Gordon's not alive!

[fred.]

The thin red line suffered today then!

Those Imperial Cavalry have some splendid white horses, the Colonel must have deep pockets!

[fred.]

Wikipedia says it should be a Gardner gun . . .

Not surprising sine the British Army didnt use em, had Nordanfelts.

The Gatling's jammed and the colonel dead,

This feels like arguing if Hoover, Vacuum or Dyson is the right name for the machine that collects dirt from carpets. 

[Ithoriel]

This feels like arguing if Hoover, Vacuum or Dyson is the right name for the machine that collects dirt from carpets.

We're wargamers, arguing over the "angels on pinheads" of military history is what we do

[fred.]

We're wargamers, arguing over the "angels on pinheads" of military history is what we do

Fair point!

Using the term Gatling Gun in the poem still feels a lot better than current media calling pretty much every armoured military vehicle a tank. 

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Only because Mitrailleuse would not scan!

[Ithoriel]

Only because Mitrailleuse would not scan!

Of course it would. "The Gat - ling's" three syllables and Mi - traill - euse" three syllables.


"Milltrailleuse jammed and the colonel dead" would work perfectly well.

Wait!

We're wargamers .... are we allowed to argue over the finer points of poetry or do we need to swap over into a book club forum?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

We're wargamers .... are we allowed to argue over the finer points of poetry or do we need to swap over into a book club forum?

see you there Mike! 

[FierceKitty]

Call it damage control. After so much Barkerese, many of us pay the closest attention to good language use.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

Na we does na 

[FierceKitty]

And then there's Ian, of course.