Victoria Cross: Yeshwant Ghadge

YESHWANT GHADGE

Naik, 5th Mahratta Light Infantry, Indian Army

Born: 16 November 1921, Palasgaon Village, India
Died: 10 July 1944, Upper Tiber Valley, Italy

Citation: In Italy, on l0th July, 1944, a Company of the 5th Mahratta Light Infantry attacked a position strongly defended by the enemy.
During this attack a rifle section commanded by Naik Yeshwant Ghadge came under heavy machine-gun fire at close range, which killed or wounded all members of the section except the commander. Without hesitation, and well knowing that none were left to accompany him, Naik Yeshwant Ghadge rushed the machine gun post. He first threw a grenade which knocked out the machine gun and firer, after which he shot one of the gun crew with his Tommygun. Finally, having no time to change his magazine, he grasped his gun by the barrel and beat to death the remaining two men of the gun crew. Unfortunately Naik Yeshwant Ghadge was shot in the chest and back by enemy snipers and died in the post which he had captured single handed.
The courage, determination, and devotion to duty of this Indian N.C.O. in a situation where he knew the odds against him gave little hope of survival were outstanding.

[London Gazette issue 36774 dated 2 Nov 1944, published 31 Oct 1944.]

Medal of Honor: J. J. Kelly

JOHN JOSEPH KELLY

Private, US Marine Corps; 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2nd Marine Division

Born: 24 June 1898, Chicago, Illinois
Died: 20 November 1957, Chicago, Illinois

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 78th Company, 6th Regiment, 2d Division, in action with the enemy at Blanc Mont Ridge, France, 3 October 1918. Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage a hundred yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machinegun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with 8 prisoners.


Citation: Pvt. Kelly ran through our own barrage 100 yards in advance of the front line and attacked an enemy machinegun nest, killing the gunner with a grenade, shooting another member of the crew with his pistol, and returning through the barrage with 8 prisoners.


Note: Kelly was one of five Marines who received both Navy and Army medals for the same action. (Two of these double awards were for this battle in October, 1918; one had been awarded in June, 1918, and the other two were awarded for a battle in July of that year.)

Victoria Cross: A. S. Cobbe

ALEXANDER STANHOPE COBBE, DSO

Captain (local Lieutenant-Colonel), Indian Army; 1st (Central Africa) Battalion, King's African Rifles

Born: 5 June 1870, Naini Tal, India
Died: 29 June 1931, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire

Citation: During the action at Erego, on 6th October, 1902, when some of the Companies had retired, Lieutenant-Colonel Cobbe was left by himself in front of the line, with a Maxim gun. Without assistance he brought in the Maxim, and worked it at a most critical time. He then went out under an extremely hot fire from the enemy about 20 yards in front of him, and from his own men (who had retired) about the same distance behind, and succeeded in carrying in a wounded Orderly. Colonel Swayne, who was in command of the Force, personally witnessed this Officer's conduct, which he describes as most gallant.

[London Gazette issue 27517 dated 20 Jan 1903, published 20 Jan 1903.]


Notes: At the time of his death he was General Sir Alexander Stanhope Cobbe VC GCB KCSI DSO.
Erego (or Erigo) is in Somalia.

Medal of Honor: J. R. Kerrey

JOSEPH R KERREY

Lieutenant, Junior Grade, US Naval Reserve; Sea, Air, and Land Team (SEAL)

Born: 27 August 1943, Lincoln, Nebraska
Died: TBD

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a SEAL team leader during action against enemy aggressor (Viet Cong) forces [near Nha Trang Bay, Republic of Vietnam, on 14 March 1969]. Acting in response to reliable intelligence, Lt. (J.G..) Kerrey led his SEAL team on a mission to capture important members of the enemy's area political cadre known to be located on an island in the bay of Nha Trang. In order to surprise the enemy, he and his team scaled a 350-foot sheer cliff to place themselves above the ledge on which the enemy was located. Splitting his team in 2 elements and coordinating both, Lt. (J.G..) Kerrey led his men in the treacherous downward descent to the enemy's camp. Just as they neared the end of their descent, intense enemy fire was directed at them, and Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey received massive injuries from a grenade which exploded at his feet and threw him backward onto the jagged rocks. Although bleeding profusely and suffering great pain, he displayed outstanding courage and presence of mind in immediately directing his element's fire into the heart of the enemy camp. Utilizing his radioman, Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey called in the second element's fire support which caught the confused Viet Cong in a devastating crossfire. After successfully suppressing the enemy's fire, and although immobilized by his multiple wounds, he continued to maintain calm, superlative control as he ordered his team to secure and defend an extraction site. Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey resolutely directed his men, despite his near unconscious state, until he was eventually evacuated by helicopter. The havoc brought to the enemy by this very successful mission cannot be over-estimated. The enemy soldiers who were captured provided critical intelligence to the allied effort. Lt. (J.G.) Kerrey's courageous and inspiring leadership, valiant fighting spirit, and tenacious devotion to duty in the face of almost overwhelming opposition sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Medal of Honor to be awarded for Afghanistan

