| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together 23:37 - Aug 2 with 1693 views | BlueNomad |
a fairly large minority would have us beaten before the enemy appeared over the horizon on the basis that we had the weakest regiment, the worst general and a few soldiers were in sick bay. All this despite the fact that first class reinforcements were earmarked to join us. The enemy, of course, will not have any challenges of their own.
The reality is that we should be looking forward to this season. We have a great squad and the window doesn’t close for another month. The squad we field at Birmingham will not be the same one we go into September with. It will strengthen in the next few weeks. |  | | |  |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:28 - Aug 3 with 386 views | MK1 |
Not me Sir. Ready when needed Sir. |  |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:53 - Aug 3 with 360 views | J2BLUE |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 02:41 - Aug 3 by Ryorry |
Soldiers I'd want in my platoon -
Positivity - his optimism would have us champing at the bit to go ott in the certain knowledge of victory.
Guthers - better than a laptop which would be prone to running out of battery; his encyclopaedic knowledge of historical tactics would give us the winning movement every time.
SMoresy - like the player whose name is encompassed within his username, a stalwart battler in the thick of things is needed by every winning side.
Reusersfreekicks - what winning side doesn't need a sharpshooter to launch missiles with devastating accuracy into key enemy targets?
Elder Grizzly - always reliably around quietly getting on with it without fuss.
MK1 - Master of guerilla warfare & streetfighting. Second string to his bow - motor mechanic for the jeeps & tanks.
Giant_Stow - a spy who's been turned - always useful for infiltrating enemy camps & sneaking back with a copy of their dark plans.
Herbivore - Quartermaster - would always find some wild plant food to march on if rations ran out.
Sitters - H's assistant, capable of finding replacement boots in the unlikeliest of places.
Hunty21 - Bush Tracker.
Catch74 - Master of mantraps.
Hype313 - Propaganda.
Metal_Hacker - Fixer.
The Flashing Smile - never gives up.
DJR - meticulous organiser.
Monty_Radio - Signals.
Football - stats & analysis.
TheBlueGnu - Camouflage.
Bluesky - Air support.
TresBonne - Translator.
Textbackup - Honest scribe.
Churchman - Pastoral carer for when things aren't going so well.
Badger - to patch up wounds when we're down to 10 & it's necessary to carry on despite knocks n crocks.
VanSaParody - Entertainment.
And ... a few places still available :) |
Great choice.
Having VanSaParody for entertainment would really take the sting out of being shot. |  |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:57 - Aug 3 with 339 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 09:21 - Aug 3 by FrimleyBlue |
Could you imagine
Yes we've won the war
" there's nothing in that" |
Victory is imminent. |  |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:58 - Aug 3 with 332 views | OldFart71 |
Whatever walk of life you are in you will have the glass half full, glass half empty brigade.
Some will point to the pluses and others to the minuses. That's how we are as humans.
If everyone was the same the world would, if that's possible, be worse than it is because you need the level heads and the lunatics in equal measure.
When I say lunatics I don't mean those totally deranged, I mean those that as they say are geniuses close to madness.
In war you need those prepared to go over the top and those that hang back. What's worse a dead hero or a live coward ?
We all confront adversity in different ways but in some professions as with our owners pensioners they cannot be anything but the bravest of the brave. |  | | |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:02 - Aug 3 with 320 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:53 - Aug 3 by J2BLUE |
Great choice.
Having VanSaParody for entertainment would really take the sting out of being shot. |
Textbackup as honest scribe would be great too. Aren't wars often won through propaganda more than honest reporting?
"I am only telling the truth, J2 died yesterday and the rest of us will all be dead by tomorrow. No way can we rely on Frimmers he isn't a good enough shot."
"But J2 didn't die. True he is badly wounded but he is in hospital with every chance of recovering. We also know that Frimmers will do his best and that's all we can ask."
