Question of the Hour

[armyvern]

That's correct!   General Pau commanded during the Battel of the Frontiers.

Who commanded at Verdun after General Petain was promoted to command the Group of Armies of the Center?

Robert Nivelle

"Robert Nivelle (1856-1924), who was born in Tulle, France on 15 October 1856, began the war as a regimental colonel.
A chief assistant to Petain at Verdun, his success there in recapturing Douaumont led to him being given command of the Verdun sector in 1916.
In December 1916 he succeeded Joffre as Commander-in-Chief of the French army.  However the signal failure of the April 1917 Aisne campaign (the Nivelle Offensive), followed by mutiny in the French army led to his removal in May 1917 and a subsequent posting to North Africa."

http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/nivelle.htm

 

[redleafjumper]

Right again, Nivelle is the one.

 

[armyvern]

Who ended the "Christmas Truce" of 1914 for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and how did he end it?

 

[stukirkpatrick]

"Captain Stockwell of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalled how after a truly "Silent Night" he fired three shots into the air at 8.30 on Boxing Day morning and climbed on to the parapet of his trench.


Opposite him the German officer who'd given him beer and cigarettes the day before appeared on his parapet.


They bowed to each other, saluted and climbed back down into their trenches."

All in all it was an amazing event that was never fully repeated because of artillery bombardments ordered on Christmas every year.

 

[armyvern]

"Captain Stockwell of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers recalled how after a truly "Silent Night" he fired three shots into the air at 8.30 on Boxing Day morning and climbed on to the parapet of his trench.
Opposite him the German officer who'd given him beer and cigarettes the day before appeared on his parapet.
They bowed to each other, saluted and climbed back down into their trenches."
All in all it was an amazing event that was never fully repeated because of artillery bombardments ordered on Christmas every year.

Hmmm, well isn't this controversial now. I've got pretty much the same story...different person:
"Captain J C Dunn, the Medical Officer in the Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose unit had fraternised and received two barrels of beer from the Saxon troops opposite, recorded how hostilities re-started on his section of the front.
Dunn wrote: 'At 8.30 I fired three shots in the air and put up a flag with "Merry Christmas" on it, and I climbed on the parapet.  He [the Germans] put up a sheet with "Thank you" on it, and the German Captain appeared on the parapet.  We both bowed and saluted and got down into our respective trenches, and he fired two shots in the air, and the War was on again.' "

http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/christmastruce.htm

Either way, it must have been a truely amazing day and quite the sight to see.

 

[geo]

Stern orders were issued by the commander of the BEF, Sir John French against such behaviour.  Other 'brass-hats' (as the Tommies nick-named their high-ranking officers and generals), also made grave pronouncements on the dangers and consequences of parleying with the Germans.

However, there were many high-ranking officers who took a surprisingly relaxed view of the situation.  If anything, they believed it would at least offer their men an opportunity to strengthen their trenches.  This mixed stance meant that very few officers and men involved in the Christmas Truce were disciplined.

Interestingly, the German High Command's ambivalent attitude towards the Truce mirrored that of the British.

In the public's mind the facts have become irrevocably mythologized, and perhaps this is the most important legacy of the Christmas Truce today.  In our age of uncertainty, it comforting to believe, regardless of the real reasoning and motives, that soldiers and officers told to hate, loathe and kill, could still lower their guns and extend the hand of goodwill, peace, love and Christmas cheer

 

[geo]

Would venture to say that over the years, Capt Stockwell & Dunn, who prolly knew each other (same unit) likely told & retold the story umpteen hundred times to friend & family. At some point in time, those that heard it would say that personal title to the act was claimed by each...
Too bad neither is around to settle the claim.

 

[redleafjumper]

This thread has been terribly quiet for a while, here's a simple question:

What is a cabasset?



(edited to correct punctuation error)

 

[armyvern]

This thread has been terribly quiet for a while, here's a simple question?

Sorry RLJ...On course this week!!  ;D

What is a cabasset?

"The cabasset is an open-faced helmet characterized by its almond shaped top (often called pear shaped) and the curious little point projecting from the apex of the helmet...and was most popular among infantry soldiers and pikemen during the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe."

http://members.aol.com/dargolyt/TheForge/cabasset.htm

 

[vangemeren]

A source of daily information for me, Wikipedia, is featuring Canadian military history today. I was wondering if anybody here edits wikipedia?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

 

[redleafjumper]

Welcome back Armyvern, yes you are correct on your answer regarding the Cabasset.  In reply to van Gemeren, I don't edit Wikipedia, though it certainly seems to be a worthy cause.

What are surcoats and what were the most likely materials used for making original ones?

 

[larry Strong]

A sleeveless vest and usually made of leather and fur.

 

[redleafjumper]

That's a good start on the surcoat Larry and certainly not wrong, can you give me a bit more information before we declare this one done?

 

[larry Strong]

The Surcoat

The Surcoat was essentially the medieval European Knight's military robe, used to cover his armor.  The surcoat was of little real protective use but was still a very essential part of the war equipment for knights during the 13th and 14th centuries.  Surcoats first appeared across Europe during the crusades and were thought to have been designed to keep the hot sun off the knight's armor.  Since surcoats remained popular in the colder climates of Europe following the crusades, many historians maintain the original purpose of the surcoat was to protect the intricate chain mail from water and dampness (rust would devastate a suit of chain mail armor).

  The surcoat was made of varying lengths from a number of different materials:  cloth, quilted cloth, wool, and even leather.  The surcoat was slit to the waist in the front and back for convenience while on horseback and usually bound at the waist with a belt or cord.  Surcoats were almost always decorated with the heraldic war symbols of the wearer.  When a knight wore a great helm (heaume), these markings on the surcoat were often the only way for those around the knight to recognize him as friend or foe.  A number of geneologists believe the surcoat to be the first instance of heraldry, which led to the development of coats of arms and surnames, in Europe.

 

 

[redleafjumper]

Thanks Larry, that's a great answer to the surcoat question.

What model of Sherman tank did the US supply to the USSR during the Great Patriotic War and what fueled it?

 

[baboon6]

I believe it was the M4A2 which was diesel-powered. This would make sense because most Russian tanks had diesel engines. As far as I know no M4A2s were used by the US Army but they were supplied to the British/Commonwealth forces. Other Shermans used radial aircraft-type engines or a bank of five truck engines.

 

[redleafjumper]

Baboon 6, you are correct it was the diesel engine M4A2 that was issued to the Russians and some other allied formations.  The USMC also used them but as far as I know the US Army did not.

What Canadian regiment's motto is the latin version of "Truer than steel". 

 

[xFusilier]

Regiment de Chaudiere

 

[George Wallace]

Who designated "Red and White" to be the official Canadian national colours, and what else was significant on that date?

 

[redleafjumper]

King George V proclaimed red and white as Canadian colours on November 21, 1921 with the proclamation of the Canadian Coat of Arms.    

On the same day in history, the Anglo-Afghan treaty was signed, extending the Treaty of Rawalpindi, which had the effect of further reducing British influence in Afghanistan.


Who was Hamilcar Barca and what was his nickname?