19 June 2007

Stalin: Royal Engineer and banjo player

The history books would have us believe that Stalin spent much of the period covering WWI n exile in Siberia. This photograph proves otherwise. Not only is it clear that he served in the British army during WWI but he was a musician too!

Actually I was copying some photos taken during WWI of the not-wife's great grandfather and this fellow just stood out.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oooh scary, I nearly believed you!

jams o donnell said...

Lol Alison. I couldn't resist posting it when I saw it!

elasticwaistbandlady said...

I always took Stalin for more of a tuba playing guy. Lots of hot air needed, you know. Bom Bom Bom Bom Bom It's not a proper revolutionary parade without a good tuba bellow.

Steve Bates said...

Is he the one who said, "No band... no problem"?

Smalltown RN said...

you have a very interesting sense of humour....must be the genes.....

thanks for stopping by my blog the other day....cheers just wondering....how did you find me...

jams o donnell said...

There you go ewbl, you would have thought so but perhaps he thought he needed a reserve occupation should the revolution go pear shaped and he had his eye on a job as a black and white minstrel.

Perhaps he had the the other band members purged Steve!

Ah RN, it was the other way round. you came to the Poor MOuth first, through the Saturday photo hunt.

Anonymous said...

You don't see many mustachioed banjo players in the British Army these days. It's a shame... they could be the perfect weapon to put the wind up al-Qaeda.

jams o donnell said...

Ach they still have the bagpipe and that IS scary!

Anonymous said...

Arggh... not the Devils in Skirts!

jams o donnell said...

Ah the good old 3rd Foot and Mouth!

Alice (in BC Canada) said...

Great photos, but YIKES, I'm outta here!! Come visit at my blog... nothing scary there.

Reba said...

GRRRRRRR GGGRUFFF, Ruffff, rufff, arf, bark.

*teeth barred, lips pulled back*

Translation: Stay back. Mom hates you and I protect her.

jams o donnell said...

Ah less scary stuff next time alice. Reba, a sensible approach to Stalin!