterly appalling weather. Tens of thousands of men lost their lives in the mud around Ypres.
Have just visited the US National WW2 Museum in New Orleans and despite my British cynicism have to admit that it was bloody good. Also great to see less-commonly told (US) aspects of the war examined, including the experiences of Japanese-Americans and of Labour Unions in the defence industries.
Continuing my one-man crusade against bad communication in Defence, I have to highlight the second paragraph here. 'The reindustrialisation of industry' is a particular clunker, as is 'defence's important role in the UK's growing defence and technology sector.'
Damn right. Don’t mess with London’s cheese. If the situation was ever repeated again I’d 100% support any lobbying by Paxton & Whitfield to protect London’s supplies of Comté from the continent. 💪
Another utter howler from the MOD, this time on the British Army website. What is this utter nonsense? How does this help understanding? Trying to parse this just raises more questions than it answers...
Have just finished ‘Conquer We Must’ by Robin Prior. A highly-readable account of British civil-military relations during the First and Second World Wars. Well worth a read for anyone interested the interplay between politicians and military officers in wartime democracies.
Aargh why does the MOD write like this? What does this even mean? Why is it in the document? So much obfuscation (willful or otherwise) at all levels.
On this day 110 years ago, the Battle of the Somme began. In terms of casualties, 1st July 1916 remains the worst day in the history of the British Army. Over 57,000 men were wounded, captured or killed.
What is this nonsense? Its so unserious. giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
I hate this sort of nonsense. Why put out statements like this when it is demonstrably untrue to anyone with a braincell and just reeks of flailing desperation?
The current pile of books I have out on loan from the university library... (I'm a hoarder I know)
Fuck me that is a terrifying set of stats. And its only likely to get worse in the near term.
This was great. Also, absolutely no surprise to anyone who knows me:
Al Carns: 'Allyness wins Elections' 💪 (I realise this is a niche joke, but still)
Happy Victory in Europe Day to all! A reminder that fascism can and will be defeated 💪💪
One for the naval history nerds, but the idea that British sea power ultimately didn't matter during the Napoleonic Wars and that the French would have regained control of the sea if Napoleon had more time is.... a take.
I know I've posted this before but I fucking love this poster. Need to get a print framed and put up on the wall.
Images that go hard: a mural on the side of the Museum of Local Conflicts in Kyiv.
UK agrees to give limited funds towards GCAP. It is remarkable how much the Defence Investment Plan is seen entirely in a domestic context with no understanding of its international impact (esp considering it should be, by its nature, internationally focussed). giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...