War and peace

摘要

The streets in my new neighbourhood have related names. I needn't mention more than Tobruk and Kokoda for you to guess the theme. Other namesakes include Normanby Island (southernmost of the D'Entrecasteaux Islands, north-east of Papua and involved in the Pacific War), Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and the naval ship USS Rutland. Nearby but slightly removed from this group is NobeL St. Perhaps its placement signifies the dearth of laureates during the world wars. Recipient of one of the few NobeL Prizes awarded during World War I was Adelaide-born Lawrence Bragg, who at the tender age of 25 shared the 1915 Nobel Prize for Physics with his father, William, 'for their services in the analysis of crystal structure by means of X-rays'. He was awarded the Military Cross during the war, for his work in sound-ranging: detecting the position of enemy artillery by recording and analysing the boom of their weapon fire.