Talk:Ludovic Kennedy

The Officer who Sank the Bismarck
I really don't agree with this line at all: "He was made famous as the British Naval Officer who Sank the Bismarck", and I don't think the quoted source or any other I've seen supports it. Kennedy was a junior officer on one of the ships active in that engagement, but I've never seen anywhere where he's credited specifically for having been particularly responsible for the Bismarck's sinking. What he is noted for, as the article says, is for having written a successful book about the subject. We can't even say that his book was the source for the film Sink the Bismarck!, as that was C. S. Forester. -- Finlay McWalter | Talk 16:45, 17 October 2005 (UTC)

The article claims that he was 'present at the sinking of the Bismarck', but this isn't true - HMS Tartar went to refuel hours before the end, and the destroyer played a very minor role (if any) in the battle. I've removed the reference. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.44.88.178 (talk) 12:53, 30 December 2008 (UTC)
 * By Kennedy's account in On My Way To The Club, Tovey as C-in-C signalled Tartar and Mashona the night before to ask about their fuel and, after learning the fuel states, sent, 'On receipt of executive signal, proceed as convenient to refuel at Plymouth or Londonderry.' The next morning, just before the battle, he sent, 'Proceed in execution of previous orders.' But Tartar's captain reminded the officers that the previous signal read 'Proceed as convenient,' adding, 'And what I'm going to find convenient is to stick around for a bit and watch.' Although Tartar didn't have the fuel to spare for a torpedo attack at speed, she loitered during the action and Kennedy wrote, 'In all my life I doubt if I will remember another hour as vividly as that one.' He described in detail the destruction of Bismarck by the guns of KG5 and Rodney and noted that Tartar only left for home port once Bismarck was ablaze and the German crew were abandoning ship. The British battleships ceased fire around that time and Bismarck sank within half an hour. Some confusion has arisen because people assume that the C-in-C's orders were followed as soon as sent, which wasn't the case, and Tovey clearly left the destroyer captains some discretion. Khamba Tendal (talk) 20:20, 12 February 2019 (UTC)

Campaigning
Is the fact that Charles Kennedy is a Roman Catholic relevant? If so, can we be told why, otherwise I'd suggest remove it. Anon user 19:08, 11 April 2006 (UTC)

I think that it is fairly self-explanatory. It explains (albeit in shorthand) why CK's views on euthanasia would be particularly strongly held, and contrary to LK's.

Incidentally the linked "short biography" at http://www.ronaldbrucemeyer.com/rants/1103almanac.htm is no longer there.

davidships Davidships (talk) 20:11, 22 July 2008 (UTC)
 * It is archived here: and I will re-add the link.  Rodhull  andemu  15:30, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Date of birth
First line says 3 Nov, infobox says 2 Nov; there are several online sources giving each - which is true? Lkjhgfdsa 0 (talk) 15:35, 19 October 2009 (UTC)


 * Not sure, although I went with the Telegraph article which said 3 November. I've changed the infobox for now, but if the date is wrong then hopefully someone will put it right. Cheers TheRetroGuy (talk) 15:52, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Did You See...?
I've started an article on Did You See...?, but it needs a lot of work doing to it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. TheRetroGuy (talk) 15:47, 19 October 2009 (UTC)

Politician ?
Category:Liberal Party politicians (UK) has been added. He never became an MP, and there is nothing in the article about him having held any position in that (or any other) party. It seems he was a political activist rather than a politician. Lkjhgfdsa 0 (talk) 18:24, 19 October 2009 (UTC)


 * I agree. The creator of this edit seems to think that anyone who tries to become a politician is automatically a politician.  That doesn't work in any other field of human endeavour.  A person who studies to be an architect or doctor but doesn't graduate wouldn't be able to set themselves up as an architect or doctor.  A person with natural musical ability but who never does anything with it other than participate in karaoke and sing-alongs could not be described as a "musician".  --  JackofOz (talk) 20:28, 16 November 2009 (UTC)

External links modified
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TV
I'm not sure if it's relevant enough to mention, but he appeared more than once in the excellent British comedy "Yes Minister." I don't want to add it if it's too pop-culture-y. Thoughts?

*Septegram*Talk*Contributions* 18:17, 30 April 2019 (UTC)