Commemoration of the 139th Anniversary of the Battle of Maiwand
On Saturday, July 27, 2019, twelve members of the Afghanistan Perceivers met at Bread and Butter to commemorate the 139th anniversary of the Battle of Maiwand. While this battle late in the Second Anglo-Afghan War was a defeat for Great Britain, at least one good thing came out of it. Dr. John Watson, a medic in the British army, was wounded and sent to the hospital, where he became seriously ill with enteric fever, and was sent back to England. While looking for an affordable place to live, Watson ran into a friend, young Stamford from Bart's (St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London), who introduced him to Sherlock Holmes, who was looking for someone to share lodging expenses. It was at that first meeting that Holmes said to Watson, "You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive." It is from this initial encounter between Holmes and Watson that the Perceivers take their name.
The evening began with libations and conversation. After ordering and while waiting for the food to be delivered, Jane read from the initial pages of A Study in Scarlet, in which the above facts are related. Jane followed the reading with a toast to Stamford. Brian Wilson then offered a toast to Murray, the orderly who had rescued Dr. Watson after he was wounded. Rosalie Mollica toasted the People of Afghanistan who endure in spite of centuries of war caused by world powers trying to protect their own interests in the region. Betsy Warner gifted attendees with a reprint of Guide Book and Instructions For The Ascent Of HOLMES PEAK, written by her father, Richard S. Warner, the man most responsible for the naming of this peak, located just northwest of Tulsa. Attendees also received a non-transferable V.I.P. Lifetime Lift Ticket for the Doyle Ski Basin.
Who says that serious Sherlockians are too serious?
Good food and good company added up to a memorable evening for all present.
The evening began with libations and conversation. After ordering and while waiting for the food to be delivered, Jane read from the initial pages of A Study in Scarlet, in which the above facts are related. Jane followed the reading with a toast to Stamford. Brian Wilson then offered a toast to Murray, the orderly who had rescued Dr. Watson after he was wounded. Rosalie Mollica toasted the People of Afghanistan who endure in spite of centuries of war caused by world powers trying to protect their own interests in the region. Betsy Warner gifted attendees with a reprint of Guide Book and Instructions For The Ascent Of HOLMES PEAK, written by her father, Richard S. Warner, the man most responsible for the naming of this peak, located just northwest of Tulsa. Attendees also received a non-transferable V.I.P. Lifetime Lift Ticket for the Doyle Ski Basin.
Who says that serious Sherlockians are too serious?
Good food and good company added up to a memorable evening for all present.
Rosalie Mollica and Brian Wilson, Battle of Maiwand commemoration 2019
