History Challenge & Journal

[moja]

geez, Moja is quick and correct but I would have accepted Arthur Blair
what was the clue that gave you George?

I had an english teacher who was a huge fan of George's hence my knowledge of his background!

[Nereus]

Magellan's Cross, in Cebu the Philippines.

[PeteC]

Magellan's Cross, in Cebu the Philippines.

I'll tell you, it's tough to get one past this group! Did you watch the same travel show today that I did, Nereus?

Yes, Magellan arrived in Cebu on April 7, 1521 and departed this world in a battle with natives about 20 days later. He introduced Christianity to the Philippines, and the original cross he erected on that exact spot is said to be contained in the newer cross casing shown in the photo.

A key clue is in the painting on the pavilion ceiling. Natives, Palms, soldiers in Spanish uniforms, red flag etc. Pete

[Nereus]

Magellan's Cross, in Cebu the Philippines.

I'll tell you, it's tough to get one past this group! Did you watch the same travel show today that I did, Nereus?

A key clue is in the painting on the pavilion ceiling. Natives, Palms, soldiers in Spanish uniforms, red flag etc. Pete

Nar, I think that may be my illegitimate son walking past the front!

Spent some lost youth in Cebu!

[Jimbob]

A little local connection in this challenge but not too many clues,

He served in both the French and British merchant navy but was born in neither nation,
He visited Bangkok to captain a small ship and from his time there and in South East Asia it led him to write many stories related to the sea and life in the colonies.
He declined a knighthood for his literary achievements
His work is known for being pessimistic about the human condition and his most famous book was made into a memorable movie.

Who is he?

[Nereus]

A little local connection in this challenge but not too many clues,

He served in both the French and British merchant navy but was born in neither nation,
He visited Bangkok to captain a small ship and from his time there and in South East Asia it led him to write many stories related to the sea and life in the colonies.
He declined a knighthood for his literary achievements
His work is known for being pessimistic about the human condition and his most famous book was made into a memorable movie.

Who is he?

Joseph Conrad

[caller]

I would go with Conrad as well.

Where is this, what is it and what's the connection to a graveyard in Oxfordshire and 2 American presidents?

[dtaai-maai]

Sounds a bit 'Rhodes scholarship' to me...

Edit:
(Or not, as the case may be! - Got me stumped, caller...))

[Jimbob]

A little local connection in this challenge but not too many clues,

He served in both the French and British merchant navy but was born in neither nation,
He visited Bangkok to captain a small ship and from his time there and in South East Asia it led him to write many stories related to the sea and life in the colonies.
He declined a knighthood for his literary achievements
His work is known for being pessimistic about the human condition and his most famous book was made into a memorable movie.

Who is he?

Joseph Conrad

Yep, Nereus is correct.The book: heart of Darkness, the movie that draws on the book is Apocalypse Now
I read 'the shadow line' based on his time in the SE asia. Characterisation is great.

[Jimbob]

I would go with Conrad as well.

Where is this, what is it and what's the connection to a graveyard in Oxfordshire and 2 American presidents?

Never played who is in the box, but I might know the gardener?

These tombs as pictured are in Asia? I assume then this is a 19th century connection?

[caller]

These tombs as pictured are in Asia? I assume then this is a 19th century connection?

Yes and yes - go east.

[sandman67]

thats a really odd graveyard - the tombs "face" north south and east west....really odd. They all look like westerners tombs tho....

Is it something to do with the Boxer Rebellion in Peking circua 1900 so now somewhere in the old Foreign Legation District of Bejing next to the Forbidden City?

[PeteC]

They're all above ground tombs as well. Perhaps a city with a very high water table and/or regular flooding as an additional clue? Pete

[sandman67]

Given Bill Clintons links to Oxford (and Howard Marx funnily enough...they knew each other and apprently shared a spliff that Bill insists he didnt inhale...oh aye) I was looking at Cecil Rhodes/Rhodes Scolars....dead end (pun intended).

I did find this nugget tho of interest.... this is one of Rhodes early will stipulations:

To and for the establishment, promotion and development of a Secret Society, the true aim and object whereof shall be for the extension of British rule throughout the world, the perfecting of a system of emigration from the United Kingdom, and of colonisation by British subjects of all lands where the means of livelihood are attainable by energy, labour and enterprise, and especially the occupation by British settlers of the entire Continent of Africa, the Holy Land, the Valley of the Euphrates, the Islands of Cyprus and Candia, the whole of South America, the Islands of the Pacific not heretofore possessed by Great Britain, the whole of the Malay Archipelago, the seaboard of China and Japan, the ultimate recovery of the United States of America as an integral part of the British Empire, the inauguration of a system of Colonial representation in the Imperial Parliament which may tend to weld together the disjointed members of the Empire and, finally, the foundation of so great a Power as to render wars impossible, and promote the best interests of humanity.

Now you know where the New World Order mythology started.

He just jumped up massively in my estimation....and I already had a soft spot for him. Well done that man! Im gonna build him into my book now....

He sounds like MrPs dream conspiracist!

[Jimbob]

taking a tangential direction to Sand man.
I have looked at the two Roosevelt presidents (being cousins) and connections to Oxfordshire. No joy yet but there lots of Roosevelt road names in that shire hmmm.