ZUI this article from The Adair Progress (Columbia KY):

Dakota Meyer, a Marine from Adair County, will receive the nation’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor, from President Barrak [sic] Obama for his heroic actions during a firefight in Afghanistan.
According to the Marine Corps Times, President Obama contacted Meyer on Monday to inform him of the decision to award him the Medal of Honor. Meyer ... becomes the first living Marine to receive the Medal of Honor in 41 years, and is only the third living Medal of Honor recipient from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Meyer is being honored for the actions he took in a firefight that occurred in the remote village of Ganjgal in Eastern Afghanistan on Sept. 8, 2009.

*******

The date when President Obama will present Meyer with the Medal of Honor has not yet been announced. More details will be made available later.

According to the Marine Corps Times, two other Marines will receive the Navy Cross for heroism at Ganjgal.

Medal of Honor awarded for Afghanistan

Forgot to post this last week because I was distracted by getting ready for my vacation....

ZUI this article from ABC News:

Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry was honored at the Pentagon today for the heroism that cost him his right hand but saved the lives of two of his fellow soldiers.

Petry is only the second living recipient of the nation's highest award for valor in the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.

President Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Petry on Tuesday at a White House ceremony, at which he said the Army Ranger's service "speaks to the very essence of America -- the spirit that says no matter how hard the journey, no matter how steep the climb, we don't quit."

*******

Petry lost his right hand on May 26, 2008 during what his platoon commander described as one of the most complex Special Operations raids ever conducted in Afghanistan at the time. A platoon of Rangers was targeting a high-value target hiding in a compound in eastern Afghanistan.

Special Operations forces typically conduct their missions at night, but this mission was more dangerous because it was conducted during daylight. Almost immediately after getting out of their helicopters, the Rangers came under strong enemy fire.
*******

When asked by a reporter what message he had for younger soldiers about what they could learn from his experience, Petry said, "Give it your best. Always put your faith in those to your left and right, and may y'all come home safe. And thank you."

ZUI also this ABC News blog post. The president's remarks from the presentation are here.

************* *** *************

LEROY ARTHUR PETRY

Staff Sergeant, US Army; D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment

Born: 29 July 1979, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Died: TBD

Citation: Staff Sergeant Leroy A. Petry distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy in the vicinity of Paktya Province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008. As a Weapons Squad Leader with D Company, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Staff Sergeant Petry moved to clear the courtyard of a house that potentially contained high-value combatants. While crossing the courtyard, Staff Sergeant Petry and another Ranger were engaged and wounded by automatic weapons fire from enemy fighters. Still under enemy fire, and wounded in both legs, Staff Sergeant Petry led the other Ranger to cover. He then reported the situation and engaged the enemy with a hand grenade, providing suppression as another Ranger moved to his position. The enemy quickly responded by maneuvering closer and throwing grenades. The first grenade explosion knocked his two fellow Rangers to the ground and wounded both with shrapnel. A second grenade then landed only a few feet away from them. Instantly realizing the danger, Staff Sergeant Petry, unhesitatingly and with complete disregard for his safety, deliberately and selflessly moved forward, picked up the grenade, and in an effort to clear the immediate threat, threw the grenade away from his fellow Rangers. As he was releasing the grenade it detonated, amputating his right hand at the wrist and further injuring him with multiple shrapnel wounds. Although picking up and throwing the live grenade grievously wounded Staff Sergeant Petry, his gallant act undeniably saved his fellow Rangers from being severely wounded or killed. Despite the severity of his wounds, Staff Sergeant Petry continued to maintain the presence of mind to place a tourniquet on his right wrist before communicating the situation by radio in order to coordinate support for himself and his fellow wounded Rangers. Staff Sergeant Petry's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service, and reflect great credit upon himself, 75th Ranger Regiment, and the United States Army.

