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Recorded history of mankind in restored and colourised black and photos

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4 years ago

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Canadians, Englishmen, and Americans affected the tides of the war by storming the beaches of Normandy! Many young men knew they might never return home once they joined the fight. Sgt. Jensen worked with the 626th engineer light equipment company. He said that other soldiers didn’t even know where they were going until they arrived. It told us everything we needed to know. It really surprised us to be heading to Normandy. We were either at high school or jobs after high school. We were not soldiers, at least not yet.

Teenage German Soldier In Distress After His Capture

It is difficult to find WWII photos that are not emotionally charged. Look at this photo of 16-year-old German soldier Hans-Georg Henke. He was captured on April 3, 1945, by the US 9th Army. It seems his parents died a year earlier, and that tragic event made him join the Luftwaffe. John Florea, the photographer, described the boy as shocked and crying. He was a young boy who went through the worst of the war.

A German Soldier In A Dugout During The Great War

The war was a massive trench fight. In the Civil War, soldiers dug trenches to provide defense and give them a place to fight from. In Belgium and France, soldiers had to stay in the trenches for weeks on end resulting in “trench foot” and assorted other diseases. Rats were constant companions. Further, the trenches offered only limited protection from heavy artillery shelling and no protection at all from poison gas attacks. Soldiers had to rise from the ditches to engage the enemy. Unfortunately, in front of them was usually an open field (often mined) with little cover, and they were likely to be wounded or killed as they advanced. Note in the photo that this soldier has apparently cut a helmet in half and attached a portion to his neck and lower face area in hope of protecting these areas from shrapnel and bullets. He also carries a “potato masher” hand grenade on his belt and a formidable bayonet attached to his rifle.

Paratroopers Of Easy Company Chilling At Adolf Hitler’s Home

You see men laughing and having a great time. It is even better than you thought. The soldiers in Easy Company had been chilling in Hitler’s castle in the Bavarian Alps. In the miniseries “Band of Brothers”, you will see this particular scene. Hitler purchased many homes across Europe, including this one in Berchtesgaden. It was bombed on April 25, 1945. On May 4, SS troops set the hiding bunker on fire just hours before U.S. troops entered the bunker through secret tunnels. The soldiers rewarded themselves by stealing the beer and getting drunk.

Lawrence Of Arabia In Real Life

Lawrence found himself in an unlikely position during the Great War. He was a British demolition artist who worked with Arab rebel allies to destroy isolated Ottoman bridges. Lawrence of Arabia, he was. He committed assaults on 79 bridges on the railway and demolished them. Railways were so damaged that some parts still show traces of the attacks.

Japanese Military Commander

In Traditional Armor

A photo by Felice Beato in 1863. It was hand-colored in the original version. He took full-length portraits in the studio because he was intrigued by traditional costumes and cultural traditions. His photos of Japan came with vignetting that made them more painterly. This photo was taken of Koboto Santaro, a Japanese commander. We don’t know what he has in his hand, but stay away.

The Red Army Liberated The Auschwitz-Birkenau

When the Soviet Army arrived at Auschwitz on January 27th, 1945, they found a warehouse of belongings. They found syringes, needles, prosthetic limbs, and shoes. Then they found out it was full of sick and starving people the Nazis had left behind. Elisavetskii was one of the first soldiers to go into the camp, “They rushed toward us, shouted, fell on their knees, kissed our boots, and threw their arms around our legs.”

A Soldier Heading Home After

The War

Ernst Haas, in a photo essay called “Homecoming,” showed the desperation and confusion in Europe in the aftermath of the Holocaust. A Soldier

A Civil War Veteran In Pennsylvania

The Civil War veterans were still around in the 20th century. In 1956, the last one of them passed away. If they could follow orders and hold a gun, they went to war regardless of their age. The survivors were able to tell a lot of stories to the kids in their later years. This photo was taken in 1935.

Cornet Winston Churchill In

The 4th Queen’s Hussar’s Cavalry

Winston Churchill is best known for his dedication to England. As a young man, he was part of the 4th Queen’s Hussar’s Calvary. He was 21 years old in this photo.

The Seaforth Highlanders And Dog In French Trench

The Great War was unmatched in its brutality and carnage. Soldiers from all over the world were often extremely underprepared for war. However, The Seaforth Highlanders of Scotland stepped up to fight. They became known as the Northern Scottish Brigade after the merger of the 78th Highlanders and the 72nd Highlanders. The men originally served in India, but were reassigned to France. Later moved to Palestine and Iraq.

