Dundee At War!

Factual Questions
1

I have heard a wacky, crazy rumour that a certain Scottish city remains to this day to be at war with Germany

In the little piece of official paper that declared Britain was no longer at war - apparently the Scottish city of Dundee was specifically excluded.

Is this true? The city may not be Dundee but I’m sure it’s one of the D- ones.

Any info is appreciated.

2

It’s not Dundee, it’s Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Here’s a link explaining the situation; I make no claims as to the accuracy thereof.

3

It’s Berwick-upon-Tweed (which is in England).

Due to the fact that Berwick-upon-Tweed habitually changed hands between England and Scotland quite often royal decrees where signed in the name of “England, Scotland and the townn of Berwick-upon-Tweed”, the declaration of war on Russia (the Crimean War) in 1853 was signed in this manner. The declaration of peace in 1856, on the other hand, was only signed “England and Scotland”, which led to the anomaly. However Berwick made peace with Russia (or the Soviets as they were then) in 1966 when a peace treaty was formally signed.

4

I think that’s wrong because I think Berwick has been part of England since 1885, before that it was a ‘free burgh’

5

Ahhh - I see, thank you

Random trivia - the borders of Scotland and England have so often changed hand they are now known as The Borders and tend not to distinguish themselves as Scottish or English.

England and Scotland are both somewhat contemptuous (sp?) of this attitude.

But thanks!

6

I know a few people from the Borders, and they’re all pretty insistent that they’re Scottish. YMMV though.

7

IIRC there was a humorous ceremony in Berwick within the last decade where a representative of Berwick and one from Russia declared that they were now at peace.

8

And of course Berwick are the only English football team that play in the Scottish League.

9

Don’t mind me, I was expecting Paul Hogan.

10

Apart from Glasgow Rangers, of course.

11

I thought they were from Belfast…

12

Aren’t they all Dutch these days?

13

Bwahahahahahaha

And the ones from Belfast are Celtic . . . at least they wanna be :wink:

14

No, Advocaat’s attempt to remake them as the Dutch National Team Mk II was scuppered by the little matter of him getting de zak.

Although the club retains its perverse attachment to the colour orange (sorry, tangerine :rolleyes: )

15

Easy trivia, that. Name the only Scottish football team that plays in an English pyramid league.

Gretna plays in the Unibond League Division One, or three leagues below Division Three.

16

Not anymore, Duke. They moved to the Scottish league last year to replace the late and thoroughly unlamented Airdrieonians.

17

Sacre bleu! I did not know that.

I’m sure the Scottish and English FAs are relieved at that move, though…even when they were in the Unibond, Gretna was playing in the Scottish FA Cup. That must have caused some scheduling nightmares.

18

Sorry, Duke, I think that’s wrong as well. They did famously play in the English Cup at least once, but they didn’t play in the Scottish Cup until this year. I don’t think the league they were in would have entitled them to even play in the Scottish qualifying cup.

19

Back to the OP, or at least to Berwick’s current condition of war, I e-mailed a chap called Derek Sharman at Berwick-upon-Tweed Council to get their version of the story. I mentioned the link about Berwick having changed hands before the armistice document passed from London to Edinburgh. Here’s what he told me:

So there you go.

That was uncalled for! It’s bad enough having to carry the can for the idiots we’ve got. IIRC, the guy called Nostradamus (who doesn’t seem to turn up here any more) was/is a Blackpool fan, so he might have his own reasons to query Rangers wearing “tangerine” shirts from time to time.

20

Dundonian checking in. I think I just heard someone shouting " Gotten himmel. " From over behind my desk somewhere.