The Laconia Sinking - 1942

 On 12 September 1942, 130 miles from Ascension Island, the British ship Laconia was hit by a torpedo from  German U-boat U-156. The ship was carrying 1,800 Italian POW's. In addition there were also 160 Polish guards who were tasked with the care of those prisoners. There were also 268 British Sailors, soldiers and nurses, the majority of whom were women. There were approximately 2,200 souls aboard her. 

The ship was a Cunard liner pressed into service for the war  She was hit by a second torpedo and sank.

The ship's Commander, Captain Sharp, ordered the women, children and injured into what was left of the lifeboats, most of which had been destroyed by the second torpedo. The Italian POW's were mostly killed, though a handful did survive, along with some of their Polish captors. The Italian survivors were denied entry into the lifeboats and some were even shot and bayoneted by the Polish guards. Only 415 of the 1,800 POW's survived. Most of the British and Polish survived.

The ship then sank and Captain Sharp, along with the remaining Italian prisoners were still aboard. Those who escaped were adrift in shark infested waters along with the few remaining lifeboats, which were all full of the women, children and injured. There was little hope of rescue. It was just 40 years after the loss of the Titanic.

Here is where the story takes an interesting turn. The U--boat Commander, Kapitanleutnant Werner Hartenstein, upon realizing that there were civilians, as well as POW's aboard the lifeboats, and some adrift in the water, ordered his U-boat to surface and commence rescue operations. In addition he sent for other U-boats to come and assist in this operation. 

Again, another tragic twist of fate ensued. The other U-boats who came to assist him all flew Red Cross flags as required, and even signalled that a rescue operation was underway. In spite of this, by the following morning, with rescue operations still ongoing, a USAAF B-24 Liberator sighted the U-boats and the survivors. 

In spite of the Red Cross flags and the non coded message concerning the rescue, even listing the coordinates of the U-boats, in violation of their orders to remain at radio silence to avoid detection, the B-24 attacked both the U-boats and the survivors of the Laconia. 

Hartenstein even radioed the plane to apprise Captain Richardson on the B-24 of the situation. His message was ignored and the attack continued.  Later, when Richardson said he never received the original communication from Ascension, this proved that he was not telling the truth and that there was no excuse for his actions, which forced the U-boats to submerge with their decks crowded with injured and other survivors, including the lifeboats being towed.

The result of this incident led to the Laconia Order by Admiral Donitz, which stated that hereafter his U-boat commanders were not to rescue survivors after attacks. 

Even with Vichy French ships subsequently rescuing 1,083 persons from the lifeboats and taking  aboard those picked up by the four submarines, only about 1,000  survived the sinking. The rest were lost. As a result of Captain Richardson, as many people died from the Laconia's sinking than were lost by the Titanic. In total, 98 crewmembers, 133 passengers, 33 Polish guards and about 1,400 Italian POW's perished. 

Of Titanic's total of 2,240 passengers and crew, only 706 passengers and crew survived. 1,500 were lost.

War is hell, and this incident highlights the savegry of both sides. It also highlights the assertion that in war, there are no real winners.

"The Time of Their Lives" - Abbott and Costello

 I hope you will read this. Maybe you won't watch it. But it's worth the read. It's the story of the only film Abbott and Costello ever made in which they do not play their usual comedic duo. As a matter of fact, Bud Abbott plays a dual role set 165 years apart. And that is what makes this film outstanding. The only real slapstick in it is performed briefly by Lou Costello. The two actors are presented in completely separate roles.

This story begins during the American Revolution and Costello plays a tinker named Horatio, who is in love with a servant girl named Nora. He hasn't enough money to buy her out of bondage in order to marry her, but armed with a letter of recommendation by General George Washington praising his work as a tinker and a Patriot, is poised to make both their desires a reality.

The Master of the house, Tom Danbury, is a spy for King George. His butler, Cuthbert, is played by Bud Abbott. And when he learns of the letter from General Washington, he steals that letter and hides it in a secret compartment in a clock.

Horatio decides that, rather than to wait and recover the letter to marry Nora, he will elope with her. To do this he enlists the aid of Melody, a social equal, who is in love with the Master, Tom Danbury, but knows nothing of his being a spy. Together, her and Horatio go forth to find the means of obtaining the money for Horatio to marry his love.

On the way out by horseback at night, with Melody dressed as a man, they are mistaken for traitors by General Putnam and his men. Horatio and Melody, fearing that these soldiers are British, fire a shot at them and are shot and killed as they attempt to flee. Their bodies are then stuffed down the well, and cursed to never have their spirits roam beyond the confines of the property until such time as evidence of their innocence can be uncovered. The rebels then loot the house of all its furniture and then burn it down. 

165 years pass with Horatio and Melody confined to the property. And then the local historical society, with the help of Danbury's memoirs and Dr. Greenway, the descendant of his butler, again played by Bud Abbott, rebuild the house exactly as it stood. A plaque is also placed by the well containing the two bodies which identifies them as traitors. The two must now recover both their dignity and their freedom. 

They also recover every piece of furniture that was looted, except for the original clock, which is now housed in a museum. This is the piece containing the letter which will set both Horatio and Melody free. 

This is the only film the comedy duo ever made where they are not paired as sidekicks. Instead, they play separate characters. And that, along with a wonderful plot, including 2 love stories, set over 165 years, make this film very worth watching. 

"Sweet Violets" and Other Songs Which Do Not Rhyme

 "Sweet Violets" by Jane Turzy, from 1951 was the first song I ever remember which didn't rhyme. It broke all the rules. I call it implied rhyming, which is the product of the rhythm. I was about 5 when I first heard it in 1959. My Mom had a huge collection of records from the late1920's up through the 1950's.

Another song which fit this category was "Moonlight in Vermont" by Margaret Whiting. That might have been a 78 from 1950. This was when record players had 4 speeds; 78, 45, 33-1/3 and 16 RPM's.

"Suzanne" by Leonard Cohen, recorded around 1967, almost makes the grade, except for that 3 line refrain, which rhymed "blind" with "mind". But that was more as a way of connecting, or resolving,  the verses, so to me it makes the grade..

"America", by Simon and Garfunkel, from 1972, is another real gem. That song says a lot with no rhyme at all.

"What a Piece of Work is Man", from the musical Hair, is another outstanding example of this type of song.   

There are scores of songs like these, right up through the present. They seem to be products of stream of consciousness, and so easily written. But it takes an innate talent to pull it off, marrying the lyrics to a rhythm,  rather than making the rhythm fit the lyrics.

Love to hear any titles you may have noticed which I haven't mentioned. Generally speaking I'm about 10 years behind the times. New or old, doesn't  matter.......