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Small Beer

By woolybill1
First of all a big THANK YOU to everyone who has looked at, voted for and commented on my recent uploads. I have learned much and laughed even more!

This stone, discoloured by pollution, stands in the grounds of Winchester Cathedral :

In Memory of
THOMAS THETCHER
a Grenadier in the North Regt.
of Hants Militia, who died of a
violent Fever contracted by drinking
Small Beer when hot the 12th of May
1764. Aged 26 Years.
In grateful remembrance of whose universal
good will towards his Comrades, this Stone
is placed here at their expence, as a small
testimony of their regard and concern.
Here sleeps in peace a Hampshire Grenadier,
Who caught his death by drinking cold small Beer.
Soldiers be wise from his untimely fall
And when ye're hot drink Strong or none at all.
This memorial being decay'd was restor'd
by the Officers of the Garrison A.D.1781.
An honest Soldier never is forgot
Whether he die by Musket or by Pot.
This stone was replaced by the North Hants
Militia when disembodied at Winchester
on 6th. April 1802, in consequence of
the original Stone being destroyed.
And again replaced by
The Royal Hampshire Regiment 1966.

I seem to remember my father attending the 1966 unveiling in a professional capacity. It would have appealed to his sense of humour as it does to mine.

34mm, 1/160th sec @ f4.2
Selective focusing by courtesy of Picasa
Taken on 11/08/2007

Tags: Beer Photo journalism Soldier Winchester Black and white Digitally manipulated Gravestone Tombstone Grenadier Small beer

Readers' Choice Awards are given to photos that get over 30 votes

Uploaded:
24 Aug 2007 10:04AM
Camera:
Nikon D70
Lens:
Nikkor 18-70mm
More EXIF

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Comments


DolphinLady 16 54 1 Wales
24 Aug 2007 10:55AM
That is a wonderful story & monument to this poor unfortunate soldier.
Made me smile.
HilarySmile
Badgerfred Plus
15 39 Wales
24 Aug 2007 10:55AM
Well spotted Bill,
Fred.
AlanBW 16 20 England
24 Aug 2007 11:00AM
Marvellous tale behind this fine shot
Kim Walton 18 145 30 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 11:16AM
Well taken shot,good to get all salient words in the image.
imander 15 388 7 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 11:30AM
lovely shot,and i'll stick to whisky from now on,cant be to careful
ian
newy17 16 273 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 11:49AM
ill stick to my hot cups a tea love the focusing you've created lovely shot bill.
ian
Misteree 15 2 Australia
24 Aug 2007 12:13PM
I''ll stick to the wine. Great shot. Love the DOF!
Stockczech 15 445 Czech Republic
24 Aug 2007 12:34PM
Love it!

Sheilab
wyatturp 16 2 England
24 Aug 2007 12:52PM
well done Good PLAY WITH dof

Doug
bliba Plus
16 1 2 Austria
24 Aug 2007 1:42PM
love the DOF......well done

cheers to you


ollie
imagio 15 12 1 England
24 Aug 2007 3:30PM
I like the way you have used selective focus Bill to highlight the main words, abit of perfectionsm coming thru here?

Bernie
TyChee 17 275 1 United States
24 Aug 2007 3:41PM
Very creative! Love how the key words are in focus! Nice one.
Ty
Rende 15 38 4 Netherlands
24 Aug 2007 3:42PM
Beautiful shot, even without the wonderful description. What we can learn from this edifying tale is that it is more economical to do things right the first time; if they would have invested in a proper stone in the first place they wouldn't have had to replace it so many times! (which is also what I tell my clients when they say that Ikea makes furniture for less than I do)
And I'm very happy to see that you're enjoying the harpsichord series.
Regards,
Rende
mikbee 15 3 8 Scotland
24 Aug 2007 3:44PM
It does not worry me Bill as I drink large beers,so they must be quite safe.Good call with the focusing.It is better treated than some ancient buildings with the amount of restoration it has had.Well done for something ''different''
Mick.
danbrann 17 640 17
24 Aug 2007 3:53PM
Great idea with marvelous focus.
riprap007 17 1.6k 37 England
24 Aug 2007 4:06PM
most effective image and great decription, I so like unusual dedications such as this
lifesnapper Plus
16 8 3 England
24 Aug 2007 5:40PM
Great story and History here Bill. A very cleverly taken shot too.

John Smile
Danny_Peters 15 159 England
24 Aug 2007 5:46PM
I usually much prefer to have at least a few words of description and the story here is interesting, but I looked at this for a good while before getting to reading it.

I think it's an image that would stand really well on it's own with no words. It spun a real curiosity in me.
Last modified by the Moderator Team on 24 Aug 2007 5:47PM
IainH 17 82
24 Aug 2007 6:11PM
There goes my theory about beer "what makes you ill, makes you better" Smile oh well
A Booth 20 11 4 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 6:35PM
good image- excellent story.
Joline Plus
16 38 59 United States
24 Aug 2007 8:13PM
You British have the very best sense of humor....love it!!!!!
JudeC 15 6 3 England
24 Aug 2007 8:39PM
This is wonderful - JudeC
peg 15 1 1 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 8:46PM
In Beverley (E. Yorks) there's a similar kind of memorial in St Mary's church which has been restored because people have been touched by the simple fondness of comrades. You've caught this really well. Edmund. PS, the Beverley version involves an execution.
paulb20 Plus
15 12 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 9:26PM
A splendid tale and a first class shot.
Paul
Hop-A-Long 15 52 1 England
24 Aug 2007 9:50PM
Great focusing Bill. Lovely shot and I like the write up.
Andy
SandraKay Plus
15 233 4 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 10:08PM
Poor Thomas. Am sure he would be never have believed that so many people would be reading about his untimely demise over 240 years later. (Have just looked up the definition of small beer - apparently it's weak or inferior beer.)
The focusing of this shot is expertly done.
Sandra
Last modified by the Moderator Team on 24 Aug 2007 10:13PM
Buffalo_Tom Plus
15 2.3k 29 Wales
24 Aug 2007 10:53PM
Well seen Bill,great story.
Tom.
AndyCRevitt 15 12 United Kingdom
24 Aug 2007 11:01PM
Bill, well spotted, another great image and background detail.
Andy
kinfatric 17 550 9 Scotland
26 Aug 2007 1:03PM
a wonderful tale behind the image
davidhu 16 19 United Kingdom
26 Aug 2007 4:57PM
Excellent narrative, Bill. Good work with the selective focus, it's very effective.
Dave
oldgreyheron Plus
15 125 6 United Kingdom
26 Aug 2007 9:39PM
Bill this is different and an excellent combination of photography and narrative. I am researching a chunk of my family history into this period (perhaps realistically a little later) and feel a real affinity with the words and image.

Mike
aitchbrown Plus
16 248 United Kingdom
28 Aug 2007 10:47AM
Clever dof Bill..... and great story to go with it... I must remember to only drink warm STRONG drink, lest I die from drinking anything cold..... Doya think it includes Gin? helen x

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