The History Bucket: Forgotten Army

Sunday, January 1, 2012

"The Forgotten Army"

It never ceases to amaze me that there are still women around who don't get any recognition for their groundbreaking or vital achievements during World War II until late in life and, probably in many cases, not at all.

How many of them in the "Forgotten Army" like Joan Turnour will have passed on, with even their families remaining unaware of what they did?

Recently Joan received "out of the blue" a medal from the British Prime Minister, David Cameron for her work in breaking Japanese codes in Australia and only now is she able to speak about her secret work for the first time.

Read about Joan here:

http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/code-of-silence-lifts-on-world-war-iis-crack-unit-20111229-1pedx.html

"Regina, freedwoman of Barates, alas!"

Regina lived in the 4th Century AD. She was of the British Catuvellauni, a tribe from the Hertfordshire area, and was sold into slavery. She became the property of Barates of Palmyra (now part of Syria), a merchant of Arbeia, the fort at the Eastern end of Hadrian's Wall (now South Shields). Barates fell in love with her, gave Regina her freedom and married her. Sadly, she died at the age of 30 and, missing her greatly, Barates set up a famous tombstone in her honour. Regina is shown sitting in a high back wicker chair with her jewellery box, spindle and wool. Its inscription is in Latin, but there is also an added mourning line in Aramaic, the language that Barates would have spoken. "Regina, freedwoman of Barates, alas!"

The History Bucket

Sunday, January 1, 2012

"The Forgotten Army"

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