Ghost of a flea: Sweepers, man your brooms

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March 21, 2007

Sweepers, man your brooms

Jean-François Lyotard has described the phenomenon as "memorial-forgetful history". The monuments reminding us never to forget are often put to the purpose of a grand selective remembrance more effective than trying to cram the whole lot down the Memory Hole. A case in point is a response to veterans' pleas to fly the Canadian Red Ensign at the National Vimy Memorial next month (hat tip to Babbling Brooks). The answer? Couldn't possibly, says some mouth-piece of the Canadian government. This is a "Canadian government event" and so the Liberal goatse banner must take pride of place. Let us be clear: We are meant to believe the forthcoming ceremony at Vimy is a government event, not a veterans event. It would not do to memorialize the ideals men fought for under the Red Ensign. These are to be erased and replaced by whatever passes for meaning amongst the mandarins of Canada's eurocracy.

Yet all is not lost. In fact, I have more cause for optimism we will remember ourselves; if not in time, then in time to put up a fight to remember. There has been some enthusiasm among Canadian bloggers for India's choice to take up its burden amongst the countries of the Anglosphere. Recent conversations to that effect had me googling on the subject of cooperation which in turn lead me to a piece at Albion's Seedlings. This in turn cited at length an article from Joint Forces Quarterly on the Pacific War (.pdf file).

If at sea today, British Task Force 57 would be the largest navy on Earth. At the end of WWII, however, it was a "component" of the United States Fifth and Third Fleets on their way to the Japanese home islands. There were concerns amongst the Americans - primarily logistical - at having the Royal Navy along for the event. They were to be impressed. It turned out the British carriers were designed to withstand land attack and consequently shrugged off kamikaze suicide bombers.

Task Force 57 quickly proved itself a worthwhile commodity to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. British and American officers soon learned that the carriers of the Royal Navy stood up to the suicide attacks better than their American counterparts. Designed to take a beating from enemy aviation, the British carriers had more defensive plating. “The armoured decks of our C.V.s have caused a great sensation among the Americans and have certainly proved their worth against suicide aircraft with their comparatively small penetrating power,” [British fleet commander] Fraser observed. The U.S. liaison officer on the Indefatigable was impressed at the resilience of the ship. “When a kamikaze hits a U.S. carrier it means 6 months of repair at Pearl. When a kamikaze hits a Limey carrier it’s just a case of ‘Sweepers, man your brooms.’”

There's an image to remember.

That gets my vote Update: Thank you, Mr. Harper (hat tip Taylor & Co.).

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has requested the Red Ensign flag fly at Vimy Ridge ceremonies next month, The Globe and Mail has learned. Mr. Harper told his cabinet ministers yesterday that he wanted both the Red Ensign and the Maple Leaf hoisted in Vimy, France, at the 90th anniversary of the First World War battle, sources close to the Prime Minister said.

"He said, 'The Red Ensign of 1917 will fly over Vimy,' " one source told The Globe.

Posted by Ghost of a flea at March 21, 2007 07:27 AM

Comments

I'll check Philip Vian's memoirs later and see if I can come up with any interesting quotes. He commanded British Pacific Fleet air operations.

I believe F57 was under John McCain's fast carrier task group (although perhaps not the whole time - ?).

Posted by: The_Campblog at March 21, 2007 08:20 AM

Excellent post! You'll be pleased to know that the Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper has come through in the clutch.

P.S. Liberal goatse banner = Gold, Jerry! Gold!

Posted by: Chris Taylor at March 21, 2007 10:43 AM

That is most excellent news. I find it difficult to express my appreciation to the Prime Minister for understanding the importance of this situation and for choosing to act. We have endured decades of contempt for our history and traditions and I had come to expect nothing more from our elected representatives.

I am also pleased you enjoyed my description of our current national flag. Its true nature came to me in a vision.

Posted by: Ghost of a flea at March 21, 2007 10:57 AM

That is mostest excellent in the recommended use of the 1917 flag. I know not enough about Vimy. Were the Newfoundlanders there, too? If so, add their flag.

Posted by: Alan McLeod at March 21, 2007 01:32 PM

This appears to be an account of a Newfoundland soldier at Vimy Ridge or at least so close he was watching it.

Posted by: Alan McLeod at March 21, 2007 01:37 PM

I've been more than a little cheesed at Harper for spending like a mad fool and doling out my money to the loudest shrills across our land. However, this one small act has me quite pleased with the Prime Minister. Good on him. It appears he has not forgotten, after all.

A Newfoundland flag flying alongside would be quite appropriate.

Posted by: Temujin at March 21, 2007 02:24 PM

Canadians can, of course, vote for any party they choose and tell us Americans to hose off. (Or whatever you people say. I don't really speak the lingo.) But Harper struck me as the best choice available last time around, and it's nice to see him making a gesture that some of us Yanks can also admire.

The Maple Leaf always seemed--to me, anyway--aesthetically pleasant and symbolically a bit vacuous. (Again, you guys pick the flag.) And now, Flea, thanks to your vivid imagery, I'll never see it again without visualizing a couple of phantom hands up there on the banner. Yeesh.

Posted by: utron at March 21, 2007 06:07 PM

In Pierre Berton's "Vimy", he tells a tale of word getting behind-the-lines that Vimy Ridge had been taken. "Impossible!" cried one French officer. Then he learned it was the Canadians. "Les Canadiens?! Possible."

Apocryphal? "Possible", but cool anyway.

Posted by: The_Campblog at March 21, 2007 07:45 PM