Victoria Cross: B. S. Gordon

BERNARD SIDNEY GORDON, MM

Lance Corporal, 41st Battalion (Queensland) Australian Imperial Force

Born: 16 August 1891, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Died: 19 October 1963, Torquay, Queensland, Australia

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the 26/27th August, 1918, east of Bray.
He led his section through heavy shell fire to the objective, which he consolidated. Single-handed he attacked an enemy machine gun which was enfilading the company on his right, killed the man on the gun, and captured the post, which contained one officer and ten men. He then cleared up a trench, capturing twenty-nine prisoners and two machine guns. In clearing up further trenches he captured twenty-two prisoners, including one officer, and three machine guns.
Practically unaided, he captured, in the course of these operations, two officers and sixty-one other ranks, together with six machine guns, and displayed throughout a wonderful example of fearless initiative.

[London Gazette issue 31082 dated 24 Dec 1918, published 24 Dec 1918.]

Medal of Honor: J. Trautman

JACOB TRAUTMAN

First Sergeant, Company I, 7th US Cavalry

Born: 1840, Germany
Died: 7 November 1898, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Citation: Killed a hostile Indian at close quarters [at Wounded Knee Creek, South Dakota, on 29 December 1890], and, although entitled to retirement from service, remained to the close of the campaign.

Victoria Cross: J. J. Farmer

JOSEPH JOHN FARMER

Provisional Lance-Corporal, Army Hospital Corps

Born: 5 May 1855, Clerkenwell, London
Died: 30 June 1930, Northwood, Middlesex

Citation: For conspicuous bravery during the engagement with the Boers at the Majuba Mountain, on the 27th February, 1881, when he showed a spirit of self-abnegation and an example of cool courage which cannot be too highly commended.
While the Boers closed with the British troops near the wells, Corporal Farmer held a white flag over the wounded, and when the arm holding the flag was shot through, he called out that he had "another." He then raised the flag with the other arm, and continued to do so until that also was pierced with a bullet.

[London Gazette issue 24973 dated 17 May 1881, published 17 May 1881.]


Note: Majuba Hill is near Volksrust, South Africa. This was the main battle of the First Boer War, and was a decisive victory for the Boers.

Medal of Honor: E. S. Michael

EDWARD STANLEY MICHAEL

First Lieutenant, US Army Air Corps; 364th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group

Born: 2 May 1918, Chicago, Illinois
Died: 10 May 1994, Utah(?)

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as pilot of a B17 aircraft on a heavy-bombardment mission to Germany, 11 April 1944. The group in which 1st Lt. Michael was flying was attacked by a swarm of fighters. His plane was singled out and the fighters pressed their attacks home recklessly, completely disregarding the Allied fighter escort and their own intense flak. His plane was riddled from nose to tail with exploding cannon shells and knocked out of formation, with a large number of fighters following it down, blasting it with cannon fire as it descended. A cannon shell exploded in the cockpit, wounded the copilot, wrecked the instruments, and blew out the side window. 1st Lt. Michael was seriously and painfully wounded in the right thigh. Hydraulic fluid filmed over the windshield making visibility impossible, and smoke filled the cockpit. The controls failed to respond and 3,000 feet were lost before he succeeded in leveling off. The radio operator informed him that the whole bomb bay was in flames as a result of the explosion of 3 cannon shells, which had ignited the incendiaries. With a full load of incendiaries in the bomb bay and a considerable gas load in the tanks, the danger of fire enveloping the plane and the tanks exploding seemed imminent. When the emergency release lever failed to function, 1st Lt. Michael at once gave the order to bail out and 7 of the crew left the plane. Seeing the bombardier firing the navigator's gun at the enemy planes, 1st Lt. Michael ordered him to bail out as the plane was liable to explode any minute. When the bombardier looked for his parachute he found that it had been riddled with 20mm. fragments and was useless. 1st Lt. Michael, seeing the ruined parachute, realized that if the plane was abandoned the bombardier would perish and decided that the only chance would be a crash landing. Completely disregarding his own painful and profusely bleeding wounds, but thinking only of the safety of the remaining crewmembers, he gallantly evaded the enemy, using violent evasive action despite the battered condition of his plane. After the plane had been under sustained enemy attack for fully 45 minutes, 1st Lt. Michael finally lost the persistent fighters in a cloud bank. Upon emerging, an accurate barrage of flak caused him to come down to treetop level where flak towers poured a continuous rain of fire on the plane. He continued into France, realizing that at any moment a crash landing might have to be attempted, but trying to get as far as possible to increase the escape possibilities if a safe landing could be achieved. 1st Lt. Michael flew the plane until he became exhausted from the loss of blood, which had formed on the floor in pools, and he lost consciousness. The copilot succeeded in reaching England and sighted an RAF field near the coast. 1st Lt. Michael finally regained consciousness and insisted upon taking over the controls to land the plane. The undercarriage was useless; the bomb bay doors were jammed open; the hydraulic system and altimeter were shot out. In addition, there was no airspeed indicator, the ball turret was jammed with the guns pointing downward, and the flaps would not respond. Despite these apparently insurmountable obstacles, he landed the plane without mishap.

