Western Front 1918. "Souvenir of the offensive Bapaume, August 1918, Somme area until stand-still. Souvenir of the offensive Ardeuil, 6th July 1918, Flanders."
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
I think that, since Vad is in Ukraine and English is not his mother tongue, he probably meant to entitle his post something like "This might be of interest."
I don't know how many of our non-UK memebers are familiar with the board game in question. A friend of mine was asked by one of his customers to explain the game and why it's funny. The inquisitive client was German. You can imagine what that conversation was like.
And now, cricket . . . .
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Ah I see now it is Mornington Crescent - using Adelaide rules with the Pinke-Brassington variation (allowing double stoppages on scores below the line).
No what I still don't see is what Vad's original posting with the single word "revers" means (unless there is a link I can't see) and therefore the replies meant nothing either - still in the dark.
BTW Mark does your reply suggest that there are uncivilised races in the galaxy that will talk to you? - reminds me of an unfortunate phrase used by at least one US senator and one president on different occasions "America and the civilised world".
...No what I still don't see is what Vad's original posting with the single word "revers" means (unless there is a link I can't see) and therefore the replies meant nothing either - still in the dark.
BTW Mark does your reply suggest that there are uncivilised races in the galaxy that will talk to you? - reminds me of an unfortunate phrase used by at least one US senator and one president on different occasions "America and the civilised world".
-- Edited by Centurion at 13:06, 2007-06-05
The "revers" I think refers to the image below and is the reverse of the card above it.
The "civilised races" was a reference to Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy, book 3. The game of cricket is actually supposed to be a corruption of the tactics used by the Krikkit war robots (not sure of the spelling).
Thanks now I (dont) see it - there is no image in Vad's posting at it appears when I look at it - hence the complete mystification! - I wonder if this is another AOL problem? Anyone else out there who can't see the image?
Cricket context now understood (I'd thought you were reduced to discussing poetry with the Vogons)
I believe that, as a security measure, the Russians printed these photographs in invisible ink.
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
"James H" it is absolutely right: - " I think that, since Vad is in Ukraine and English is not his mother tongue, he probably meant to entitle his post something like " This might be of interest..."
But the autotranslator has offered "It can be interesting...". If it is wrong, excuse, but in translation on Russian these phrases have practically one sense.
"James H" it is absolutely right: - " I think that, since Vad is in Ukraine and English is not his mother tongue, he probably meant to entitle his post something like " This might be of interest..."
But the autotranslator has offered "It can be interesting...". If it is wrong, excuse, but in translation on Russian these phrases have practically one sense.
No need to apologise Vad. You speak better English than I do Russian.
Not Waffenstillstand (armistice) but Stillstand (stand-still). It refers to the German March offensive (hence Bapaume), only the date is a little bit off-mark. The original text is "bis nicht weiter", but that's no correct German, so I translated it as stand-still.
Sorry. I see what you mean. I can't read the writing on the document Vad posted, but it makes sense now. Bis nicht weiter - until no further -sounds OK to me. Isn't it correct?
I've enhanced the image, and I don't think that says Bapaume. It looks like Lorbonne 4 Angriff or something, and the date doesn't tie in. What do you think the original German says?
-- Edited by James H at 23:44, 2007-06-06
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Ah! Of course. French with a German accent. "Ouffrey ou che gasse la borte!" - Prussian soldier as quoted by Guy de Maupassant.
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"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
No jokes 'bout the brave saxons. A bavarian solider won't even speak a better French.
I can't also read this card clearly. It's too tiny and the red "Original" does not even help to read it. Maybe, Vad, you can post a larger picture.
The man who has written this card was either in a hurry or an illiterate.
MZ is right with his translation, except one little detail.
I guess: "Ein Andenken von der Offensive. Babome 4 August 1918. Somme Gebied. bin(?) noch weiter! Ein Andenken von der Offensive. Ardeul (?) 6 Juli 1918. Fla(e?)ndern."
Translation: "A memory of the offensive. [Date/Place] Somme area.[The solider has written "Gebied" but it's written with a "t" at the end!] I'm just further! ["nicht weiter" is'nt possible, because there is no "t" at the end of "nicht"] A memory of the offensive. [Date/Place]. Flandern.[But written with an added "e"= Flaendern." I think the an has taken this card around and wrote first at 06.06.1918 and then at 04.08.1918 on it.
-- Edited by Paul at 13:04, 2007-06-07
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[...] zu Hause seyn ist mein Verdruß / ich liebe den Canonen-Schuß und Feuer-volle Bomben. (J.G. Albinus "Obrister-Leutenant")
I can not. I "have stolen" this photo. But there are "links": http: // www.areeversand.de/ebay_jh/april/1546.jpg http: // www.areeversand.de/ebay_jh/april/1547.jpg
I can't also read this card clearly. It's too tiny and the red "Original" does not even help to read it. Maybe, Vad, you can post a larger picture.
The man who has written this card was either in a hurry or an illiterate.
MZ is right with his translation, except one little detail.
I guess: "Ein Andenken von der Offensive. Babome 4 August 1918. Somme Gebied. bin(?) noch weiter! Ein Andenken von der Offensive. Ardeul (?) 6 Juli 1918. Fla(e?)ndern."
I've been struggling with this as well. Paul seems to be right; the writer can't have been very literate. I thought the B looked like an L, but now Bapaume makes sense. Unfortunately, the only Ardeuil (full name Ardeuil-et-Montfauxelles) isn't in Flanders. It's in France, between Reims and Verdun. (it's significant for other reasons - black American troops distinguished themselves there in 1918.) However, there is a place in Flanders called Ardooie, about 50km north-east of Ypres. Perhaps if this man was guessing at spelling, he was at Ardooie in July. There is still a German cemetery there.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Possible, James, that sounds right. But another explanation could be, that the smaller handwriting (Somme and Flandern) came not from the same person. Maybe the addressee has noted the area that he thought, the places are.
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[...] zu Hause seyn ist mein Verdruß / ich liebe den Canonen-Schuß und Feuer-volle Bomben. (J.G. Albinus "Obrister-Leutenant")
Mad Zeppelin has made the interesting suggestion that Flanders used to take in a large part of France, so the writer might have considered himself still in Flanders. However, Ardeuil is in Meuse-Argonne and according to this map mediaeval Flanders didn't extend so far south.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.
Definitely something different, this area was known as "Lause-Champagne" to the Germans, no way of mixing up with Flanders. But even when considering that "Ardeul" may be phonetic like "Babome" it doesn't become clear.
"Sometimes things that are not true are included in Wikipedia. While at first glance that may appear like a very great problem for Wikipedia, in reality is it not. In fact, it's a good thing." - Wikipedia.