Did you have strange beliefs as a child?

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Interesting. It's weird how nonBrits talk and think more about our Empire than we. It's very infrequently mentioned here.

Empire chafes more on the colonies than on the metropole.

People might think about it more if your head of state didn't even live in your country... as is the case for Canada, Australia, Belize, New Zealand, Jamaica, etc., etc.

 

[ChristineM]

You really shouldn't give us a pass on the conquering bit. We did some crappy stuff like that, but we didn't have the same timely opportunities to take it quite as international.

Not really on the same scale as the British empire.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

Not really on the same scale as the British empire.

The big stuff was done by the East India Company, privateers, slave traders, and colonists.
The Royal Navy just stepped in if anyone objected.
We almost never committed Government troops to land wars.

Even During the colonist days in America there were only a few small under strength regiments of British troops. the War of independence was fought by some British generals but mostly regiments of loyal Colonists. we never got round to sending extra British troops.

 

[Little Lunch]

I thought that cats were girls and dogs were boys.

I thought that if you pissed in the water of the toilet bowl at night and made a loud noise then ghosts might come.

I thought that girls had four holes downstairs, I didn't know what they were for, but I'd overheard my teenage cousin telling his friend he'd put four fingers in his girlfriend.

 

[ChristineM]

The big stuff was done by the East India Company, privateers, slave traders, and colonists.
The Royal Navy just stepped in if anyone objected.
We almost never committed Government troops to land wars.

Even During the colonist days in America there were only a few small under strength regiments of British troops. the War of independence was fought by some British generals but mostly regiments of loyal Colonists. we never got round to sending extra British troops.

All for profit, isn't it a joy to live in more enlightened times???

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

All for profit, isn't it a joy to live in more enlightened times???

No one had to be conscripted, the lure money was always the motivator.
When British troops were sent anywhere, most stayed on after their service as colonists or adventurers.

 

[ChristineM]

No one had to be conscripted, the lure money was always the motivator.
When British troops were sent anywhere, most stayed on after their service as colonists or adventurers.

I think that perhaps in the days of empire, staying on in far off lands was preferable to the dreary industrial, back to back slums of Britain from where many soldiers were "recruited"

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

I think that perhaps in the days of empire, staying on in far off lands was preferable to the dreary industrial, back to back slums of Britain from where many soldiers were "recruited"

And in one step they moved up in class and authority.
with natives as their servants.