Splendour of the Speaker
QUESTION What became of the state coach of the Speaker of the House of Commons? The Speaker’s carriage is one of three state coaches, the others being the Lord Mayor of London’s state coach and the Queen’s gold state coach.
The Speaker’s state coach is displayed at the National Trust Carriage Museum at Arlington Court in Barnstaple, Devon, where it was moved in 2011 after concerns over its condition.
The coach is said to have been made for William III in 1698 and designed by Frenchman Daniel Marot. It was presented to the Speaker by Queen Anne.
Its carved woodwork is impressive as is the metalwork, especially the technically complex wrought iron swan necks behind the front wheels.
The coach is identified as belonging to the Speaker of the house of Commons by the carved, crossed maces on the doors and the coat of arms of former Speakers.
Its last recorded use was by Speaker Thomas at the 1981 wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.
When the coach was no longer used for state occasions, it was displayed at Whitbread’s Brewery, London. It was moved to Westminster hall before being sent to Arlington for a full restoration.
Mike Dean, Exeter, Devon.
QUESTION Who were the original Darby and Joan?
DArBy and Joan is a term used to describe a happily married couple who lead a placid, uneventful life.
It is thought to derive from a ballad by english printer henry Woodfall (16861747), whose boss John Darby was married to Joan.
The Joys Of Love Never Forgot was printed in The Gentleman’s Magazine in 1735 and includes the lines: Old Darby, with Joan by his side, You’ve often regarded with wonder: He’s dropsical, she is sore-eyed, Yet they’re never happy asunder. Its popularity led to another ballad called Darby And Joan by St John honeywood (1763-1798), which tackled an age-old problem: When Darby saw the setting sun, He swung his scythe, and home he run, Sat down, drank off his quart, and said: ‘My work is done, I’ll go to bed.’ ‘My work is done!’ retorted Joan. ‘My work is done! Your constant tone; But hapless woman ne’er can say, My work is done till Judgment Day.’
Lord Byron referred to Darby and Joan in an 1811 letter to Francis hodgson: ‘Master William harness and I have recommenced a most fiery correspondence. I like him as euripides liked Agatho, or Darby admired Joan, as much for the past as the present.’
The term was popularised in the Jerome Kern and Oscar hammerstein song The Folks Who Live On The hill: We’ll sit and look at the same old view, Just we two. Darby and Joan who used to be Jack
and Jill, The folks who like to be called, What they have always been called, The folks who live on the hill. M. Timmins, Birmingham.
QUESTION Were any Americans punished for not anticipating the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor?
AFTer Japanese carrier-borne aircraft inflicted heavy damage on Pearl harbor naval base on the Pacific island of Oahu on December 7, 1941 — which brought America into World War II — there were eight official U.S. investigations.
Testimony was given by those in charge in Washington and hawaii, including Admiral husband Kimmel, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. he accused his superiors of not giving him all the Japanese intelligence messages: ‘The navy department had several forces open. It could furnish me directly with the best evidence of Japanese intentions and plans — the intercepted Japanese military and diplomatic messages.
‘ This would have given me the opportunity to judge for myself the gravity and intensity of the crisis as December 7, 1941, approached. And the probability of a Japanese attack on hawaii. The navy department failed to do this.’
Only Kimmel and the commander in charge of the hawaiian Department of the U.S. army, General Walter Short, were charged with dereliction of duty.
Kimmel was vilified, but avoided a court-martial by taking early retirement. Short was reduced to the rank of major general, retiring early in disgrace.
It suited political leaders in Washington to place all blame for Pearl harbor on those in hawaii, although many Americans didn’t believe Kimmel and Short could have been responsible for the disaster.
A 1995 study conducted at the request of Congress found fault for the attack went well beyond Kimmel and Short.
in fought In the 2016, to city a restore statue of henderson his of Kimmel good name. as was his unveiled family
Kimmel’s grandsons said: ‘The fact is that the U.S. Pacific Fleet was let down by the failures of those on whom they relied. Kimmel and Short alone took the blame for the failures of many.’
Emilie Lamplough, Trowbridge, Wilts.
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