KMO <KMo1015835(a)aol.com> wrote:
I believe that the two eagles mounted on the gateposts at the entrance to
Harpton Court did not survive the Second World War. British and later
American troops were stationed, under canvas, on the estate during the War
and they took exception to the eagles as being too similar to the emblem of
the Third Reich.
During this time Sir Henry Duff Gordon once had cause to complain about the
amount of vegetables disappearing from his kitchen garden, and game being
poached from his woods. The Commanding Officer apologised and invited him
to dinner. The cook can't have been told the guest list. Sir Henry was
served pheasant.
===================
Dear KMO,
Many thanks for these two fascinating anecdotes about Harpton Court and the
Duff-Gordons.
It would seem strange for the Americans to have requested the removal of the
eagles from the gateposts. They are reminiscent of the bald eagle which was
officially declared the National Emblem of the United States by the Second
Continental Congress in 1782. The image and symbolism of the bald eagle have
played a significant role in American art, folklore, music, and
architecture.
There are, of course, other stories about the Duff-Gordon family, such as
the rumours surrounding the circumstances of the survival of Lord Cosmo and
Lady Lucy Duff-Gordon after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912.
Anyone interested should visit the relevant page on the website of London's
Science Museum at
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/titanic/story_2.asp
Kind regards,
John
----------------------------
John Ball, Ystalyfera, South Wales, UK
E-mail: wfha(a)clara.co.uk
Homepage:
http://home.clara.net/wfha/
Images of Wales:
http://home.clara.net/wfha/walespic/
Welsh Family History Archive:
http://home.clara.net/wfha/wales/
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