The Admiral Hood Monument near Butleigh in the parish of Compton Dundon, Somerset.

Whenever I drive up the B3151 to Street my attention is drawn to the Admiral Hood Monument rising above the treetops on the wooded hillsides north and east of the village of Compton Dundon.  Having never visited the Monument, a couple of weeks ago I decided to take a closer look.

At the crossroads at the crest of Collard Hill I turned right off the B3151 and followed the road through the woods and along the ridge which forms the south eastern extremity of the Polden Hills.  I parked in a convenient lay-by on Collard Hill and set off in a south easterly direction along a public footpath.  I soon came upon open ground which gave picturesque views over Compton Dundon to Dundon Hill and Lollover Hill and beyond Somerton Moor to Ham Hill.  I now had a clear view of the Hood Monument rising above the trees and followed the footpath towards it.  After crossing a tarmac lane I entered thick woodland where the path twisted and turned up a very steep hillside – 5 steps at a time for an asthmatic like me – and suddenly came upon a small clearing and the Monument.

The Admiral Hood Monument on Windmill Hill near Butleigh in the parish of Compton Dundon in Somerset.

Standing amongst the trees on Windmill Hill, the Monument is a Tuscan column on a square plinth* 110 feet high.  It was paid for by public subscription and built in 1831 to a design by architect Henry Goodridge.  Atop the column are stone carvings of the decorative sterns and billowing sails of Napoleonic-era warships. 

Stone carvings atop the Admiral Hood Monument.

From the foot of the Monument the view of the surrounding countryside is obscured by trees to the east and west and bushes to the south.  However, to the north an avenue between the trees allows a dramatic view of Glastonbury Tor, just over three miles away, and to the Mendip Hills on the horizon.  

The view of Glastonbury Tor and the Mendip Hills from the foot of the Admiral Hood Monument.

Sir Samuel Hood played a major part in the Battle of the Nile on August 1st 1798, perhaps the most significant action of his career.  In command of HMS ZEALOUS he accompanied HMS GOLIATH, commanded by Thomas Foley, which led the attack on the French fleet in Aboukir Bay.

Hood and Foley were members of Nelson’s “Band of Brothers”, a phrase coined by Nelson to describe his Captains when writing his despatches after the Battle of the Nile.

At the time of the Battle of Trafalgar Hood was recovering from the loss of his right arm.  His elbow had been shattered by a musket ball while, in command of HMS CENTAUR, he led a successful action against 5 French frigates off Rochefort on 25^th September 1805.  Keen to return to active service he declined commands ashore and went back to sea, once again aboard HMS CENTAUR, in 1807.

Hood died of malaria in Madras on 24^th December 1814 while Commander-in-Chief of the East Indies Fleet.

An illustrious naval family.

Sir Samuel Hood, to whom the Hood Monument is dedicated, should not be confused with his cousin Samuel Hood, Viscount Hood.  Viscount Hood had a long and distinguished career in the Royal Navy which included commands during the American War of Independence.  He was also present at the Battle of the Saintes, an action in 1782 which decisively removed the threat of a French and Spanish invasion of Jamaica and repaired the Royal Navy’s reputation after a series of American and French victories.  Viscount Hood’s younger brother Alexander Hood, Viscount Bridport, also had a long career in the Royal Navy including being second in command to Lord Howe during the battle of The Glorious First of June.  The battle, in 1794, was fought 400 miles west of Ushant when a Royal Navy fleet of 25 ships captured or put out of action 7 ships of a French fleet of 26.  Both sides claimed success as a large merchant convoy under the protection of the French fleet escaped unscathed. 

Sir Samuel Hood had two brothers who also served in the Royal Navy.  Arthur Hood was lost at sea in the sloop HMS POMONA in August 1776 during a hurricane in the West Indies.  Captain Alexander Hood was mortally wounded on April 2^nd 1798 while in command of HMS MARS during a bloody but victorious battle with the French ‘74’ HERCULE near the Pointe du Raz off the coast of Brittany.

