My April 2019 In Pictures - Pictograms.

To see My April 2019 In Pictures - Pictograms, click on the link below:-

https://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/184554333567/my-april-2019-in-pictures-pictograms-click-on

Only in Chelsea. The picture at the top shows a 'Quietway' pictogram, at 15:03 on Wednesday 3rd April 2019, St Leonard's Terrace, Chelsea, London SW3.

To read about Pictograms, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictogram

To read about Chelsea, London, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea,_London

My Father the Hero.

It's been six years since my father died and I've only recently really understood what he did in WW2. I knew that he served in the Royal Navy, minesweeping from bases in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, and Lowestoft, Suffolk (the most easterly point in Britain), but my mother uncovered his campaign medals a couple of months ago and amongst them was a small silver badge with a very special history. It's the badge awarded to Royal Naval Patrol servicemen for six months operational service at sea minesweeping.  A sleeve badge, to be worn 4" (10cm) above the cuff. 

Here's the history, with a quote from Winston Churchill at the beginning of WW2: "I am told that the Minesweepers men have no badge. If this is so it must be remedied at once. I am asking for designs within one week, after which production must begin with greatest speed, and distribution as the deliveries come to hand."  Never before had one section of the Royal Navy been similarly honoured.

... and a message from Winston Churchill to the officers and men of the  minesweeping flotillas, towards the end of WW2: "Now that Nazi Germany has been defeated I wish to send you all on behalf of His Majesty's Government a message of thanks and gratitude. The work you do is hard and dangerous. You rarely get and never seek publicity; your only concern is to do your job, and you have done it nobly. You have sailed in many seas and all weathers.... This work could not be done without loss, and we mourn all who have died and over 250 ships lost on duty. No work has been more vital than yours; no work has been better done. The ports were kept open and Britain breathed. The Nation is once again proud of you."

I'm proud of you too, Dad. Love you.
Arthur Anthony Vale 22.07.22 to 24.04.13 RIP

The picture at the top shows my father's military campaign medals, from left to right:-

The War Medal 1939-1945 (awarded for 28 days of service in the second world war)

The Royal Naval Patrol Service Silver Badge (awarded for 180 days of operational service at sea Minesweeping)

The Atlantic Star (awarded for 180 days of operational service in the Battle of the Atlantic)

The 1939-1945 Star (awarded for 180 days of operational service in the second world war)

To Read about the War Medal 1939-1945, click on the link below:-

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/war-medal-1939-1945

To read about The Royal Naval Patrol Service Silver Badge, click on the links below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Naval_Patrol_Service

http://www.harry-tates.org.uk/history1.htm

To read about The Atlantic Star, click on the link below:-

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/atlantic-star-medal

To read about The 1939-1945 Star, click on the link below:-

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/medals/1939-45-star

My March 2019 In Pictures.

To see My March 2019 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/183842176642/my-march-2019-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture-for

Swan-upping? The picture at the top shows a Mute Swan, on Saturday 23rd March 2019 at 15:56, Delapré Lake, Northampton.

To read about the Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), click on the link below:-

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/mute-swan/

To read about Delapré Lake, Northampton, click on the link below:-

https://delapreabbey.org/park/

My February 2019 In Pictures - Tulips.

To see My February 2019 In Pictures - Tulips, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/183404179232/my-february-2019-in-pictures-tulips-click-on-a

The picture at the top shows a sunlit tulip, at 10:22 on Thursday 7th February 2019, at home, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Tulip (Tulipa), click on the link below:-

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=684

To read about Hythe, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe,_Hampshire

My February 2019 In Pictures - Daffodils.

To see My February 2019 In Pictures - Daffodils, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/183299242302/my-february-2019-in-pictures-daffodils-click

The picture at the top shows sunlit daffodils, at 11:03 on Tuesday 19th February 2019, at home, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Daffodil (Narcissus), click on the link below:-

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=365

To read about Hythe, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe,_Hampshire

My February 2019 In Pictures.

To see My February 2019 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/183115348747/my-february-2019-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture at the top shows a drift of crocuses, at 11:30 on Sunday 17th February 2019, Queen's Park, Southampton, Hampshire.

To read about the Crocus, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crocus

To read about Queen's Park, Southampton, Hampshire, click on the link:-

http://sotonopedia.wikidot.com/page-browse:queen-s-park

My January 2019 In Pictures - Portsmouth.

To see my January 2019 In Pictures - Portsmouth, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/182634450237/my-january-2019-in-pictures-portsmouth-click

The picture at the top shows aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Spinnaker Tower, on Friday 4th January 2019 at 13:29, Portsmouth, Hampshire.

To read about the Spinnaker Tower, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Spinnaker_Tower

To read about HMS Queen Elizabeth, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Queen_Elizabeth_(R08)

My January 2019 In Pictures.

To see My January 2019 In Pictures, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/182452501717/my-january-2019-in-pictures-click-on-a-picture

The picture at the top shows a Cormorant, on Friday 4th January 2019, at 09:03, Hythe, Hampshire.

To read about the Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo), click on the link below:-

https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/cormorant

To read about Hythe, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe,_Hampshire

My December 2018 In Pictures - Trees in Winter.

To see My December 2018 In Pictures - Trees in Winter, click on the link:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/181954189632/my-december-2018-in-pictures-trees-in-winter

The picture at the top shows a stand of trees and the winter sun, Lymington Road, Brockenhurst, Hampshire, at 13:58 on Friday 7th December 2018.

To read about Brockenhurst, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brockenhurst

My December 2018 In Pictures - Night Lights.

To see My December 2018 In Pictures - Night Lights, click on the link below:-

http://susanvale.tumblr.com/post/181771099777/my-december-2018-in-pictures-a-photographic-essay

The picture at the top shows the beauty of coloured lights and reflections, on my balcony, at home, Hythe, Hampshire, at 17:44 on Tuesday 30th December 2018.

To read about Hythe, Hampshire, click on the link below:-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hythe,_Hampshire