• Level 9, Miscellaneous 27.01.2015 Comments Off on Diary of Lieutenant Henri Desagneaux

    Lt. Henri Desagneaux, later Maj., was an officer in the French 2nd Infantry Regiment during the battle of Verdun, and recorded his experiences in his diary. In these entries, he and his men make their way to Verdun along the sacred way.

    Diary: Saturday, 10 June [1916]
    At one in the morning, order for departure at 4 a.m. We are to march in the direction of Verdun. That gives us an extra day of life! We are billeted at Rosieres near Bar.

    Monday, 12 June
    Issoncourt, Last stage before Verdun. There is not much room as car-load upon car-load of supplies and munitions speed past us.

    Tuesday, 13 June
    Reveille at 2 a.m. At 5, we travel by car and are put down at Nixeville, 6 kilometers from Verdun. We bivouac in a wood in a lake of mud. The guns fire angrily, it’s pouring down. At 3 p.m. we are orderd to stand by to leave. We don’t, however. We spend the night and the day of the 14th waiting, in torrential rain with mud up to our ankles. Our teeth chatter with cold, we are very uncomfortable. Although the troops have been stopping here for the last four months to and from verdun, there is not one single hut or shelter. We camp in individual tents in thick mud. You should hear what the men say about it!
    At 5 p.m., order for departure at 6.30. We are going to be quartered in the Citadel of Verdun. Faces are grave. The guns are thundering over there. It’s a real furnace. Everyone realises that perhaps tomorrow death will come. Numerous rumours are circulating; we are going to ‘Mort-Homme’ which has been captured by the Boches; or to the Fort at Vaux . . . What is certain, nothing good lies in store for us.
    We arrive at the Citadel at 10 p.m. after a difficult march through the mud.

    Desagneaux, Henri. “Lieutenant Henri Desagneaux, French 2nd Infantry Regiment.” In True War Stories: Eyewitness accounts of life on the front line in the words of the ordinary soldier, edited by Jon E. Lewis, 301-3012. London: Magpie Books, 2004.

  • Level 9, Miscellaneous 26.01.2015 Comments Off on Trenches weren’t the only dangerous places

    I was explaining to someone today who thought that it would pretty safe to be in one of the artillery batteries during WWI that it was in fact very unsafe. During WWI the ranging of fire against an artillery battery was perfected with deadly results, often killing everyone in the battery. Unless of course were a crew of Big Bertha (Dicke Bertha) which fired from a huge distance away.

    Big Bertha

    Big Bertha

    The normal artillery was much smaller and therefore used much closer to the front.

    Australian 18 pounders at Ypres 1917

    Australian 18 pounders at Ypres 1917

    Australian gunners with 18 pound in France WWI

    Australian gunners with 18 pounders in France WWI

    Australia photos as an example.

     

     

  • Level 9, Miscellaneous 26.01.2015 Comments Off on Soldiers wear soft hats in WWI

    Some soldiers were wearing soft hats rather than helmets at the start of WWI. Not that good for stopping the sort of shrapnel that occurred in the trenches.

     

  • Level 9, Miscellaneous 26.01.2015 Comments Off on Why were French Uniforms sky blue

    At the Start of World War I the french were resplendent in their new sky blue uniforms. It was said that they were sky blue so they would blend with the horizon. The reason is more likely one of  supply. The original design was for a patriotic uniform using alternate red, white and blue threads that would result in a modern grey colour of uniform. However the red tread was to be supplied from Germany a bit of problem when you are going to war with them. Hence the uniform was made of blue and white thread making the striking sky blue uniform.

    WWI French Uniform Sky Blue

    WWI French Uniform Sky Blue

    WWI French Uniform Sky Blue Peronne

    WWI French Uniform Sky Blue Peronne

    It night seem a little bright but look at the uniform it was replacing.

    WWI French Unifroms Red and Blue Peronne

    WWI French Uniforms Red and Blue Peronne

    The German poster “Field Uniforms of our Enemies in the West” from 1914 shows the variety of colourful uniforms of the French, British and Belgian armies.

    Field Uniforms of our Enemies in the West

    Field Uniforms of our Enemies in the West

    These uniform designs almost date back to Napoleonic times.

    Napoleon's Army Uniforms by Lucien Rousselot

    Napoleon’s Army Uniforms by Lucien Rousselot

  • Level 9, Miscellaneous 26.01.2015 Comments Off on Best Cavalry Sword of all Time

    The best cavalry sword of all time was the 1908 Pattern sword. Unfortunately it was only introduced to the British cavalry in 1908 just prior to World War I at the end of the effective usefulness of cavalry as a key military unit.

    1908 British cavalry sword

    1908 British cavalry sword

    The Pattern sword was designed with a pistol grip that made it excellent of charging. It was brilliantly balanced for use in a charge either slashing or as a stationary point like a spear.

  • Level 7, Miscellaneous 24.01.2015 Comments Off on Old is New

    Have tactics and armour really changed all that much since Roman Times.

    police take cover behind shields

    police take cover behind shields

    Riot police officers take cover behind shields during violent protests in Kiev – Source: Reuters

     

  • Level 7, Miscellaneous 24.01.2015 Comments Off on Roman Shields

    Dura Europos Scutum Shield

     

     Dura Europos Scutum Roman Shield

    Dura Europos Scutum Roman Shield

    As far as I know there has only been one scutum in good condition has ever been found. It was found at Dura Europos, a Roman fort in Syria.  It has pictures of an eagle, a lion, and winged gods. It was made in the 200s CE.

  • Uncategorized 21.01.2015 Comments Off on Welcome

    Hey there.