Anyway, I am up for fulfilling the role of encouraging from well behind the front line. Well done all of you, keep it up! | |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:06 - Aug 3 with 306 views | WeWereZombies |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:53 - Aug 3 by J2BLUE |
Great choice.
Having VanSaParody for entertainment would really take the sting out of being shot. |
Would have us running towards adversity... |  |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:10 - Aug 3 with 293 views | FrimleyBlue |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:02 - Aug 3 by Nthsuffolkblue |
Textbackup as honest scribe would be great too. Aren't wars often won through propaganda more than honest reporting?
"I am only telling the truth, J2 died yesterday and the rest of us will all be dead by tomorrow. No way can we rely on Frimmers he isn't a good enough shot."
"But J2 didn't die. True he is badly wounded but he is in hospital with every chance of recovering. We also know that Frimmers will do his best and that's all we can ask."
Anyway, I am up for fulfilling the role of encouraging from well behind the front line. Well done all of you, keep it up! |
I feel blessed you see the potential in me
I do worry for those I'm protecting though. |  |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:16 - Aug 3 with 275 views | Nthsuffolkblue |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:10 - Aug 3 by FrimleyBlue |
I feel blessed you see the potential in me
I do worry for those I'm protecting though. |
In all honesty, I would always feel fearful for the way any of us would react were we suddenly thrust into a war situation (or any other dangerous situation really). I get the feeling you are kind-hearted enough that you would actually surprise yourself and come up trumps when push comes to shove. For all your faults, I truly believe your heart is in the right place, Frimley. | |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:57 - Aug 3 with 260 views | Ryorry |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 12:53 - Aug 3 by J2BLUE |
Great choice.
Having VanSaParody for entertainment would really take the sting out of being shot. |
I sense I’m probably missing something here, but anyway, your reward for mentioning Sting is a place as backup to VSP, if you want it  |  |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:59 - Aug 3 with 256 views | DJR |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 10:43 - Aug 3 by Ryorry |
I did of course have him marshalling all the pieces of the jigsaw and keeping the troops under control behind the scenes, but Generals aren’t normally platoon members out doing the dirty work in the field! [Post edited 3 Aug 10:46]
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The Earl Haig role for Phil sounds perfect. |  | | |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 14:03 - Aug 3 with 233 views | Churchman |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 13:59 - Aug 3 by DJR |
The Earl Haig role for Phil sounds perfect. |
Earl Haig was nowhere near as bad as modern history revisionists and ignoramuses paint him!
In any case, I see Phil as more Duke of Wellington or Cumberland (our Scottish friends may not agree with the latter). |  | | |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 16:39 - Aug 3 with 163 views | DJR |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 14:03 - Aug 3 by Churchman |
Earl Haig was nowhere near as bad as modern history revisionists and ignoramuses paint him!
In any case, I see Phil as more Duke of Wellington or Cumberland (our Scottish friends may not agree with the latter). |
Yes, this (for example) from Wikipedia.
Haig has been criticised for the high casualties in British offensives, but historians like John Terraine argue that this was largely a function of the size of the battles, as British forces engaged the main body of the German Army on the Western Front after 1916. Although total deaths in the Second World War were far higher than in the First, British deaths were lower, because Britain fought mainly peripheral campaigns in the Mediterranean for much of the Second World War, involving relatively few British troops, while most of the land fighting took place between Germany and the Soviet Union. When British forces engaged in Normandy in 1944, total losses were fewer than on the Somme in 1916, as Normandy was around half the length and less than half the size but casualties per unit per week were broadly similar. David French wrote that British daily loss rates at Normandy, in which divisions lost up to three quarters of their infantry, were similar to those of Passchendaele in 1917, while average battalion casualty rates in 1944–45 (100 men per week) were similar to those of the First World War. | | | |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 17:42 - Aug 3 with 125 views | Ryorry |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 07:01 - Aug 3 by PioneerBlue |
Is there a place for a sniper? Happy to take anyone down not willing to die for the cause :) |
We’re all snipers tbh, but we do need a red helmet enforcer - seems we have a couple of rebellious types who might need keeping in line - if you’re up for that?  | |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 17:42 - Aug 3 with 125 views | WeWereZombies |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 16:39 - Aug 3 by DJR |
Yes, this (for example) from Wikipedia.