In 1916 Rear Admiral Sir Horace Hood, the great-great-grandson of Viscount Hood, was in command of the Third Battlecruiser Squadron at the Battle of Jutland and was among those lost when his flagship HMS INVINCIBLE was hit in a magazine and blew up.  On August 22nd 1918 his widow Ellen, Lady Hood, christened and launched the majestic battlecruiser HMS HOOD which was later to be sunk by the magnificent German battleship BISMARCK on the 24th May 1941 during the Battle of the Denmark Strait.




*Inscription on plinth.

North East side.

In memory of Sir Samuel Hood, Baronet, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath and nominated Grand Cross thereof,  Knight of St Ferdinand and of Merit.  Knight Grand Order of the Sword.  Vice Admiral of the White and Commander-in-Chief of His Majesty’s Fleet in the East Indies.

North West side.

An officer of the highest distinction among the illustrious men who rendered their own age the brightest period in the naval history of their country. 

South West side.

This monument is dedicated to their late Commander by the attachment and reverence of British Officers of whom many were his admiring followers in the awful scenes of war in which while they call forth the grandest quality of human nature in him likewise gave occasion for the exercise of its most amiable virtues.  He died at Madras December 24th 1814. 

Scottish Lawyer appointed as Minister of English Justice. "It is a disgrace", says Robin Tilbrook, Chairman of the English Democrats.

Is this another case of the British Government appeasing the Scots or are there really no English or Welsh lawyers capable enough for this appointment?

Robin Tilbrook gives his opinion in this press release from the English Democrats:

"The Government has announced the appointment of a Scottish Conservative Barrister who has been handed the English Civil Justice brief as the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Lord Keen of Elie (Richard Keen QC) dubbed the Rottweiler by the Scottish media for his aggressive courtroom manner, will serve as MoJ spokesperson for the Lords.  His responsibilities will also include claims management regulation, English legal services regulation and relations with the English legal profession. 

A former chairman of the Scottish Conservatives, Keen was a standing junior counsel to the Department of Trade and Industry in Scotland from 1986 to 1993 and was appointed QC in 1993.  He has been regularly instructed in the Commercial Court, in the Inner House (the court of appeal in Scotland) and in the UK Supreme Court. 

This is a role which only covers the legal jurisdiction of England and Wales.  The “Ministry of Justice” has no relevant jurisdiction over Scotland or Northern Ireland.  In these situations then and following national devolution it is no longer appropriate for Scots or Northern Irish ministers to be appointed for England only or England and Wales only roles.  The English Democrats condemn the appointment of Lord Keen of Elie and call for his immediate replacement with an English (or Welsh) lawyer and for the British Government to henceforth show more sensitivity to the nationality of appointees amongst the nations of the UK. 

Robin Tilbrook, Chairman of the English Democrats who is an English Solicitor said:- “It is a disgrace that in 2016 the British Government would think it is appropriate to appoint a Scottish lawyer as a Minister in charge of English and Welsh Civil Justice.  The English and Welsh legal system is a different legal system based upon Common Law to the Scottish legal system which is based upon Roman Law.  Yet again the British Government has shown its inability to understand the current national realities of an increasingly disunited UK.”"

Lyte's Cary Manor, near Somerton, in South Somerset.

After a couple of scorching hot days – too hot for me these days – the temperature dropped enough to contemplate taking the car out for spin.  I decided on a visit to the National Trust’s Lyte's Cary Manor, just a short drive along the A303 and then only a couple of miles from the Podimore roundabout.

Lyte's Cary Manor, near Somerton in South Somerset, is one of the National Trust’s smaller properties.  Over one hundred years ago Edward Hutton in his Highways & Byways in Somerset (Macmillan & Co., 1912) wrote:
“Lyte's Cary is the ancient home of the old Somerset family of Lyte which has been apparently settled here since the middle of the thirteenth century.  The manor house as we see it however dates from the fifteenth century and has attached to it a fourteenth century chapel.  These buildings which of old surrounded a small court upon all its four sides, now stand upon but three.  On the east is the Great Hall with the chapel to the south of it; to the south is the old part of the dwelling house, the north wing of which has been much altered and has served as a farm-house.  The whole of the buildings upon the west have perished.  Perhaps the best view of the place is to be had from the north-east, where we see the beautiful porch with its oriel, the Great Hall also with its oriel and chimney stack, and the sanctuary of the chapel with its fine traceried windows – three gables projecting from the low roof and body of the house.”

