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Reposted by Anthony Hinton

dag

@davidallengreen.bsky.social

This is quite the citation for John Cruickshank, the last surviving VC awardee from World War II, who has just died:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Cr...

Without hesitation, he climbed and turned to come in again. The Catalina was met by intense and accurate fire and was repeatedly hit. The navigator/bomb aimer was killed. The second pilot and two other members of the crew were injured. Flying Officer Cruickshank was struck in seventy-two places, receiving two serious wounds in the lungs and ten penetrating wounds in the lower limbs. His aircraft was badly damaged and filled with the fumes of exploding shells. But he did not falter. He pressed home his attack, and released the depth charges himself, straddling the submarine perfectly. The U-boat was sunk.

He then collapsed and the second pilot took over the controls. He recovered shortly afterwards and, though bleeding profusely, insisted on resuming command and retaining it until he was satisfied that the damaged aircraft was under control, that a course had been set for base and that all the necessary signals had been sent. Only then would he consent to receive medical aid and have his wounds attended to. He refused morphia in case it might prevent him from carrying on.

During the next five and a half hours of the return flight he several times lapsed into unconsciousness owing to loss of blood. When he came to his first thought on each occasion was for the safety of his aircraft and crew. The damaged aircraft eventually reached base but it was clear that an immediate landing would be a hazardous task for the wounded and less experienced second pilot. Although able to breathe only with the greatest difficulty, Flying Officer Cruickshank insisted on being carried forward and propped up in the second pilot's seat. For a full hour, in spite of his agony and ever-increasing weakness, he gave orders as necessary, refusing to allow the aircraft to be brought down until the conditions of light and sea made this possible without undue risk.

August 17, 2025 at 3:22 PM

Reposted by Anthony Hinton

John Bull

@garius.bsky.social

1804. Oceans are now Battlefields.

In the South China Sea a British convoy worth almost £1bn today is spotted by the French.

It should be a massacre.

Instead, Commodore Nathanial Dance is about to defeat a French battle squadron using some paint and the most overplayed hand in #navalHistory. /1 🧵

watercolour of a battle between british and french sailing ships.

May 2, 2025 at 10:32 AM

Reposted by Anthony Hinton

McKay Coppins

@mckaycoppins.bsky.social

I've spent the past year talking to James Murdoch about his father's "twisted" behavior, the mind games at the family-counseling retreat, how Fox News really works, and the war over his family's media empire. My cover story for The Atlantic's April edition: theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...

Growing Up Murdoch

James Murdoch on mind games, sibling rivalry, and the war for the family media empire

theatlantic.com

February 14, 2025 at 8:10 PM

Reposted by Anthony Hinton

Tolkien Society

@tolkiensociety.org

On 5 January 1968: the BBC began filming "Tolkien in Oxford". #Tolkien talks about trees, languages, and, of course The Hobbit and #LOTR. The BBC released the full documentary online, and, if you have a spare 27 minutes, you can watch here: www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/h...

Release - Tolkien in Oxford

John Ezard meets with JRR Tolkien at his home, walking him through the Oxford locations that he loves while hearing the author's own views about his successful fantasy novels.

www.bbc.co.uk

February 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM

Reposted by Anthony Hinton

Andy Kelly

@ultrabrilliant.xyz

One second from every episode of Twin Peaks.

September 15, 2024 at 11:38 AM

Reposted by Anthony Hinton

Cara Ellison

@caraellison.bsky.social

a thing I loved about David Lynch that so few got right was that you were always confused about whether you should be disgusted or turned on by his films. Is this horror or is it hot? Is it dread or anticipation? All the questions he would create, he would let only you answer

January 16, 2025 at 8:00 PM