Sunday Stamps II A-Z 'V' Canada, China, New Zealand

The first flying boat made for Canadian conditions was the Vickers Vedette commemorated in a transportation series issued in 1979.

Canada - 15 November 1979

First made in 1924 the Vedette gave improved access to lakes and rivers opened up by canoes. The three seater was designed for forest fire patrols and photographic work. It starred in mercy missions and saw some service with the RCAF until the beginning of WWII.

May 1949 saw China issue a stamp dedicated to victory in North Kiangsu. Today Jiangsu formerly Kiangsu, capital Nanjing, is an eastern central coastal province of the People's Republic of China. I presume that the victory refers to the war with Japan.

China - 7 May 1949

Victory stamps from New Zealand were issued in 1920 to celebrate the end of WWI.

New Zealand - 27 January 1920

The British Lion represents the British Empire with the allegorical figure of Peace.

For other 'V' stamps go over to Sunday-stamps-v.

A place/building to be visited - Sunday Stamps II

Two of my older stamps caught my attention for this theme.

In 1946 the Smithsonian Institution celebrated its centenary,

USA - 10 August 1946

During WWII my elder brother served on the aircraft carriers protecting the convoys of ships delivering goods to what was to become the George Cross island. I have some of his photos including one among some ruins there. Hence my choice of this stamp from - 

Malta - 1970

To see places or buildings that others would like to see please visit Sunday-stamps-II-136.

Island Stamps - Sunday Stamps II

One stamp from a Mediterranean island and one from the Indian Ocean are my selection this week.

Maldives

The grey heron on this stamp from the Republic of Maldives is seen in America and Europe too.

During WWII my elder brother served on aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean involved in the defence of Malta and this is the reason I have included a stamp from there.

Malta - 1938

George VI was our King during the war.

Mdina Cathedral is shown on the stamp. There were settlements in Mdina going back 4000 years. The walled medieval town is situated on a hill in the centre of the island. Called the Silent City by its inhabitants possibly because today it has no cars other than than those of its few hundred residents, emergency vehicles, wedding cars and hearses.

For stamps from other islands visit Sunday-stamps-ii-14.

Ship Ahoy - Sepia Saturday

I knew immediately I could match this week's prompt.

The background of a larger shot where people, including a woman and a sailor, are walking away from the camera.

This photo with the woman walking away towards a group of sailors comes from a wartime photo of a band either welcoming home an aircraft carrier, or maybe serenading one about to depart to war.

I prefer the welcome home scenario.

 I also wonder whether that is the band of the Royal Marines?

Unfortunately my elder brother who served on carriers with the Fleet Air Arm during WWII is no longer alive to identify the occasion or the location for me.

I also wonder whether this is another photo taken from a different position on the same day.

This looks much more like a welcome home occasion far different to this action shot.

Depth charges going off

I hope our lady found her sailor as I'm sure you've heard

For other background shots charge over to Sepia-Saturday-258.

Guys in uniform

My father and at least one of his brothers served in WWI, my brothers in WWII. I have no photos of them in uniform except for copies of war photos of my elder brother in the Fleet Air Arm, some of which I have shown before.

Arthur (on the left)

My sons have not had to join the forces but did turn out in uniform.

Cub scouts  - eldest son's head under someone's arm!

Although I did two years (mandatory, then) National Service in the Royal Signals no photos of me in uniform exist.

In August this year the town of Yarm held a service at the war memorial to commemorate the centenary of the start of WWI. Men and a few women in uniform took part.

Army cadets at the head of the parade.

If you look closely at their arms you might think they are out of step. The video below shows just how badly.

My old Sergeant Major would have had a fit.

Later there was a drum head service in another part of the town.

Cadets waiting to take part

When the fun fair began I just wonder whether it was as entertaining as this.

Not like my Sergeant Major at all.

Now march over to the links at Sepia-Saturday-247.

Tent Warfare - Sepia Saturday

When I saw the tents in the prompts for the next two weeks I knew I was in trouble - which photos do I show when even the sailor suit caused a problem of sorts.

Looks peaceful and a time for fun,

However during wartime in the Mediterranean it was serious business for my brother ashore during his Fleet Air Arm service in WWII.

Tented Accommodation

This was probably in Egypt where it was warm enough to:

Dry that white sailor suit

At another (treeless) location seen from the air I'm left to wonder who used the tents.

Recovering aircraft or operating a desert airstrip was even less luxurious.

Somewhere in the Middle East

I'm left to wonder as I never saw these pictures while he was alive. If I'd asked where, he'd probably have told me I didn't want to know.

After all when he left to go to war I was instructed to tell anyone who asked that he had gone to stick a bayonet up Hitler's arse.

For other experiences under canvas I suggest you check out the links at Sepia-Saturday-246.

A Blurry War - Thematic Photography

When I think of the hundreds of blurry photos that I have taken and destroyed or deleted I know why I have struggled with this week's blurred vision theme.

So I have had to resort to photos taken in the Mediterranean during WWII.

Malta blurred by German bombs.

Aircraft Carrier under attack

View astern

These shots are from my brother's war photos. He served in the Fleet Air Arm aboard carriers. If I had been there with my camera I'm sure my vision would have been blurred as well.

For other blurry shots visit  Carmi's thematic-photographic-253-blurred-vision.

Hospital Trains - Sepia Saturday

I have had to resort to the Internet to find some photos linked to this week's prompt, the kitchen on a WWI German hospital train.

Staying with WWI, I wonder about conditions on this Red Cross Train, no joint of meat for these sick and wounded French soldiers on their way to Paris in 1917.

