h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Real Men Don't Carry Umbrellas: From Wellington to Obama - A87841380
Author: Dmitri Gheorgheni - U1590784

A few musings on my part on the historical importance of the brolly in military history.

This is Elektra's fault: she reads me 'fun facts to know and tell'.

Looks like another (how many are you up to now?) great entry, Dmitri

I'll have another look for spelling et al errors when I get the chance, but seems pretty complete to me

Perhaps addition of a few links - greeks, romans etc. Certainly I feel that "a brief history of parasols" - A29303129, could be included, in comparison

Excellent idea, there, thanks. I'll get those links in when I get a chance.

This does a good job of covering the masculinity = not needing protection from the weather angle, but I wonder if the the Neville Chamberlain association should be included as well? I recently heard an NPR story claiming the umbrellas were tainted by association with him
http://www.npr.org/2014/09/30/352808170/hong-kongs-protest-umbrellas-have-a-deep-political-history

Thanks for that link. That's interesting - and it's true, even Hitler made umbrella remarks.

I thought I'd leave that aspect out, because it was political rather than military. But it's a good topic on its own.

In the US, we should know better than to leave our politicians out in the rain. They don't do well. We lost a President that way, and it caused a constitutional crisis.

In 1841, William Henry Harrison gave the longest inaugural address in history, and he was 68, and the weather was awful, and, of course, ,no umbrella. 32 days later, he died of pneumonia.

The crisis was because the Constitution at the time didn't spell out what to do if a President died in office. Then the country got stuck with Tyler, who was not a happy choice.

Clearly the obvious thing would have been to revert to the Crown

Curiously, that option was never considered.

Due to chilled brains due to lack of umbrellas, clearly

Not only did he not have an umbrella, but he also refused the wear his hat and overcoat. The great war hero of the battle of 'Tippecanoe' thought that the weather was not a challenge. He was wrong

F S

Don't mess with Mother Nature -she'll get you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVLcj-XKnM

Sorry that link should be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmVLcj-XKnM

Okay, Julia Roberts aside, I've added a few links to this.

This is a good entry, Dmitri. It's eminently suitable for the Guide, and the sort of thing I expect from you. (I didn't have to check to see who wrote it).

I'm slightly confused by one thing. Early in the entry, you say:

"often, only the ruler or his representatives got to be protected from the sun or rain. (Remember this fact; it's important.)"

This suggests that you're going to get back to this fact later in the entry. Then, later in the entry you say:

"wait for it, we told you this was going to be important…Army and Marine Corps personnel can carry umbrellas – if they're female. "

Interesting, but it is not actually what you told us was going to be important.

I'm also somewhat confused by your use of the terms Army, Navy and "Army and Marine Corps". When you say "Marine" do you mean Navy? And if so, you seem to be saying that Marines are not allowed carry umbrellas but Navy are.


Other phrasing:

to seek the protection of the velarium, an awning that was even used to cover the Colosseum.
-- you kind of spring the Colosseum on us her. Perhaps you could say it more gently:

to seek the protection of the velarium, an awning that was used to shade Roman streets and open areas, even being used to cover the Colosseum.


Where did the French get them? The Italians, partly,
-- I think this would be better as "From the Italian, partly".

A few typos:

Major Allison Digby Tatham-Warter . DSO, (you've used a full stop rather than a comma)

nly a bloody fool (you've left out the initial 'o')

I read this as 'Army and Marine Corps' being separate from the Navy and it seemed clear to me.

I try to think like a stupid person when I'm reviewing entries, and as a result I'm easily confused.

I don't actually have to try - I am that easily confused in the first place. Maybe it's because I used to read a lot of naval warfare stuff. Let's see what others say.

Excellent entry - did you know that Major Allison Digby Tatham-Warter was right to distrust the radios he'd been issued with, radio unreliability was a major factor of the failure at Arnhem. He also is reputed to have disabled a German armoured car using only his umbrella - by sticking it through the car's observation window.

http://www.pegasusarchive.org/arnhem/tatham_warter.htm

<BB<

Wonderful!

Tbe Marine Corps is a branch of the Navy, Naval infantry.

In Russia, they just call them 'Naval Infantry'.

Wow.

Hey, Gnomon, thanks for the careful read. Those are excellent suggestions, and I'll get them implemented.

And BB, thanks, too, for the link on Tatham-Warter. What an interesting man. I'll work some of that info into the footnote.

About the Marine Corps: ITIWBS is exactly right, of course, being a US-type person. The US Marine Corps is a branch of service that is naval infantry. Originally, they answered to the Navy. But they're very proud of themselves, Halls of Montezuma and all that, and they do things the Marine Way. Semper Fi, and all that Leatherneck talk. I'll throw an eye over it, pretending to be a clueless British person , and try to make sure it's clear we're talking about the US Marine Corps.

to work on this.