George Cross: Rev. H. C. Pugh

HERBERT CECIL PUGH

Squadron Leader, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Born: 2 November 1898, Johannesburg, South Africa
Died: 5 July 1941, Atlantic Ocean (aboard HM Transport Anselm)

Citation: The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the GEORGE CROSS to: —
The Reverend Herbert Cecil PUGH, M.A. (Oxon.), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (deceased).
The Reverend H. C. Pugh, after seeing service in this country, was posted to Takoradi and embarked on H.M.T. Anselm, carrying over 1,300 passengers, for West Africa at the end of June, 1941. She was torpedoed in the Atlantic [north of the Azores] in the early hours of the 5th July, 1941. One torpedo hit a hold on Deck C, destroying the normal means of escape. Mr. Pugh came up on deck in a dressing gown and gave all the help he could. He seemed to be everywhere at once, doing his best to comfort the injured, helping with the boats and rafts (two of these were rendered unserviceable as a result of the explosion) and visiting the different lower sections where the men were quartered. When he learned that a number of injured airmen were trapped in the damaged hold, he insisted on being lowered into it with a rope. Everyone demurred because the hold was below the water line and already the decks were awash and to go down was to go to certain death. He simply explained that he must be where his men were. The deck level was already caving in and the hold was three parts full of water so that, when he knelt to pray, the water reached his shoulders. Within a few minutes the ship plunged and sank and Mr. Pugh was never seen again. He had every opportunity of saving his own life but, without regard to his own safety and in the best tradition of the Service and of a Christian Minister, he gave up his life for others.

[London Gazette issue 37920 dated 1 Apr 1947, published 28 Mar 1947.]

Victoria Cross: E. P. Leach

EDWARD PEMBERTON LEACH

Captain, Royal Engineers

Born: 2 April 1847, Londonderry, County Londonderry, Ireland
Died: 27 April 1913, Caddenabbia, Lake Como, Italy

Citation: For having, in action with the Shinwarris near Maidanah, Afghanistan, on the 17th March, 1879, when covering the retirement of the Survey Escort who were carrying Lieutenant Barclay, 45th Sikhs, mortally wounded, behaved with the utmost gallantry in charging, with some men of the 45th Sikhs, a very much larger number of the enemy.
In this encounter Captain Leach killed two or three of the enemy himself, and he received a severe wound from an Afghan knife in the left arm. Captain Leach's determination and gallantry in this affair, in attacking and driving back the enemy from the last position, saved the whole party from annihilation.

[London Gazette issue 24790 dated 9 Dec 1879, published 9 Dec 1879.]


Note: The Shinwari are a Pashtun tribe of western Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan.