A Young Woman Called Eunice Hancock With A Compressed-Air Grinder In An Aircraft Plant

Men were in the war against Germany and Japan. Women filled in the voids in the job market by taking jobs in utilities, transportation, and manufacturing. Almost 2 million women went to work to make armaments and machine parts for the war effort. The working women in the labor force increased from 27% to 37%. A Young

Mata Hari Was A True Icon

The lovely Mata Hari was a spy and dancer storming the planet. People named her a democrat, a courtesan, and more! This is what the National Ballet director and choreographer Ted Brandsen has to tell about her: “What intrigued us is the tale of a woman with an intense lust for life and a strong instinct to live, reinvent and change herself. She had a lot of terrible stuff happening to her, and she tried to spin it somehow to find her way out.”

Mata Hari Blew The French Firing Squad A Kiss

Mata Hari became a spy during the Great War. She combined sex and espionage in her life. She started out with some talent for impersonation. During her early career, she masqueraded as Lady MacLeod, the child of an English lord. As a spy she only lasted a few days. On the 15th of October, she was shot to death by a firing squad. She wore no blindfold and blew a kiss to the men.

Men Of The 1st Infantry Division Leaving England For Normandy On D-Day

The Battle of Normandy went on from June 1944 to August 1944. The parties in Western Europe battled for supremacy, and the fight was not easy. We doubt that the 156,000 soldiers knew that the fighting would go on for nearly a month. It began on June 6 but was meant to begin earlier. The operation was delayed due to bad weather. Eisenhower’s final speech was to the brave troops, “You’re about to embark on the Great Crusade.” Your eyes are upon the world.

Dutch Resistance Fighters On The Streets Of Breda After Its Liberation

The world was shocked when Germany invaded Europe in 1939. The Nazis were much faster and more violent than anyone imagined. Resistance fighters from different regions banded together to help liberate their countries. The Dutch underground provided intelligence, radio communications, and household sabotage. In 1944, the south was liberated. The north was not liberated for another 8 months.

King Ferdinand and Queen Marie of Romania In Dover, England

Marie of Romania was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in the year 1875.

It was only 18 years later that she married Crown Prince Ferdinand and became an Eastern European monarch. Researchers have found that she was extremely influential in Ferdinand choosing to ally with the British rather than the Germans. They spent over two decades in Romania before they travelled over to Western Europe to perform royal duties on a diplomatic tour. It was 1924 when they visited Belgium, France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. “Apart from the common aims, which we pursue, there are other and dear ties between us. Her Majesty the Queen, my dear cousin, is British born,” King George V offered when speaking about the couple.

Princess Elizabeth Wanted To Help With The War Effort

It was the peak of WWII, and everyone was feeling patriotic, wanting to help with the war effort. Even Princess Elizabeth is no exception! She nagged her father, the King, into allowing her to help out. After turning 18, she obtained the permission she needed to train as a truck driver and mechanic, as a part of the Women’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. Now the Queen of the United Kingdom (among other territories), we think it is awesome that she desired so greatly to do physically help her country back then.

A German Soldier Duo And Their Donkey

We all know how pig a part animals played during the war. They were used to carry injured soldiers, weaponry and ammunition back and forth and between checkpoints. They were also used to clear out the land. Horses, donkeys, mules, dogs among many other animals were all used during the horrific events of war. The soldiers pictured were prepared for their upcoming battle; even their horse was prepared also.

A Russian Sniper

The Russian sniper pictured below is Roza Georgiyevna Shanina. She was an active sniper during WWII and was only one of many Russian women active in the military at the time. She was special however. A volunteer, she was a sharpshooter. By the end of war she had 59 confirmed kills, some feat. She was tragically killed in 1945 during the East Prussian Offensive.

Princess Elizabeth, 1940

Prior to becoming the Monarch of the UK, Elizabeth was very much once a Princess, and a teenager. If you look below, you can see a photograph of her reading a book in a beautiful day-off frock, casually relaxing by a window. The attention to detail by the coloring of this photo is pretty amazing.


