The Postcard
A Natural Colour Photogravure postcard that was published by J. Arthur Dixon Ltd. They state on the back of the card that the image is a colour photograph by Douglas Scott, and that the card was printed in Scotland.
The publishers also provide some information regarding the floral clock:
'The Floral Clock, Princes Street
Gardens, Edinburgh.
A feature of the splendid gardens
maintained by the City of
Edinburgh along the length of
Princes Street is this floral clock.
There is a cuckoo clock which
causes great interest and
amusement as the bird appears
from the bush on the left.'
The card was posted in Edinburgh using a 5½p stamp on Monday the 11th. August 1975 to:
Mr. & Mrs. A. J. Wilson,
44, Front Street,
Acomb,
York,
England.
The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:
"Dear Mum and Dad,
Writing this in Princes Street.
Do you remember the clock?
Arrived here 9.15 am, we left
home at 4.05 am. After a very
good journey so far - very little
traffic.
Barry has gone guess where -
the station.
Lots of love from Tony, Barry,
Diane and me.
xxxx"
The Edinburgh Floral Clock
The floral clock is in the north-east corner of West Princes Street Gardens, and is the oldest in the world. The first floral clock was created on the site in 1903.
It takes about 35,000 flowers to complete the clock. Since 2003, two clocks have been planted each year, a summer clock and a winter clock.
Taking Control of BMC
So what else happened on the day that the card was posted?
Well, on the 11th. August 1975, British Leyland Motor Corporation, the United Kingdom's largest auto manufacturer, came under 78 percent control of the British government.
Vietnam
Also on that day, resolutions to admit North Vietnam and the Communist South Vietnam to the United Nations were vetoed in the Security Council by the United States.
Anthony C. McAuliffe
The day also marked the death at the age of 77 of the American general Anthony C. McAuliffe. He is famous for answering a German surrender demand at the Battle of the Bulge with the written reply "Nuts!".
The U.S. 101st. Airborne Division was able to hold out against the German attack for a week until relieved by other American units.
On the 22nd. December 1944, von Lüttwitz dispatched a party, consisting of a major, a lieutenant, and two enlisted men under a flag of truce to deliver an ultimatum. Entering the American lines southeast of Bastogne (occupied by Company F, 2nd. Battalion, 327th. Glider Infantry), the German party delivered the following to Gen. McAuliffe:
"To the U.S.A. Commander of the encircled town
of Bastogne.
The fortune of war is changing. This time the U.S.A.
forces in and near Bastogne have been encircled
by strong German armored units. More German
armored units have crossed the river Ourthe near
Ortheuville, have taken Marche and reached
St. Hubert by passing through Hompre-Sibret-Tillet.
Libramont is in German hands.
There is only one possibility to save the encircled
U.S.A. troops from total annihilation: that is the
honorable surrender of the encircled town.
In order to think it over a term of two hours will be
granted beginning with the presentation of this note.
If this proposal should be rejected one German
Artillery Corps and six heavy A. A. Battalions are
ready to annihilate the U.S.A. troops in and near
Bastogne.
The order for firing will be given immediately after
this two hours term.
All the serious civilian losses caused by this artillery
fire would not correspond with the well-known
American humanity.
The German Commander."
According to those present when McAuliffe received the German message, he read it, crumpled it into a ball, threw it in a wastepaper basket, and muttered, "Aw, nuts".
The officers in McAuliffe's command post were trying to find suitable language for an official reply when Lieutenant Colonel Harry Kinnard suggested that McAuliffe's first response summed up the situation well, and the others agreed.
The official reply was typed and delivered by Colonel Joseph Harper, commanding the 327th. Glider Infantry, to the German delegation. It was as follows:
"To the German Commander.
NUTS!
The American Commander."
The German major appeared confused, and asked Harper what the message meant. Harper said:
"In plain English? Go to hell."
The choice of "Nuts!" rather than something earthier was typical for McAuliffe. Captain Vincent Vicari, his personal aide at the time, recalled that:
"General Mac was the only general
I ever knew who did not use profane
language.
'Nuts' was part of his normal vocabulary."
The artillery fire did not materialize, although several infantry and tank assaults were directed at the positions of the 327th. Glider Infantry. In addition, the German Luftwaffe attacked the town, bombing it nightly. The 101st. held off the Germans until the 4th. Armored Division arrived on the 26th. December in order to provide reinforcement.
Rachel Katznelson-Shazar
Rachel Katznelson-Shazar, also died on the 11th. August 1975. She was 90 years of age.
Rachel was a Zionist political figure and wife of third President of Israel.