Lyte's Cary Manor in South Somerset, viewed from the north-east.

I was able to wander around the grounds and garden and take some photos but the sky was darkening and eventually it began to rain.  There was no wind to hurry away the grey clouds so I headed back to the car park, which was conveniently close to the house, and decided to make for home before the evening rush on the A303.

In my humble opinion the standard of driving on the A303 is not of the greatest, especially on the approach to junctions and roundabouts.  Therefore, as I drove home, I was not unduly surprised to see lots of flashing blue lights in the distance as I climbed westward to the approaches to the junction with the A356 for Crewkerne.  Near the approach to the slip road a car towing a caravan was on the embankment facing the carriageway the wrong way!  Several police cars were in attendance, but I did not notice any ambulances so hopefully no-one had been hurt.  Both westbound lanes were unaffected so I reached home without delay.

Batley and Spen by-election. English Democrats' Therese Hirst to stand.

Immediately after the appalling murder of Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, all the other “main” political parties, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, UKIP and the Green Party, announced that, as a mark of respect, they would not be standing candidates in the consequent by-election.  Therefore a candidate chosen by the Labour Party would be elected as MP unopposed.

However, the majority of the Labour Parliamentary Party is now in a state of rebellion.  The recent vote in Parliament to replace the submarines carrying Trident missiles is the latest manifestation of disarray in Labour's ranks.  If Mr Corbyn remains the Labour Leader the Party could well split.  In such circumstances which of the two Labour parties would allow the other to stand an unopposed candidate in the Batley and Spen by-election?  Is it more likely that Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour and the “other” Labour would each stand a candidate?  I wonder if those in the “main” parties who made the decision not to participate now feel as if they acted a little hastily.  

Furthermore, I could not help being reminded of the last time an MP was murdered, namely Ian Gow Conservative MP for Eastbourne, and how there was no such mark of respect on that occasion.  All the main parties stood a candidate in the resulting by-election – indeed the Liberal Democrats took the seat from the Conservatives.

I now read in the Yorkshire Post that Therese Hirst of the English Democrats is stepping up to the plate and is ready to stand when Labour, or perhaps I should say whichever Labour, moves the writ for the by-election.  Be that as it may, I expect some sort of Labour candidate will be elected as the new MP, any other result would mean the Labour movement in its present state of utter turmoil is completely shattered as a serious political force.

Here is a link to the report in the Yorkshire Post. 

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/english-democrats-to-contest-batley-and-spen-by-election-for-jo-cox-s-seat-1-8020537

Redhill on the A38 in North Somerset and its village church of Christ Church.

Whenever I have occasion to use the A38 in North Somerset I try and stop by at Christ Church in the village of Redhill.  The reason for this short detour is to pay my respects at the grave of my great-grandparents and also do a little tidying up around their grave.

The village church of Christ Church, Redhill, North Somerset.

My great-grandparents lived and raised 12 children at Hyall House, now named Meadow Cottage, in Lye Hole Lane just on the other side of the A38 from Redhill.  Many of their relations, and several of their children, are also at rest in the graveyard of Christ Church.

I usually leave the A38 at Churchill and head for Lower Langford where I turn north through the country lanes to Wrington and then follow Long Lane to Redhill.  Long Lane might be long but it is very narrow in places.  It also passes through the picturesque Barley Wood Estate which was owned between 1784 and 1828 by the English religious writer and philanthropist Hannah More (1745-1833) for whom Barley Wood House was built in 1801.

In 1897 the Barley Wood Estate came into the ownership of Henry Herbert Wills, a director of the Imperial Tobacco Company, and stayed within the family until the death of Captain Douglas Wills in 1973.

On reaching Redhill,  Christ Church, a grade ll listed building built in 1843, is tucked away behind a line of trees opposite the old School House, now a private residence.  Many of the houses in the village have wonderful views of the Vale of Wrington and the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills.

Having paid my respects I usually park in a peaceful lay-by a few hundred yards west of the village in Long Lane to enjoy the scenery before rejoining the A38.

The view from Long Lane, just west of Redhill, across the A38 towards the northern slopes of the Mendip Hills and the village of Blagdon. 

Was Osborne mistaken or scaremongering asks Clive Lavelle of the English Democrats.