Medal of Honor: J. K. Koelsch

JOHN KELVIN KOELSCH

Lieutenant (Junior Grade), US Navy; Utility Helicopter Squadron 2

Born: 22 December 1923, London, England
Died: 16 October 1951, North Korea

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with a Navy helicopter rescue unit [in North Korea, on 3 July 1951]. Although darkness was rapidly approaching when information was received that a marine aviator had been shot down and was trapped by the enemy in mountainous terrain deep in hostile territory, Lt. (J.G.) Koelsch voluntarily flew a [Sikorsky HO3S-1] helicopter to the reported position of the downed airman in an attempt to effect a rescue. With an almost solid overcast concealing everything below the mountain peaks, he descended in his unarmed and vulnerable aircraft without the accompanying fighter escort to an extremely low altitude beneath the cloud level and began a systematic search. Despite the increasingly intense enemy fire, which struck his helicopter on 1 occasion, he persisted in his mission until he succeeded in locating the downed pilot, who was suffering from serious burns on the arms and legs. While the victim was being hoisted into the aircraft, it was struck again by an accurate burst of hostile fire and crashed on the side of the mountain. Quickly extricating his crewmen and the aviator from the wreckage, Lt. (J.G.) Koelsch led them from the vicinity in an effort to escape from hostile troops, evading the enemy forces for 9 days and rendering such medical attention as possible to his severely burned companion until all were captured. Up to the time of his death while still a captive of the enemy, Lt. (J.G.) Koelsch steadfastly refused to aid his captors in any manner and served to inspire his fellow prisoners by his fortitude and consideration for others. His great personal valor and heroic spirit of self-sacrifice throughout sustain and enhance the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.


Note: USS Koelsch (DE 1049/FF 1049) was named in his honour.

Hue test

According to this test, one out of 255 women and one out of 12 men have some form of color vision deficiency. Try the test - arranging differently coloured blocks according to their hue - and see how well you do. A perfect score is 0; I got 13.


H/T to Jenny.

Honours

The Queen's Birthday Honours List was released on 11 June. Reading through it, I see:

Order of the British Empire
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Colin FIRTH
Actor. For services to Drama.
(London, W1D)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Julia Catherine, Mrs DONALDSON
Author and Playwright. For services to Literature.
(London, W8)

Firth received this year's Best Actor Oscar for his role as King George VI in The King's Speech; I know him from The Importance of Being Earnest. Donaldson is the author of numerous children's books, including The Gruffalo.

House colour

You Should Live in a Blue House

You are an intense thinker, but you also have a calm about you. You spend a lot of time ruminating, trying to figure out this world you live in. Friends think you're wise, and they come to you first for advice. You are a realist, and you tell it like it is - even if how it is isn't pretty.

What Color House Should You Live In?

Blogthings: Our Quizzes Weren't Written By Bored 12 Year Olds

Anybody have some blue paint?

Carnegie Medal books

Having finished reading the Newbery Medal winners in August of '09, I'm continuing with the books which have been awarded the Andrew Carnegie Medal - the British equivalent of the Newbery Medal, now awarded by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP).

The medal was first awarded in 1937, for the best children's book of 1936, but there have been three years when no book was considered suitable, so there are only 72 winners thus far. In addition to the gold medal, the winner receives £500 worth of books to donate to a library of his/her/their choice.

Here's the list. (Dates marked in red indicate the six books I had already read before last year; dates in purple indicate the ones I've read since.)

