Post by jim doherty on Mar 19, 2006 15:21:41 GMT
THE BATTLE OF MARY TOWNLEY LOOP
Two armies were mustered for the battle, the 1st army and the 2nd army organised by colonel Griffiths and chief commander Doherty.
The battle was to take place in the pennines on the 5th february 2006, in a wild hostile place covering roughly a 40 mile circumfrance. The weather, damp and misty with forecast rain.
Colonel Griffiths was a communications officer and used all his skills to mobilise the 1st army, needing to dig deep into his "reserves" for the final push.
On the eve of the battle his mobile antenna was in frantic use to finalise preparations. Certain troops were about to be shot for desertion before coming to their senses and returning to their squads on the front line.
Chief commander Doherty of the 2nd army really wanted to lead his men into battle but had to retreat to his command bunker
due to a re-curring injury from previous wars.
The morning of the battle and at 8.30 sharp the whistle was blown and the leg one infantry went "over the top".
Colonel Griffiths urging his men on whilst Commander Doherty, in the war room a safe distance away in Preston reluctantly accepted yet another cup of tea from mrs D and began to read the early morning reports from the front line. (sunday papers).
"God speed and god bless" he said to his beloved. "Those poor young men, such a waste" all for team and country.
The war room was covered in maps and wall charts, detailed plans for the offensive which would bring all his troops into their required leg positions.
The 1st army was advancing ahead of the 2nd as expected.
1st army troops had been hardened in the mountains of the lake district, a hard and rugged place where they had succeeded in earlier battles such as the "Ian hodgson relay" and "caulderdale way".
Although some 2nd army members had been force marched and starved overnight on "the fellsman", whilst one veteran soldier
had been through the "Bob graham" wars - for which he was awarded a medal and membership of an elite club, the LDWA
which stands for "Long distances with Ale". Now known as the LDWRA, Long distances with real Ale.
The only female troop on the battle field was corporal Nash of the 2nd army leg 3 offensive, who has been mentioned in despatches
due to going beyond her call of duties due to a bad injury, doing all this with which can only be described as an "overloaded bergen"
though reports are not sure if this is referring to her kimmsac or corporal Roy parkinson.
Commander Doherty, now on a sunday roast recieved news that his troops private Carter and Simpson on leg 5 were still sat in the warmth of their Tiger tank when they should have been in their fighting positions at the changeover rendezvous.
They may face a court marshalling for trying to desert.
The battle was finally played out over a long hard day. The troops retiring to their barracks for a de-briefing.
But for commander Doherty the war effort still carried on, tough choices still had to be made on behalf of his men.
"Will that be one yorkshire or two".
"Two mrs D, oh and pass the sauce please"
"At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning,
we shall remember them".
This story is dedicated to brave the men and women who really did give their lives so that we can run over our green and pleasant land. " Freely."
Jim Doherty March 2006
Two armies were mustered for the battle, the 1st army and the 2nd army organised by colonel Griffiths and chief commander Doherty.
The battle was to take place in the pennines on the 5th february 2006, in a wild hostile place covering roughly a 40 mile circumfrance. The weather, damp and misty with forecast rain.
Colonel Griffiths was a communications officer and used all his skills to mobilise the 1st army, needing to dig deep into his "reserves" for the final push.
On the eve of the battle his mobile antenna was in frantic use to finalise preparations. Certain troops were about to be shot for desertion before coming to their senses and returning to their squads on the front line.
Chief commander Doherty of the 2nd army really wanted to lead his men into battle but had to retreat to his command bunker
due to a re-curring injury from previous wars.
The morning of the battle and at 8.30 sharp the whistle was blown and the leg one infantry went "over the top".
Colonel Griffiths urging his men on whilst Commander Doherty, in the war room a safe distance away in Preston reluctantly accepted yet another cup of tea from mrs D and began to read the early morning reports from the front line. (sunday papers).
"God speed and god bless" he said to his beloved. "Those poor young men, such a waste" all for team and country.
The war room was covered in maps and wall charts, detailed plans for the offensive which would bring all his troops into their required leg positions.
The 1st army was advancing ahead of the 2nd as expected.
1st army troops had been hardened in the mountains of the lake district, a hard and rugged place where they had succeeded in earlier battles such as the "Ian hodgson relay" and "caulderdale way".
Although some 2nd army members had been force marched and starved overnight on "the fellsman", whilst one veteran soldier
had been through the "Bob graham" wars - for which he was awarded a medal and membership of an elite club, the LDWA
which stands for "Long distances with Ale". Now known as the LDWRA, Long distances with real Ale.
The only female troop on the battle field was corporal Nash of the 2nd army leg 3 offensive, who has been mentioned in despatches
due to going beyond her call of duties due to a bad injury, doing all this with which can only be described as an "overloaded bergen"
though reports are not sure if this is referring to her kimmsac or corporal Roy parkinson.
Commander Doherty, now on a sunday roast recieved news that his troops private Carter and Simpson on leg 5 were still sat in the warmth of their Tiger tank when they should have been in their fighting positions at the changeover rendezvous.
They may face a court marshalling for trying to desert.
The battle was finally played out over a long hard day. The troops retiring to their barracks for a de-briefing.
But for commander Doherty the war effort still carried on, tough choices still had to be made on behalf of his men.
"Will that be one yorkshire or two".
"Two mrs D, oh and pass the sauce please"
"At the going down of the sun,
and in the morning,
we shall remember them".
This story is dedicated to brave the men and women who really did give their lives so that we can run over our green and pleasant land. " Freely."
Jim Doherty March 2006