| Guthroth | 06 Jan 2015 1:03 a.m. PST |
Whichever you think he was, he was quite a guy ! Adrian Carton de Wiart: The unkillable soldier link A recurring hero for scenarios from the Sudan to Norway |
| timurilank | 06 Jan 2015 2:58 a.m. PST |
I read that this morning. Fascinating. |
| uglyfatbloke | 06 Jan 2015 3:42 a.m. PST |
Why would we think that patriot, madman and hero are exclusive terms? Perfectly possible to be all three at once!
De Wiart was widely-thought to have been the model for the Brigadier in Evelyn Waugh's 'Sword of Honour' trilogy. Apparently this was not the case but I'd strongly recommend 'Sword of Honour' to anyone who wants to gain an understanding of the British army in 1939-45…it's also beautifully written and funny. |
| Oddball | 06 Jan 2015 4:54 a.m. PST |
Never, Never, Never Give Up. |
| skippy0001 | 06 Jan 2015 5:41 a.m. PST |
He attributed his Victoria Cross to the unit/men he commanded. To me, that is a Great Thing. |
Frederick  | 06 Jan 2015 6:53 a.m. PST |
Agree totally with Skippy – the mark of a great leader is to be true to your people |
| D for Dubious | 06 Jan 2015 7:58 a.m. PST |
All of the above I'd say. An interesting article |
| KTravlos | 06 Jan 2015 8:11 a.m. PST |
A good man that enjoyed war. Not all war-junkies are sadists. Some are mazochists (tongue in cheek reference here). Frankly after reading Junger's Storm of Steel, I understood that their is a certain percentage of humanity that thoroughly enjoys war. And that not all of them are immoral or "evil" people. Carton De Wiart is just of that type. In a perfect world, they would have their own communities dedicated to fighting. As Michael Wlazer said, there is nothing immoral in war when all participants are doing so of their own free will and not because of coercion either due to legal, social, or economic reasons. So good show! |
| wminsing | 06 Jan 2015 8:50 a.m. PST |
Fascinating story, thank you! -Will |
| goragrad | 06 Jan 2015 10:53 a.m. PST |
Not entirely sure about about being a patriot – he noted that if the British wouldn't have had him he would have gone to the Boers. Very impressive story. |
| DeRuyter | 06 Jan 2015 11:04 a.m. PST |
He attributed his Victoria Cross to the unit/men he commanded. To me, that is a Great Thing. +1 After the Boer war he became a British citizen and certainly proved his patriotism afterwards. |
| Swampster | 06 Jan 2015 12:30 p.m. PST |
Not entirely sure about about being a patriot – he noted that if the British wouldn't have had him he would have gone to the Boers. He was a Belgian at the time. |
| Huscarle | 06 Jan 2015 12:59 p.m. PST |
+1 to all above, Fascinating story & a fascinating man. I think that I will have to get his autobiography. link
Thanks for sharing. |
| cavalry47 | 06 Jan 2015 2:24 p.m. PST |
Guthroth A Madman! How dare you sir? Not a Madam but an inspiration, he was an Officer in My old Regiment and a Hero to many a young Officer |
| Guthroth | 06 Jan 2015 3:36 p.m. PST |
I was of course kidding cavalry47 :-) By all accounts a fine gentleman who's hand I would have been honoured to shake. That autobiography is very tempting …. |
| 138SquadronRAF | 06 Jan 2015 4:31 p.m. PST |
uglyfatbloke is right. Waugh's "Sword of Honour" is a great read. |
| Supercilius Maximus | 07 Jan 2015 4:24 a.m. PST |
Two more apparently cast in the same mould. link link |