1936: Pigeon Post, by Arthur Ransome
1937: The Family from One End Street, by Eve Garnett
1938: The Circus is Coming (aka Circus Shoes), by Noel Streatfield
1939: Radium Woman, by Eleanor Doorly
1940: Visitors from London, by Kitty Barne
1941: We Couldn't Leave Dinah, by Mary Treadgold
1942: The Little Grey Men, by 'BB' (D J Watkins-Pitchford)
1943: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1944: The Wind on the Moon, by Eric Linklater
1945: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1946: The Little White Horse, by Elizabeth Goudge
1947: Collected Stories for Children, Walter De La Mare
1948: Sea Change, by Richard Armstrong
1949: The Story of Your Home, by Agnes Allen
1950: The Lark on the Wing, by Elfrida Vipont
1951: The Wool-pack, by Cynthia Harnett
1952: The Borrowers, by Mary Norton
1953: A Valley Grows Up, by Edward Osmond
1954: Knight Crusader, by Ronald Welch (Felton Ronald Oliver)
1955: The Little Bookroom, by Eleanor Farjeon
1956: The Last Battle, by C S Lewis
1957: A Grass Rope, by William Mayne
1958: Tom's Midnight Garden, by Philipa Pearce
1959: The Lantern Bearers, by Rosemary Sutcliff
1960: The Making of Man, by Dr I W Cornwall
1961: A Stranger at Green Knowe, by Lucy M Boston
1962: The Twelve and the Genii, by Pauline Clarke
1963: Time of Trial, by Hester Burton
1964: Nordy Bank, by Sheena Porter
1965: The Grange at High Force, by Philip Turner
1966: Prize withheld as no book was considered suitable
1967: The Owl Service, by Alan Garner
1968: The Moon in the Cloud, by Rosemary Harris
1969: The Edge of the Cloud, by Kathleen Peyton
1970: The God Beneath the Sea, by Leon Garfield and Edward Blishen
1971: Josh, by Ivan Southall
1972: Watership Down, by Richard Adams
1973: The Ghost of Thomas Kempe, by Penelope Lively
1974: The Stronghold, by Mollie Hunter
1975: The Machine Gunners, by Robert Westall
1976: Thunder and Lightnings, by Jan Mark
1977: The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tiler, by Gene Kemp
1978: The Exeter Blitz, by David Rees
1979: Tulku, by Peter Dickinson
1980: City of Gold and Other Stories from the Old Testament, by Peter Dickinson
1981: The Scarecrows, by Robert Westall
1982: The Haunting, by Margaret Mahy
1983: Handles, by Jan Mark
1984: The Changeover, by Margaret Mahy
1985: Storm, by Kevin Crossley-Holland
1986: Granny was a Buffer Girl, by Berlie Doherty
1987: The Ghost Drum, by Susan Price
1988: A Pack of Lies, by Geraldine McCaughrean
1989: Goggle-eyes, by Anne Fine
1990: Wolf, by Gillian Cross
1991: Dear Nobody, by Berlie Doherty
1992: Flour Babies, by Anne Fine
1993: Stone Cold, by Robert Swindells
1994: Whispers in the Graveyard, by Theresa Breslin
1995: Northern Lights, by Philip Pullman*
1996: Junk, by Melvin Burgess
1997: River Boy, by Tim Bowler
1998: Skellig, by David Almond
1999: Postcards From No Man's Land, by Aidan Chambers
2000: The Other Side of Truth, by Beverley Naidoo
2001: The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents, by Terry Pratchett
2002: Ruby Holler, by Sharon Creech
2003: A Gathering Light, by Jennifer Donnelly**
2004: Millions, by Frank Cottrell Boyce
2005: Tamar, by Mal Peet
2006: ***
2007: Just in Case, by Meg Rosoff
2008: Here Lies Arthur, by Philip Reeve
2009: Bog Child, by Siobhan Dowd
2010: The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman
2011: Monsters of Men, by Patrick Ness

So the count now is 52 down, 20 to go. The ILLs are still coming in - my thanks to the Connecticut State Library Library Service Centre, Middletown CT, and the Babcock Library, Ashford CT.

* His Dark Materials, Book 1. Published in the US as The Golden Compass.

** Published in the US as A Northern Light.

*** Up through the award for 2005, the winners were referred to by the year of publication. Beginning in 2007, the winners were referred to by the year the award was given, as with the American Newbery Medal. Thus there is no "2006 winner" of the Carnegie Medal. Tamar, the 2005 winner, was published in '05, and received the medal in '06. Just in Case, the 2007 winner, was published in '06 and received the award in '07.

Book list - Jun 11

King David's Spaceship - SF, by Jerry Pournelle *
African Exodus: The Origins of Modern Humanity - palaeoanthropology, by Chris Stringer and Robin McKie
Cockatiels at Seven - mystery, by Donna Andrews
Agatha H and the Airship City - steampunk, by Phil & Kaja Foglio
Mirkheim - SF, by Poul Anderson *
Swan for the Money - mystery, by Donna Andrews
The People of the Wind - SF, by Poul Anderson
The Man Who Counts - SF, by Poul Anderson *
Thunder and Lightnings - children's, by Jan Mark (Carnegie Medal 1976)
Roar of the Tiger - WWII memoirs, by James H Howard
High Justice - SF (short stories), by Jerry Pournelle
Ghost Drum - children's fantasy, by Susan Price (Carnegie Medal 1987)


Twelve books last month, with three rereads (marked by asterisks). I'm not setting an official goal this year, though I do expect to read around 150 books.

The two Carnegie Medal winners bring me up to 52 of 72. My thanks to the Connecticut State Library Library Service Centre, Middletown CT, and the Babcock Library, Ashford CT, for the ILLs.