THE FIRST WORLD WAR as reported in the daily news

This is a place for veterans of military service to remember and reflect. War time or peace. Any service.

Moderators: DuncaninFrance, Niner Delta

User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Tue Jul 25, 2017 6:49 pm

Vern, I think it was the same as "hand grenade" squad. Maybe they used explosives to blow holes in the wire entanglements as well .. Have to look it up.

Found this:
Similarly, a Canadian officer claimed that in a nine
man grenade squad, the two throwers should follow the
instructions of, and prepare the way for, the two 'bayonet
men'.7
In practice it depended on circumstances. The
rifle was far more accurate at a far greater range, and it
took far longer to use up one man's stock of rifle ammunition.
But at short range a single grenade was far more
lethal than a single round of rifle ammunition, especially
in a confined space, and it was ideal for attacking an
enemy concealed behind cover or inside a pill-box.
The "bomb" squad was an attacking group with some tossing grenades and others with only rifles and bayonets this site suggests.
http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1 ... 9308445679
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Wed Jul 26, 2017 10:30 am

While in the US suffragettes were fighting for the vote, and getting thrown in jail for their efforts, in Russia, even in the middle of a revolution, a battalion of women was formed and put into the line of battle. Can you imagine the taunts if a German unit had it's ass kicked by a bunch of Russian women? Talk about your deflated egos and tarnished iron crosses... to say nothing about the red faces and shrunken johnsons.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-1/
Attachments
headline.jpg
text.jpg
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Fri Jul 28, 2017 6:29 pm

So they needed a name. Not exactly warlike being called a "Sammy" but the head general drew the line when it came to "Teddy" making a bid. Wouldn't do to have a nick name that would seem to connect to Teddy Roosevelt while Wilson was President I suspect.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-7/

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-1/

There were other choices.
Attachments
amexes.jpg
sammies.jpg
User avatar
Niner Delta
Global Moderator Sponsor 2011-2017
Posts: 4866
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:51 pm
Location: Sequim, WA

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner Delta » Fri Jul 28, 2017 9:01 pm

Amexes sounds like the troops are American/Mexican........... :roll:

.
:USA:

Peace is that brief, quiet moment in history.......... when everybody stands around reloading.
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Sat Jul 29, 2017 11:11 am

What is surprising is there is no mention of "Dough boy" in newspapers from 100 years ago. Doughboy is a term that goes back to the Mexican war..according to the internet because of the dust on the uniforms from unpaved roads, or from the buttons on the coat, or because they might have cooked dough on their ramrods over a fire. It's pretty unknown why. In later history the term Dough Boy seems to have stuck and the "Sammy" lost to time. Wonder what the troops thought about it... if at all.
User avatar
DuncaninFrance
Global Moderator Sponsor 2011-2017
Posts: 10934
Joined: Fri Oct 06, 2006 3:08 pm
Location: S.W.France
Contact:

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by DuncaninFrance » Sat Jul 29, 2017 12:52 pm

Well, According to J. H. Leslie, writing in Notes and Queries in 1912, "Tommy Atkins" was chosen as a generic name by the War Office in 1815 so it stuck.................... :bigsmile:
Duncan

What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch? -- W.C. Fields
"Many of those who enjoy freedom know little of its price."
You can't fix Stupid, but you can occasionally head it off before it hurts something.
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Sat Jul 29, 2017 4:14 pm

Now here is a question some of us have been asking about Iraq and Afghanistan and other places in present times. US Senator wants to know what we are fighting for and wants a clear understanding of objectives and he wants to define what the end would be for us. The British House of Commons Mr. Asquith, just wants to show resolve in continuing the war and assume that "the people" will define the terms at the end when all enemies are completely defeated.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-1/

click on the image to make larger so you can read the captions.
Attachments
download.jpg
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Sun Jul 30, 2017 11:07 am

As the great meat grinder of the war continues. In Russia the rebels in power for the moment still are determined to continue the war. The head rebel is so determined he is shooting any and all who retreat without being ordered. The guy they want to kill most is nowhere to be found..... but reaping the benefits.
Attachments
Washington.jpg
topeka.jpg
ringleader.jpg
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:21 am

US papers note the big offensive by British and French on the Belgium front. Newspapers say a major objective is to capture German Submarine bases along the coast. It started off with the worlds most intense artillery barrage and then the attack.

Two different papers in attachments.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-1/
Attachments
headline.jpg
Flanders.jpg
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11520
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: THE FIRST WORLD WAR THREAD.

Post by Niner » Mon Jul 31, 2017 10:49 am

British foreign secretary Balfour reflects on the British view of peace terms. Although he doesn't actually want to speculate upon any set terms he maintains that Britain got into the war for altruistic reasons and that magnanimity will direct the British position at the end of hostilities.

Not the complete article but just some of the parts that struck me as interesting in showing an attitude that would get lost at the end of the war and set the stage for the next war with the "hard" peace terms that actually followed.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/ ... d-1/seq-1/
Attachments
download (2).jpg
download (3).jpg
download (4).jpg
Post Reply