Now It Can Be Revealed: The Truth About Nelson and Tiddles
The Independent | Tuesday 20 December 2005 | Guy Adams
For many years, authors, naval historians and tour guides have believed that Lord Nelson went into battle at Trafalgar accompanied by a fearless pet cat called Tiddles. An appearance on breakfast television earlier this month has led to the shock discovery that Nelson’s cat was, in fact, a hoax perpetrated 15 years ago by a National Trust employee called Guy Evans.
[Stephen] Fry uncovered the scam after mentioning Tiddles during a BBC interview to plug the DVD of his quiz show QI.
“I ought to tell the world that Tiddles is a myth,” it read. “He first appeared in a letter written by my husband to The Spectator in 1990. He followed it up in an article in the Nelson Society Journal, with very convincing and entirely fictional footnotes.
“From there, Tiddles snowballed to become part of popular folklore and has featured in books, magazines and academic journals.”
Fry’s producer, John Lloyd, says this has surprised even tour guides on HMS Victory. “We research questions exhaustively at QI, and we have never come across something like this before,” he tells me.
In a blow against rampant speciesism, President Biden has promoted Commander Cuddles, a feline of color, to become the first non-human admiral in the Navy…
Damncat’s naval days.
Now It Can Be Revealed: The Truth About Nelson and Tiddles
The Independent | Tuesday 20 December 2005 | Guy Adams
For many years, authors, naval historians and tour guides have believed that Lord Nelson went into battle at Trafalgar accompanied by a fearless pet cat called Tiddles. An appearance on breakfast television earlier this month has led to the shock discovery that Nelson’s cat was, in fact, a hoax perpetrated 15 years ago by a National Trust employee called Guy Evans.
[Stephen] Fry uncovered the scam after mentioning Tiddles during a BBC interview to plug the DVD of his quiz show QI.
“I ought to tell the world that Tiddles is a myth,” it read. “He first appeared in a letter written by my husband to The Spectator in 1990. He followed it up in an article in the Nelson Society Journal, with very convincing and entirely fictional footnotes.
“From there, Tiddles snowballed to become part of popular folklore and has featured in books, magazines and academic journals.”
Fry’s producer, John Lloyd, says this has surprised even tour guides on HMS Victory. “We research questions exhaustively at QI, and we have never come across something like this before,” he tells me.
The fact that he had the same name as Mrs. Slocum’s moggy should have been a clue.
Had Nelson taken a cat with him he might have survived Trafalgar. Let that be a lesson to all commanders.
When I was a kid they told me a giant squid swallowed Tiddles and they thought I would cry..lolololol…I laughed.
On Hissssssssssssssss Majesty’s Service
An Officer and a Gentle, Gentle, Gentle Man
England Expects That Every Cat Will Do His Doodie in a Sandbox
And follow orders to the litter.
Hey, he’s got that cat in a half-Nelson!
Well, his step-brother was named Horatio Nelson.
Master (on the left)
And
Commander
The enemy simply gave up and surrendered when they saw the expression on that cat. The lives of all the men in their navy hung in the balance..
In the Navy, one of the 7 C’s is Calico.
He man’s the catapult, literally.
Hey, Walrus!
Regarding photos . . .
If you’re concerned about the slew of increasingly erratic ones I’ve recently uploaded . . .
I refer you to an upcoming post:
Oct. 19, 2:00 p.m.
I didn’t want to keep you wondering until then.
Should I look or be surprised like everyone else.
Decisions, decisions, decisions…
Give him either the comfy chair, or the cat o’ one tail!
In a blow against rampant speciesism, President Biden has promoted Commander Cuddles, a feline of color, to become the first non-human admiral in the Navy…
Now, that’s what IMAO is supposed to be about!
Political Humor! Thank you!
I got so distracted by the furry face of Commander Cuddles.
This is what happens if you drank the water at Camp Lejeune.
See? Gene gets it too.
…and served two years on the Joint Chiefs of Staff before Biden was informed he was actually just a member of The Village People.
In the Navy,
you can eat chicken of the sea.
In the Navy,
sleep in all boxes that you see.
In the Navy, In the Navy.
The Love Boat has become a cat house.
Proof that sailors are pussies?
Just asking.
For some Marines.
They give us a good ride, though.
The officer identifys as a furry..because he is trying to get promoted..and right up the chain they are applauding him..