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Life style

Celebration of taste, culture and elegance

Published

16 hours ago

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2025/12/7

By

Ambassador Damiano, Jagatheeswaran, Barbara Troila and Ambassador of Vietnam, Trinh Thi Tam

Italian Cuisine Week

This year’s edition of Italian Cuisine Week in Sri Lanka unfolded with unmistakable charm, elegance and flavour as the Italian Embassy introduced a theme that captured the very soul of Italian social life ‘Apertivo and’ Stuzzichini’ This year’s celebration brought together diplomats, food lovers, chefs and Colombo’s society crowd for an evening filled with authenticity, refinement and the unmistakable charm of Italian hospitality.

Hosted at the Italian ambassador’s Residence in Colombo, the evening brought Italy’s golden hour ritual to life, embracing the warmth of Mediterranean hospitality and sophistication of Colombo social scene.

The ambience at the residence of the Italian Ambassador, effortlessly refined, evoked the timeless elegance of Milanese evening culture where ‘Apertivo’ is not just a drink , but a moment of pause, connection and pleasure. Guests were greeted with the aromas of apertivo classics and artisanal stuzzichini,curated specially for this edition. From rustic regional flavours to contemporary interpretations the embassy ‘s tables paid homage to Italy’s diverse culinary landscape.

, Italy’s small bites meant to tempt the palate before meal. Visiting Italian chefs worked alongside Colombo’s leading culinary teams to curate a menu that showcased regional authenticity though elegant bite sized creations. The Italian Ambassador of Italy in Sri Damiano Francovigh welcomed guests with heartfelt remarks on the significant of the theme, highlighting how “Apertivo”embodies the essence of Italy’s culinary identity, simple, social and rooted in tradition.

Sri Lanka’s participation in Italian Cuisine Week for ten consecutive years stands as a testament to the friendship between the two countries. This year focus on ‘Apertivo’ and ‘Stuzzichini’ added a fresh, dimension to that relationship, one that emphasised not only flavours, but shaped cultural values of hospitality, family and warmth. This year’s ‘Apertivo’ and “Stuzzichini’ theme brought a refreshing twist to Italian Cuisine Week. It reminded Sri Lankan guests t hat sometimes the most memorable culinary experiences come not from elaborate feasts but from the simplicity of serving small plates with good company.

Italian Cuisine Week 2025 in Sri Lanka may have showcased flavours, but more importantly it showcased connection and in the warm glow of Colombo’s evening Apertivo came alive not just as an Italian tradition.

(Pix by Dharmasena Wellipitiya)

By Zanita Careem

The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World is one of the longest-running thematic reviews promoted by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Founded in 2016 to carry forward the themes of Expo Milano 2015—quality, sustainability, food

safety, territory, biodiversity, identity, and education—the event annually showcases the excellence and global reach of Italy’s food and wine sector.

Since its inauguration, the Week has been celebrated with over 10,000 events in more than 100 countries, ranging from tastings, show cooking and masterclasses to seminars, conferences, exhibitions and business events, with a major inaugural event hosted annually in Rome at the Farnesina, the HQ of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

The 10th edition of the Italian Cuisine Week in the World.

In 2025, the Italian Cuisine Week in the World reaches its tenth edition.

The theme chosen for this anniversary is “Italian cuisine between culture, health and innovation.”

This edition highlights Italian cuisine as a mosaic of knowledge and values, where each tile reflects a story about the relationship with food.

The initiatives of the 10th Edition aim to:

promote understanding of Italian cuisine, also in the context of its candidacy for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage;

demonstrate how Italian cuisine represents a healthy, balanced, and sustainable food model, supporting the prevention of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes;

emphasize the innovation and research that characterize every stage of the Italian food chain, from production to processing, packaging, distribution, consumption, reuse, and recycling

The following leading hotels in Colombo Amari Colombo, Cinnamon Life, ITC Ratnadipa and The Kingsbury join in the celebration by hosting Italian chefs throughout the Week.

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Life style

Ethical beauty takes centre stage

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16 hours ago

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2025/12/7

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Body Shop team

The Body Shop marked a radiant new chapter in Sri Lanka with the opening of its boutique at One Galle Face Mall, an event that blended conscious beauty, festive sparkle and lifestyle elegance. British born and globally loved beauty brand celebrates ten successful years in Sri lanka with the launch of its new store at the One Galle Face Mall. The event carried an added touch of prestige as the British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick to Sri Lanka attended as the Guest of honour.

