The Battle of Messines Road is rather a curiosity; a peculiar hybrid interweaving the authentic First World War diary of the author's grandfather, JK Moloney, which he found in the New Zealand National Library, with the entirely fictional story of Zac, a troubled 10-year-old boy charged with reading the account to an ageing soldier in Wellington, New Zealand.
Set in the late 1960s, Zac’s tribulations arise from the absence of his father, who has left home to serve alongside the Americans in Vietnam. He finds comfort in a friendship with the old man who himself finds catharsis in reliving his experiences in the charnel house of Flanders.
The Battle of Messines Road, where Zac lives, alludes to his own battle with fear and grief as well as to the actual battle of Messines in 1917 in which New Zealand soldiers played a major part.
Military history enthusiasts will probably find the interplay between this factual diary account and dramatic storyline jarring at times. But this is not a history book and it sometimes reads more like a screenplay (Peter Jackson take note).
Moloney’s use of fictional licence prompts more interesting consideration of what inspired young men from the outlying territories of the British Empire to travel thousands of kilometres to join the great conflicts of the 20th century, aside from a youthful lust for adventure.
In his diary, JK glories in the “pageant of Empire” represented by the diversity of those gathered under the British flag when he reaches a key staging point in Alexandria. He is a first generation New Zealander who is proud to be part of something bigger.
Elsewhere, upon encountering an ardent Irish nationalist, he says: “I tried to explain to him how we in the colonies had lived in great freedom, protected by the flag ... it was quite beyond him of course.” One suspects this notion to be “quite beyond” the understanding of the current generation, but the history of the Anglosphere in the last century is important in understanding modern day geopolitics.
The dynamics that inspired “the colonials” to join two world wars were in some ways similar to those that explain allied intervention in modern theatres such as Afghanistan.
The introduction of Vietnam, Zac’s father’s war, is an invitation to consider the constants in all wars, so-called “good wars” and so-called “bad wars”: “Soldiers don’t get to pick and choose where they fight,” Zac is told by the old man. “All war is the same” and the courage and selflessness of combatants in a good war is in no way less courageous or selfless in a conflict that has failed to capture public support.
JK’s diary is for the most part relayed in the detached tone typical of a generation that valued understatement and discretion.
Characters ranging from the Prince of Wales (who nearly falls off his startled mount when reviewing a Maori war dance laid on by the New Zealand contingent), to the British Prime Minister David Lloyd George observed from the House of Commons Public Gallery, play bit-parts in a narrative that commences on a New Zealand troop ship bound for France and ends in the Flanders quagmire.
But the book is above all an invitation to remember what is slipping away from public consciousness – to explain to today’s generation (in this case exemplified by young Zac) the reason why medal-bedecked old men huddle around war memorials to the sound of the Last Post each year. It would perhaps make a good classroom set text.
The book is a 12-year labour of love for WJ, a self-confessed “war nerd” who lives in the UAE. Literary or military history purists may take issue with muddying an authentic wartime recollection, but the novel offers a new perspective on the sacrifice of those, as JK puts it, with “a blanket and a few feet of Flanders earth” as their epitaph.
Martin Newland is a regular contributor to The National.
MATCH INFO
Europa League semi-final, second leg
Atletico Madrid (1) v Arsenal (1)
Where: Wanda Metropolitano
When: Thursday, kick-off 10.45pm
Live: On BeIN Sports HD
Al Jazira's foreign quartet for 2017/18
Romarinho, Brazil
Lassana Diarra, France
Sardor Rashidov, Uzbekistan
Mbark Boussoufa, Morocco
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
All the Money in the World
Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Charlie Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer
Four stars
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
Read more from Aya Iskandarani
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
The%20specs
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Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
Number of employees: 7
Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
Future plans: Looking to raise $1 million investment to boost expansion and develop new products
The rules of the road keeping cyclists safe
Cyclists must wear a helmet, arm and knee pads
Have a white front-light and a back red-light on their bike
They must place a number plate with reflective light to the back of the bike to alert road-users
Avoid carrying weights that could cause the bike to lose balance
They must cycle on designated lanes and areas and ride safe on pavements to avoid bumping into pedestrians
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
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Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
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The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
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Step by step
2070km to run
38 days
273,600 calories consumed
28kg of fruit
40kg of vegetables
45 pairs of running shoes
1 yoga matt
1 oxygen chamber
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
How it works
Each player begins with one of the great empires of history, from Julius Caesar's Rome to Ramses of Egypt, spread over Europe and the Middle East.
Round by round, the player expands their empire. The more land they have, the more money they can take from their coffers for each go.
As unruled land and soldiers are acquired, players must feed them. When a player comes up against land held by another army, they can choose to battle for supremacy.
A dice-based battle system is used and players can get the edge on their enemy with by deploying a renowned hero on the battlefield.
Players that lose battles and land will find their coffers dwindle and troops go hungry. The end goal? Global domination of course.
MATCH INFO
What: India v Afghanistan, first Test
When: Starts Thursday
Where: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengalaru
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LEAGUE CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW
Stoke City v Tottenham
Brentford v Newcastle United
Arsenal v Manchester City
Everton v Manchester United
All ties are to be played the week commencing December 21.
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
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The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
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An illegal practice
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The Bio
Hometown: Bogota, Colombia
Favourite place to relax in UAE: the desert around Al Mleiha in Sharjah or the eastern mangroves in Abu Dhabi
The one book everyone should read: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. It will make your mind fly
Favourite documentary: Chasing Coral by Jeff Orlowski. It's a good reality check about one of the most valued ecosystems for humanity
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Series information
Pakistan v Dubai
First Test, Dubai International Stadium
Sun Oct 6 to Thu Oct 11
Second Test, Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Tue Oct 16 to Sat Oct 20
Play starts at 10am each day
Teams
Pakistan
1 Mohammed Hafeez, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Azhar Ali, 4 Asad Shafiq, 5 Haris Sohail, 6 Babar Azam, 7 Sarfraz Ahmed, 8 Bilal Asif, 9 Yasir Shah, 10, Mohammed Abbas, 11 Wahab Riaz or Mir Hamza
Australia
1 Usman Khawaja, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Mitchell Marsh, 5 Travis Head, 6 Marnus Labuschagne, 7 Tim Paine, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Peter Siddle, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Jon Holland
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Abu Dhabi Grand Slam Jiu-Jitsu World Tour Calendar 2018/19
July 29: OTA Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Sep 22-23: LA Convention Centre in Los Angeles, US
Nov 16-18: Carioca Arena Centre in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Feb 7-9: Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE
Mar 9-10: Copper Box Arena in London, UK
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
