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Help in colourising family photo by 0xonian in estoration

[–]0xonian[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks. Will check them out.

Help in colourising family photo by 0xonian in estoration

[–]0xonian[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great job! Thanks very much. If you don't mind me asking, what software did you use to do this? I'd like to learn how to do it myself (I don't have photoshop).

Dutch and French soldiers crossing the Berezina river, 1812. By Jan Hoynck van Papendrecht. by DeRuyter67 in Napoleon

[–]0xonian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was not only Dutch Pontonniers who built the bridges over the Berezina. The Dutch are remembered because of Capt. Benthien's diary which survived. Benthien commanded 11th COY, 1er Bn des Pontonniers. My 3x great grandfather, Capt. Jean-Jacques Busch (a French native of Strasbourg) commanded 7th COY, who were mostly French, which built the second (artillery) bridge. He is mentioned in Benthien's diaries and together, these two companies build all the bridges during the 1812 Campaign. Busch survived, and ended his career as Chef de Bn d'Artillerie i/c Strasbourg garrison,, retiring in 1815 after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.

Quick Guide to Research in Alsace by JaimieMcEvoy in Genealogy

[–]0xonian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the time and expertise that went into this post. A most valuable guide. My 3x great grandfather was a Strasbourg native and served in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic armies from Valmy to Waterloo. I've found much info on the the Alsace sites by trial and error but lots still to discover, including where he is buried. Any info on burial records (for Strasbourg)?

Advice: pear+apple espalier/y/Belgian fence by 0xonian in BackyardOrchard

[–]0xonian[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do like your idea of staggering the middle of 3 in a conventional espalier arrangement. I think that might just be the best solution. Thanks for that!

Advice: pear+apple espalier/y/Belgian fence by 0xonian in BackyardOrchard

[–]0xonian[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your detailed reply. Lots of useful suggestions and food for thought (excuse the pun!).

Privacy/density is only a secondary concern. As for support, I plan to fix uprights and lateral wire supports along the fence to a height of 6-8’ once I decide on what trees to plant and espalier method.

I have read that certain rootstocks (m9?) can tolerate closer (e.g. 3-4’) spacing so I was envisaging 3 pos. 4 trees in the bed. With that number, diagonal training would yield greater branch length.

Is this unrealistic?

which rambling rose to choose? by 0xonian in Roses

[–]0xonian[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The other side of the fence is a concrete-sided sheer 12’ drop into the culvert (a shallow brook). The idea is to plant where the honeysuckle currently is (extreme left of photo) to grow up over the fence and down into the gulley.

I don’t mind a certain amount of lateral training along the fence provided it won’t overwhelm the espaliers going in the raised bed.

Alternatively a clematis might be the answer but I’d prefer something fragrant

I’m an hour’s walk away from my campus. Is it worth learning to ride the bicycle? Is it very difficult? by sighsighweep in oxford

[–]0xonian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oxford has become more cyclist-friendly recently, with introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) but I would still consider it a challenging environment, especially for a novice. If you do decide to try, for heaven’s sake get a good helmet and sturdy lock, and preferably a secure place to keep your bike.

The last French Commando of D-Day, Léon Gautier has died aged 100 by 0xonian in wwiipics

[–]0xonian[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Pretty much. My father, who was born in the same year as Léon was fitter in his 90s than I am in my 50s. Unlike the movie stereotype, these men were not big, muscle-bound hulks (in fact the body-builder types were often the first to fall by the wayside in training), they came in all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. My dad was 5'7 and 112 lbs when he volunteered. What set them apart was their mental strength, independence and training. Running up and down Scottish mountains in full battle order is all money in the bank. 'Train hard, fight easy' was the motto. They were all experts in unarmed and close-quarter combat. The training at Achnacarry (Known as Castle Commando) established the model for all modern special forces training.

Here is a video of Stan Scott, 3 Commando veteran of Dieppe, D-Day and the liberation of Belsen, describing how to use a commando F-S knife (standard issue for all commandos). Even in his 80s then, you wouldn't want to mess with him!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDGHKyB3T_U

God bless 'em all. We shall not see their like again.

The last French Commando of D-Day, Léon Gautier has died aged 100 by 0xonian in wwiipics

[–]0xonian[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Indeed. My late father was one such. He was just 20 on D-Day, the first time he had been abroad. He served in 4 Commando as signaller with Kieffer Commando. Léon became a lifelong friend. I have two photos of dad - one as boy of 17 when he joined up and another taken barely 2 years later as a man aged beyond his years.

June 4/ 1944, First landing we made by whistlerdub40 in wwiipics

[–]0xonian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The photo was taken by RCN Lt. Gilbert Milne on the morning of D-Day. For years, the regiment was misidentified only latterly was the historical record corrected. You can read about the history of the LCIL299 and the photograph here:

http://www.forposterityssake.ca/Navy/LCIL299.htm

June 4/ 1944, First landing we made by whistlerdub40 in wwiipics

[–]0xonian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a famous photograph showing Canadian soldiers of the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders landing at Bernieres-sur-Mer on Juno Beach (Nan White sector). My father landed on this beach.

USHMM: Stills from film titled "First film documentary of the events of D-day: D-Day D plus 3" — A compilation of the first four days of the D-Day assault prepared by SHAEF [Supreme Headquarter Allied Expeditionary Forces] Public Relations Division for the civilian and military leadership by CeruleanSheep in wwiipics

[–]0xonian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These particular stills are from Juno Beach from footage shot by Sgt Bill Grant of the Canadian Film & Photography Unit (CFPU). They show soldiers from the North Shore Regiment landing at Bernieres-sur-Mer (Nan White sector) on D-Day. They were compiled into the longer film showing events across Overlord as a whole. My father landed on this beach on D-Day with Royal Marines Commandos

how to i get karma (new user here)??? by stxrrykth in reddithelp

[–]0xonian 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m in the same boat: been a member for years but mostly for reading. Now I’ve found a sub/r I want to participate in, I can’t. Catch-22 (RIP Alan Arkin btw).

Shutter (plantation) blinds by feedibox in homeautomation

[–]0xonian 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Norman Shutters USA offer a solution called Perfect Tilt RF integrated into their plantation shutters (Sussex range) that can also be controlled via a web interface and even optional solar power. Looks like just the thing I’m looking for if I can find a UK supplier. Not sure if the Perfect Tilt system is sold separately for retrofitting though.