His participation elevated the event highlighting the brand’s global influence and underscored the strong UK- Sri Lanka connection behind the Body Shop’s global heritage and ethical values.

Chief guest British Ambassador Andrew Patrick at the Body Shop

Celebrating ten years of the Brand’s presence in the country, the launch became a true milestone in Colombo’s evolving beauty landscape.

Also present were the Body Shop Sri Lanka Director, Kosala Rohana Wickramasinghe, Shriti malhotra, Executive chairperson,Quest Retail.The Body shop South Asia and Vishal Chaturvedi , Chief Revenue Officer-The Body South Asia The boutique showcased the brand’s

complete range from refreshing Tea Tree skin care to the iconic body butters to hair care essentials each product enhancing the Body Shop’s values of cruelty ,fair trade formulation, fair trade ingredients and environmentally mindful packaging.

The store opening also unveiled the much anticipated festive season collection.

With its elegant atmosphere, engaging product experiences and the distinguished present of the British High Commissioner, it was an evening that blended glamour with conscience With its fresh inviting space at Colombo’ premier mall, the Body Shop begins a a new decade of inspiring Sri Lankan consumers to choose greener beauty.

 

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Life style

Ladies’ Night lights up Riyadh

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16 hours ago

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2025/12/7

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Queens of grace

The Cultural Forum of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia brought back Ladies’ Night 2025 on November 7 at the Holiday Inn Al Qasr Hotel. After a hiatus of thirteen years, Riyadh shimmered once again as Ladies’ Night returned – an elegant celebration revived under the chairperson Manel Gamage and her team. The chief guest for the occasion was Azmiya Ameer Ajwad, spouse of the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to K. S. A. There were other dignitaries too.

The show stopper was Lisara Fernando finalist from the voice Sri Lankan Seasons, wowed the crowd with her stunning performances. The excitement continued with a lively beauty pageant, where Ilham Shamara Azhar was crowned the beauty queen of the night. Thanks to a thrilling raffle draw, many lucky guests walked away with fabulous prizes, courtesy of generous sponsors.

The evening unfolded with a sense of renewal, empowerment and refined glamour drawing together the women for a night that was both historic and beautifully intimate. From dazzling couture to modern abayas, from soft light installation to curated entertainment, the night carried the unmistakable energy.

Once a cherished annual tradition, Ladies’ Night had long held a special space in Riyadh’s cultural calendar. But due to Covid this event was not held until this year in November. This year it started with a bang. After years Ladies’ Night returned bringing with a burst of colour, confidence and long-awaited camaraderie.

It became a symbol of renewal. This year began with a vibrant surge of energy. The decor blended soft elegance with modern modernity cascading its warm ambient lighting and shimmering accents that turned the venue into a chic, feminine oasis, curated by Shamila Abusally, Praveen Jayasinghe and Hasani Weerarathne setting the perfect atmosphere while compères Rashmi Fernando and Gayan Wijeratne kept the energy high and kept the guests on their toes making the night feel intimate yet grand.

Conversations flowed as freely as laughter. Women from different backgrounds, nationalities and professions came together united by an unspoken bond of joy and renewal. Ladies’ Night reflected a broader narrative of change. Riyadh today is confidently evolving and culturally dynamic.

The event celebrated was honouring traditions while empowering international flair.

As the night drew to a close, there was a shared sense that this event was only the beginning. The applause, the smiles, the sparkles in the air, all hinted at an event that is set to redeem its annual place with renewed purpose in the future. Manel Gamage and her team’s Ladies’ Night in Riyadh became more than a social occasion. It became an emblem of elegance, and reflected a vibrant new chapter of Saudi Arabia’s capital.

Thanks to Nihal Gamage and Nirone Disanayake, too, Ladies’ night proved to be more than event,it was a triumphant celebration of community, culture and an unstoppable spirit of Sr Lankan women in Riyadh

In every smile shared every dance step taken and every moment owned unapologetically Sr Lankan women in Riyadh continue to show unstoppable. Ladies’ Night is simply the spotlight that will shine forever .This night proved to be more than an event, it was a triumphant celebration of community, culture and the unstoppable spirit of Sri Lankan women in Riyadh.

In every smile shared, every dance steps taken and every moment owned unapologetically Sri Lankan women in Riyadh continue to show that their spirit is unstoppable. Ladies’ Night was simply the spotlight and the night closed on a note of pride!

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