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Sending Preston Across the Bifrost Bridge

By The Armorer on July 16, 2011 | | Comments (8)
Heimdall stands ready to allow Preston to cross the bridge.


The gun is moved into position.  The two field grades, Donovan and Cope, watch the troops do the work (Infantryman Cope is in fact helping a bit - putatively pushing the left wheel of the gun).  



The sideparty of well-wishers gathered to cheer Preston on his trip across the Bifrost Bridge in smoke and flame.


The Armorer checks to ensure that Heimdall is laid safe.



There is always a rehearsal, to ensure that all the parts and pieces are set and ready.  

Number ONE...     FIRE!




The time has come to send Preston across the Bifrost in smoke and flame....



Farewell, my friend.  It was a helluva way to go home...

*All photos copyright by one of my best buds, Charlie Rees of Expressive Images by Charlie.  All rights reserved.  When Charlie dropped these pictures by today, it was immediately apparent to me the difference between a pro (Charlie) and a schmo with an expensive camera (me).  If you live in the Leavenworth/Lansing/Basehor/Piper/Tonganoxie area and you need some real portraiture or commercial photography done - see Charlie.  And no, he has zero zip nada idea I put that blurb up.

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8 Comments

By Neffi on July 16, 2011 4:00 PM
And entirely right and fitting.
Good show, sirrah...!
 
By Heltau on July 16, 2011 11:27 PM
That is one sweet piece of gun there.
 
By BillT on July 17, 2011 12:03 AM
Never before has a fighter crossed so swiftly and with such an introduction.
 
By Casey on July 17, 2011 12:38 AM
John, have you watched the new Thor movie yet? For some odd reason, I keep seeing the scene wherein Thor is calling for Heimdall to open the bridge...

Godspeed, Preston.

 
By DL Sly on July 17, 2011 9:09 AM
Godspeed and a light landing, Preston.

Truly a fine send-off, John.
 
By Justthisguy on July 17, 2011 9:52 AM
That is a very Kewl&Manly hat you have, there. What kind is it exactly?
 
By John of Argghhh! on July 17, 2011 10:37 AM
That is my Ozzie slouch hat, gifted me by the Australian Exchange Officer at the National Simulation Center many years ago.  It's kitted out as a Royal Australian Artillery officer's hat (meaning the wheel on the badge spins, so the officers can get away faster, as I was informed by an Ozzie Infantry officer).  It also has the markings on the puggaree that would have been present on RAA hats at Gallipoli - that latter in recognition of my provision of a Vickers gun, Lithgow SMLE, and Turkish Mauser as decorations at their ANZAC Day parties.  Those were good parties.  The Turks were always invited, and the Turks, Kiwi's and Aussies were always tickled that the Vickers gun was an actual gun captured by the Turks and used by them, and that the bayonet on the Mauser was an ex-Brit SMLE bayonet captured and re-used.  The Brit LNO didn't figure out all the giggling for about three years.  He took it well when he realized the whole display took a back-handed swipe at the Brits (not their soldiers - but the people who thought the Dardanelles Campaign was a good idea).  I also had (and still have) a collection of Australian identity disks, which we would hang from bayonets sticking out of a sandbag wall - just as the ANZACs did when they went over the top - if, after the assault, the tags were still there... someone hadn't come back.
 
By Murray on July 17, 2011 3:34 PM
Most didn't come back at Lone Pine and The Nek in the August assaults.

My own regiment went from 770 men to 79 with 11 unwounded on August 8th taking and holding Chunuck Bair. They still have their tags and their Colonel. Still holding the top too if anyone asks.

My uncels were Otago Mounted who were reduced to under 50% and combined with the Maori Pioneer Batt who wer elikewise reduced. The New Zealanders took 66% casualties in the campaign.