A nurse touring the train distributing coffee

In WWII the British Medical Services provided medical transport.

Wounded soldiers playing cards in a hospital train in Belgium
(Photo ex Imperial War Museum - No. 5 Army Film & Photographic Unit, Sgt Biggins)

Trains like these were manned by both civilian and military crews, whose job it was to ensure safe and speedy travel for the casualties, including enemy wounded. Although damaged and disorganised.. trains played an important part in transporting casualties from hospitals and dressing stations to bases and evacuation areas. Casualties able to walk were given comfortable saloon coaches for the journey.

Sixty-nine years ago today at least one soldier was enjoying a cup of tea,

A soldier, evacuated from Normandy, on a hospital train,
7 June 1944 - One day after D-Day

He must have been going home judging by the smile on his face.

I must say that I am pleased that my experience on trains during my National Service was limited to night trains back to Catterick Camp.

To see what other warlike connections made this week take a trip across to Sepia-Saturday-180,

Speed - Thematic Photography

Carmi has chosen to show a plane in flight as our prompt for his 'speed' theme so I thought I would follow him,

Landing Speed - 1940s

This was an aircraft coming in to land on an aircraft carrier during WWII.

Someone shouting dinner provoked this turn of speed.

Cody and Lily at racing speed

In the local town of Yarm is the house once owned by a war hero.

Sign for Tom Brown's House

Tom was the hero of the Battle of Dettingen in 1743 where he charged the French to recover the British battle honours. Supposedly Tom was knighted on the battlefield by King George II, the last British monarch to lead an army in the field.

Yarm has a fair in it's high street every October and there is always a chance to get yourself in a spin.

A Ride at Speed

From time to time a photograph gives an illusion of speed and you wonder how it happened.

Speeding Hedgehog

We have speed humps on the lane in my village approaching the primary school, not they would trouble this fellow if he ever made his way across the Atlantic.

Snapping Turtle

No wonder he's snappy, he wouldn't even catch that hedgehog.

No you have the chance to catch your breath before you rush over to Thematic-photographic-234-speed.

Things That Fly - Thematic Photography

There is a bit of a mixture in this post. Some can fly, some have flown and some never have or will. I'll let you decide which is which.

Andrew Mynarski VC, RCAF

This statue stands in front of what was once the Officers' Mess at wartime RAF Middleton-Saint- George.You may read about him at hero's salute

During WWII my elder brother served on aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean.  I do not know where this shot was taken.

Ready for war

The new town (well it was once) of Thornaby-on-Tees has swallowed up the wartime aerodrome but there is a reminder on a roundabout of what happened there.

The Thornaby Spitfire

I wrote about this replica spitfire in a Sepia Saturday post here

I've had a few helicopter trips during my working life but few were as pleasant, or should I say 'nice,' as in one of these.

Air Monaco helicopters at Nice Airport

Despite our expertise none of our machines are as manoeuvrable as nature's designs.

Dragonfly - ready for take-off.

Landing isn't always as easy as it seems even when you have the controls.

Young Collared Dove touches down

It has rained for over 36 hours non-stop where I live in the North East of England; the sun is just breaking through for the first time. However it's still too early for snow so there is no need for the robin to take refuge like this one two Christmases ago.

Christmas Robin

Now it's time for you to fasten your seat belts, take off and fly to meet other fliers at Carmi's thematic-photographic-223.

Grounded - Thematic Photography

We have had 36 hours of continuous rain and it's still raining; my golf course is waterlogged so I'm grounded today - Sob!

Carmi couldn't have come up with a more appropriate theme in the circumstances. I have a lot of my brother's WWII photographs which show grounded aircraft like this one in the desert (probably Egypt).

Grounded in the desert

I hope it landed intentionally; this one with a military connection certainly did.

Chalk-Fronted Corporal Dragonfly

This is the time of year in the UK for conkers, a lot of which you find on on the ground.

Horse Chestnuts (Conkers)

OK, so I cheated by throwing them on the grass.

Others though like the dragonfly can choose where they land.

Brown Butterfly and a Bee on Greater Knapweed

I'm sure you'll agree that this one has every right to show off.

Peacock Butterfly

Mind you this one from America is a contender in the grounded beauty stakes.

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly

It seems to have the wrong name as the spots on its wings are orange.

I'm pleased to take part this week and to be able to select subjects that can choose when to be grounded. Not all will have that honour on Carmi's thematic-photographic-214 as you can see.

At an Angle - Thematic Photography.

Angles creep into shots without you always being aware. I have several to meet Carmi's 'At an Angle' theme this week. I may have shown some of these before so let's see how many you can recognise.

Tall Ships - Hartlepool 2010

I'm sure that the angle of of this plane was not intended - did someone let go of the tail?

Nosedive - Mediterranean WWII

Cables on the Clifton side of Brunel's famous suspension bridge are at an angle too it seems.

Clifton Suspension Bridge - 2010

This big beast needs to have its jib at an angle when lifting heavy loads.

Balder - Heavy Lift Crane

The picture was taken during the construction of the Statfjord 'B' deck at Rosenberg Verft, Stavanger in the 1980s

This anchor is at an angle on the quayside in Copenhagen,

Anchor - Nyhavn, Copenhagen

Also at an angle because it was built that way is this Condeep test leg in Stavanger.

Troll test leg - 1980s.

Finally a picture that's out of this world.

Aurora on Jupiter  taken by the Hubble Telescope

Now that's an 'at an angle' shot that I would have loved to have taken.

For more angular momentum, please visit Carmi's blog at Thematic-photographic-212