12 May 2010

How to Lose an Empire

The soldiers and many nations, including the UK, marched through the Red Square to celebrate the sixty-fifth anniversary of Victory Day.
British Soliders Marching on Red Square
At its height [the British Empire] was the largest empire in history and, for over a century, was the foremost global power. By 1922, the British Empire held sway over a population of about 458 million people, one-quarter of the world's population at the time, and covered more than 13,000,000 square miles (33,670,000 square km): approximately a quarter of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its political, linguistic and cultural legacy is widespread. At the peak of its power, it was often said that "the sun never sets on the British Empire" because its span across the globe ensured that the sun was always shining on at least one of its numerous territories.
My Bloody Red Coat and Hat 
Make Target Practice a Jolly Good Time 
The British Empire is no more.  If British soldiers dress the same way in battle as they do for formal ceremonies, it is easy to understand why.
Ready to Server Her Majesty

1 comment:

  1. OMG, is it true there were portraits of Stalin on Red Square on the day of the parade? It seemed to me most of the Russian society disapproved of them, at least here in Moscow..

    Tanya, DocTeam

    ReplyDelete