Sculpture, Statues and things that don't move much.

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The "Oria" monument.


FM2_Poly50_rdnl_12-9-2018_045 by Elias__K, on Flickr



A few kilometers south of Athens, one of the worst maritime disasters ever happened. The fourth worst loss of life caused by the sinking of a single ship in the world and the worst in the Mediterranean Sea.
SS Oria was a Norwegian steamboat that sank on 12 February 1944, causing the death of some 4,095 Italian prisoners of war 21 Greeks and 15 Germans.
In the fall of 1943, after the German invasion of the Dodecanese, the Germans had to transfer tens of thousands of Italian prisoners over the sea. These transfers were made often using unseaworthy vessels, cramming prisoners locked into the hull of the ships, and without any safety standard. Several ships sank, by allied attack or by accident, causing the death of thousands of prisoners.
The Oria was one of the vessels chosen to transport Italian prisoners. On 11 February 1944, it sailed from Rhodes directly to Piraeus, carrying 4,116 Italian prisoners (43 officers, 118 non-commissioned officers and 3,955 soldiers), 21 Germans on duty or en route, and the crew of 22 Greeks. The next day the ship was caught by a storm and sank off Cape Sounion on the South East rocks of the small Patroklos island (the island is visible at the mid right) . Some tugs, arriving the next day on the scene, could only save 21 Italians, 6 Germans, the Norwegian captain and one Greek
Forgotten for decades after the war, the remains of the wreck were discovered in 1999 by Greek pro diver Aristotelis Zervoudis who for his actions was awarded by the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella the distinction of the Knight of the Italian Star Order (Cavaliere della Stella d' Italia),the highest distinction Italy can award to foreign citizens. The monument was erected in 2008.
 
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A window display this year in Dieppe, France. It shows an officer in the Calgary Regiment who took part in the 1942 raid on Dieppe. Apologies for the low quality photo, taken with a P&S.



Regards, David
 
Sigma Sd Quattro H, Sigma 35mm f1.4 DG "Art" lens (46mm on Sd Quattro H)
Jogashima Island, Japan - September 2018

Jogashima Island Park. At the entrance to the park near the public restrooms (that are very clean) there are some bronze cormorants. The island is a sanctuary for cormorants.

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Mike
 
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