The over-rated

[toxicpixie]

I thought that was an open secret (like Ed VIII & Wallis's Nazi sympathies), but as it didn't really affect the war effort or his political work it wasn't deemed significant?

With similar surfacing about Nehru it does make me wonder about his favouritism during partition - did Nehru have enough grim evidence to actually sink him?

[Westmarcher]

Can I add mushy peas to the list? 

[toxicpixie]

Could be worse, could be Gray Pays!

[flamingpig0]

I thought that was an open secret (like Ed VIII & Wallis's Nazi sympathies), but as it didn't really affect the war effort or his political work it wasn't deemed significant?

With similar surfacing about Nehru it does make me wonder about his favouritism during partition - did Nehru have enough grim evidence to actually sink him?

There is  some evidence that Nehru was having an affair with Mountbatten's Wife

[Big Insect]

Strictly Come Dancing 

But actually most TV - especially at this time of year

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Love Strictly

[toxicpixie]

Saw a little Strictly this evening. Must be good for something, Bill Bailey looks ten years younger than he did a year ago!

Mountbatten, his wife and Nehru - I gather that was a very open secret, much like his marriage!

[Last Hussar]

Patton was a glory hunter, and a dangerous one. His push to Metz left his units with no supplies - he was actually raiding the 'land trains' of other commanders to supply the III army, and he was so short of POL because he over-extended that had the Germans been able to counter-attack on the right days, his tanks would have been literally stationary.

If you look at Napoleon, people point to his illnesses, and the fact he was relying on boys to fight in 1813-14, but I never see pointed out the fact that he was now fighting armies he had converted to his new system ("French" v "Prussian", "Impulse" v "Linear" or however your rules refer to it.)  All of a sudden he was fighting modern armies of manoeuvre, not static, linear ones.

A lot of it comes down to preparation, and availability. The idea of WWI butchers is misplaced; infantry tactics did evolve, but until the tank appeared, the machine gun was just too powerful in defence. The idea they were all Blackadder's Gen Melchetts is wrong. Battles are less about the manoeuvre on the field, and more about did you get enough of the right units in the right place in the days before.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Quite right, the amatur studies tactics, the professional logistics.

[toxicpixie]

Patton did what Rommel did - neither ever faced an opposition that could capitalise on their arrogance/initiative* - luckily for both their reputations, and both had larger command structures that saved them when needed.

Absolutely agree Napoleon changed warfare - and once his enemies changed in response he no longer had an automatic superiority. A lack of a strategic "stop point" and boundless arrogance meant he could never quit whilst ahead, there always had to be just one more thing...
*delete as appropriate

[Big Insect]

Love Strictly

Each to their own 

Heinz Sandwich Spread (if they still make it) reminded me of cold sick in a jar as a kid -  yuk!