Magonia Supplement - No 45 - 2003 01 22

Magazine Overview

Title: MAGONIA Supplement
Issue: No. 45
Date: 22 January 2003
Publisher: Magonia
Country: UK
Language: English

This issue of Magonia Supplement delves into the 'Angel of Mons' legend, examining its recent resurgence in media attention and its eventual debunking as a hoax. It also features reviews of books on literary criticism and exorcism, and an editorial on the use of lie detector tests in UFO investigations.

The Angel of Lies: The Angel of Mons Legend

The main article, "Angel of Lies" by Nigel Watson, focuses on the 2001 media attention surrounding the 'Angel of Mons' legend. This surge in interest was sparked by claims that actor Marlon Brando and film director Tony Kaye had paid £350,000 for film footage purportedly showing the angel. The footage was said to have been found by Gloucestershire architect Danny Sullivan, who acquired it in 1999. Sullivan claimed the footage was of angels appearing to British soldiers during the retreat from Mons in August 1914.

Further complicating the story, Sullivan had also published a book on the history and folklore of Woodchester Park, the alleged site of some angelic apparitions. The article details Tony Kaye's direct and sometimes confrontational style, as described on the Oval Soap website, which promoted the film project. Kaye expressed a strong desire to include the Doidge footage in his movie, calling it the closest thing to proof of an angel he had seen.

However, the narrative takes a turn when, on 15 October 2002, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a programme where Danny Sullivan admitted that the entire 'Angel of Mons' story, including the film footage, was a hoax. His motive was to generate publicity and income for Woodchester Park, as his book had not sold well. The article questions the existence of William Doidge and the authenticity of the film footage, suggesting that Sullivan may have been aware of potential legal repercussions from Kaye.

The article then revisits the original 'Angel of Mons' accounts, noting that various witnesses reported different phenomena, including 'horsemen in armour', St George, St Joan, St Michael, a strange cloud, and bowmen, rather than just angels.

It highlights the historical context of the Battle of Mons in August 1914, the first encounter between the British Expeditionary Force and the German army. The sensational reporting of this event in the British press led to Arthur Machen writing the story 'The Bowmen', which was later found on the Aftermath World War 1 website and reproduced in his 1915 book.

David Clarke's study, 'Rumours of Angels: A Legend of the First World War', is mentioned as an attempt to explain how the legend evolved as a potent symbol of supernatural aid amidst combat. Clarke suggests that Machen's story, combined with media influence, created a powerful rumour that appealed to a deep-seated belief in spiritual support for Britain.

Kevin McClure's survey on the Magonia website, 'Visions of Bowmen and Angels', supports the idea that visions might be attributed to extreme fatigue and hallucinations, while acknowledging that responses to the Mons material vary.

The conclusion states that the Angel of Mons legend, often based on second or third-hand accounts, served to 'prove' that a spiritual force supported the British. The film footage incident is seen as a modern use of media to promote a film project for financial gain rather than spiritual needs.

Trindade Photographs Reminder

A brief note reminds readers that promised evidence regarding the Trindade photographs, which were claimed to prove they were not a hoax, has not yet been forthcoming from Jerome Clark.

Magonia Readers' Meetings

An announcement invites readers to Magonia's monthly meetings, held on the first Sunday of each month at The Railway pub opposite Putney Station, offering a social gathering for discussion.

Testing for a Hoax: Editorial by Gareth J. Medway

The editorial by Gareth J. Medway discusses the ambiguous role of lie detector tests in UFO literature. He uses the case of Travis Walton, who passed one test and failed another, to illustrate how results can be interpreted to fit pre-existing beliefs. Medway argues that while a conspiracy of five men lying about an abduction would be statistically unlikely, the unreliability of lie detector tests makes them questionable evidence.

He extends this to the MJ-12 papers, suggesting that while he believes they are a hoax, he lacks conclusive evidence from the documents themselves. He points out suspicious features, such as the use of the term 'extraterrestrial' before its common usage, and recounts Stanton Friedman's challenge to Phil Klass regarding the pica formatting of a memorandum, which Friedman won.

Medway concludes that distinguishing between suspected hoaxes and proven hoaxes is crucial, and that the Cutler-Twining memorandum's discovery in a box of declassified files, allegedly by Bill Moore and Jaime Shandera, could be a starting point for investigation.

Magonia's History and Editorial Policy

The editorial also reflects on Magonia's 35-year history, tracing its origins from the Merseyside UFO Bulletin. It attributes Magonia's longevity to a consistent editorial policy of encouraging serious research and theoretical studies, avoiding dubious claims without critical comment, and maintaining financial prudence by not incurring debts. Magonia operates as a quarterly subscription magazine, an informative website, and this supplement, alongside informal monthly meetings.

Literary Criticism – Reviews by Peter Rogerson

Peter Rogerson reviews two books:

1. Marina Warner's *Fantastic Metamorphoses: Other Worlds: Ways of Telling the Self*: Rogerson finds that Warner's exploration of blending, shape-shifting, and splitting in European culture touches on Magonia's interests but remains within 'high culture'. He notes her discussion of the zombie, the doppelganger, and the splitting of identity, and surprisingly mentions that Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) formed a theory of alien encounters and was delighted with a Cottingley fairy photograph.

2. Michael W. Cuneo's *American Exorcism: Expelling Demons in the Land of Plenty*: This book examines the rise of exorcism in the USA, linking it to the publicity of *The Exorcist* film and the subsequent growth of exorcism ministries. Cuneo's encounters with exorcists reveal that dramatic events like levitations are rare, and those seeking exorcism often suffer from anxieties, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or general life problems. Rogerson notes that Cuneo argues modern exorcism is part of contemporary therapeutic culture, where individuals are presented as victims and demons are blamed for problems. He also points out the book's lack of attention to deeper sociological causes and the appeal of the priest-hero figure to men whose patriarchal roles are threatened by liberalism. The review highlights the role of women as victims and 'discerner of spirits' and suggests that Magonia readers will find insights applicable to popular culture's role in shaping beliefs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Magonia Supplement demonstrates a commitment to critically examining claims within the UFO and paranormal fields. The 'Angel of Mons' article exemplifies this by thoroughly investigating a sensational story, tracing its origins, and ultimately revealing its debunking as a hoax. The editorial on lie detector tests further underscores a cautious and analytical approach, questioning the reliability of evidence and the tendency to interpret findings to fit preconceived notions. The reviews of literary criticism and exorcism books show an interest in how popular culture, belief systems, and psychological factors intersect with extraordinary claims. Magonia's editorial stance appears to favour rigorous research, critical analysis, and a balanced perspective, avoiding sensationalism while acknowledging the enduring human fascination with the unexplained.