A letter from Clive Lavelle of the English Democrats in the Western Daily Press on June 28th.

 Was chancellor just scaremongering.
After spending the last two months trumpeting “disaster” and “catastrophe” on his Apocalypse Now Roadshow, the Chancellor today said that our country is in a position of “strength”.

Was he mistaken with the disaster and catastrophe prophesies, or could it be that he was deliberately scaremongering; lying, in order to mislead the electorate?

Clive Lavelle

Weston-super-Mare English Democrats

Hardly surprising that there is no place for Osborne in May's Cabinet!

"Different priorities for us and Scotland", writes Clive Lavelle of the English Democrats.

In this letter published in the Western Daily Press on July 4th, Clive Lavell of the English Democrats suggests that the people of Scotland and England should be free to pursue their own priorities.


Different priorities for us and Scotland.

I wrote to you recently about the UK having outlived its usefulness and about the need for England and Scotland to 'de-merge'.

If anyone required proof of this, it was provided by Nicola Sturgeon strutting round the EU corridors of power, seeking some kind of special continuance of membership deal for Scotland.

Prior to the referendum, both Ms Sturgeon and Mr Alex Salmond complained about the possibility of Scotland being "dragged out of the EU" by English votes.  They would both have been content for England to be forced to stay in by Scottish votes.

The bottom line is, the people of England and the people of Scotland have totally different priorities and it is high time they were freed from each other in order to pursue those priorities.

Clive Lavelle,
Weston-super-Mare English Democrats.

The Somerset Light Infantry's part in the first day of The Battle of the Somme.

The attack on Beaumont Hamel began at 7.30 a.m. on a fine warm morning. The 1^st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry was part of the 11^th Brigade of the 4^th Division and was in the second line of the attack, advancing between the 1^st Battalion Hampshire Regt. and 6^th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regt.

All six of the Brigade’s battalion commanding officers became casualties early in the attack and the Brigade’s commanding officer, Brigadier-General Prowse, was mortally wounded. By early afternoon those members of the Battalion who had reached the German trenches were under the command of Coy.-Sergt.-Major Chappell, all the officers having become casualties. 

Although a segment of the German front line was captured during the day Major V.H.B. Majendi writes:  
“Later in the night it was decided to evacuate the small portion of the German trenches that remained in our possession, and by dawn on July 2^nd the British line on this part of the front was exactly the same as it had been before the attack.

The losses of the Battalion were exceedingly heavy. With the exception of the Medical Officer, Captain Acland, R.A.M.C., and Sec.-Lieut. Marler, Brigade dump officer, no single officer, including those in charge of carrying parties, who formed up in the assembly trenches remained for duty at the end of the day.  Lieut.-Colonel Thicknesse and the Adjutant, Captain Ford, were both killed before no-man’s land was reached. The Battalion’s casualties were 26 officers and 438 other ranks.”*

Such casualties, killed, wounded and missing, amounted to around 50% considering that the strength of a British infantry battalion at that time was around 1,000 men. 

The 8^th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry was part of the 63^rd Brigade of the 21^st Division when that division prepared to attack north of Fricourt.

An hour before the attack was to start the Germans poured an accurate artillery barrage on to the front-line trenches of the 4^th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, to the right of the 8^th Somersets, causing many casualties.  Five minutes before Zero hour the men of both regiments left their trenches only to be raked by rifle and machine-gun fire in no-man’s land.  When the British artillery barrage lifted and the advance began all but three of the 8^th Somersets’ officers had become casualties.  By the time the forward German positions had been captured only about 100 men of the Battalion remained in action.  They held their positions until the early hours of July 4^th when they were relieved by men of the 12^th Battalion, Manchester Regiment.

Casualties were almost as heavy as those suffered by the 1^st Somersets.  The Battalion commanding officer, Lieut.-Colonel J.W. Scott, was wounded and a total of 18 officers and 425 men were killed wounded or missing.

Battalions from the Somerset Light Infantry would continue in action throughout the Battle of the Somme and suffer grievous losses but not on the appalling scale of those opening attacks around Beaumont Hamel and Fricourt.

*A History of the 1^st Battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert’s), July 1^st 1916, to the end of the War.  (Goodman and Son, 1921).