Haig has been criticised for the high casualties in British offensives, but historians like John Terraine argue that this was largely a function of the size of the battles, as British forces engaged the main body of the German Army on the Western Front after 1916. Although total deaths in the Second World War were far higher than in the First, British deaths were lower, because Britain fought mainly peripheral campaigns in the Mediterranean for much of the Second World War, involving relatively few British troops, while most of the land fighting took place between Germany and the Soviet Union. When British forces engaged in Normandy in 1944, total losses were fewer than on the Somme in 1916, as Normandy was around half the length and less than half the size but casualties per unit per week were broadly similar. David French wrote that British daily loss rates at Normandy, in which divisions lost up to three quarters of their infantry, were similar to those of Passchendaele in 1917, while average battalion casualty rates in 1944–45 (100 men per week) were similar to those of the First World War. |
So, yet again, I have to say forget trench warfare. On the Ham role (I am so very sorry, Phil...) may I suggest a leadership model based on Ché Guevara instead, not the Ché who made a total mess of any revolutionary opportunities in Guatemala but the one who defeated the reactionary forces with the aid of tractors in Cuba:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Santa_Clara#Capture_of_the_train | |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 18:06 - Aug 3 with 111 views | Churchman |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 16:39 - Aug 3 by DJR |
Yes, this (for example) from Wikipedia.
Haig has been criticised for the high casualties in British offensives, but historians like John Terraine argue that this was largely a function of the size of the battles, as British forces engaged the main body of the German Army on the Western Front after 1916. Although total deaths in the Second World War were far higher than in the First, British deaths were lower, because Britain fought mainly peripheral campaigns in the Mediterranean for much of the Second World War, involving relatively few British troops, while most of the land fighting took place between Germany and the Soviet Union. When British forces engaged in Normandy in 1944, total losses were fewer than on the Somme in 1916, as Normandy was around half the length and less than half the size but casualties per unit per week were broadly similar. David French wrote that British daily loss rates at Normandy, in which divisions lost up to three quarters of their infantry, were similar to those of Passchendaele in 1917, while average battalion casualty rates in 1944–45 (100 men per week) were similar to those of the First World War. |
Britain and America tried to fight a mechanised war firstly to try not to repeat the WW1 horror but also because in Britain’s case manpower was limited. It was also seen as the most effective way to win. The Germans and Russians just threw men at it, much as Putin does to this day.
The point re Haig is that the Blackadder image lives on. Yes, he was known as a ‘Butcher’ but most commanders get such labels. Having so many men shot for cowardice didn’t help his reputation - though understanding of shell shock did come about during the war. The image is of men endlessly getting mown down, no lessons learned.
However it wasn’t as simple as that. Despite the American Civil War of the 1860s, nobody really knew how to overcome technology of machine guns, rifles, wire, grenades and most importantly artillery once the lines went from coast to coast. The Germans, French and British had no real idea.
But Haig’s army innovated like no other. If you can’t go through, you go under (tunnelling) or over (tanks). Tactics did evolve from failure. A soldier cannot run and avoid anything carrying 60lbs of kit (Somme) so attack with less stuff. Better artillery, tactics and last but not least, appreciation of the value of the airplane.
In 1918 it was the British Army that finally smashed the Germans. It did it by combining artillery, tanks, logistics (light railways), aircraft and most important of all men. It was Haig’s battle and his victory. So much so, most souvenirs of the day have his face on them. He did care about men and set up the Haig Fund (Poppies, raising money, Remembrance Sunday.
Was he a great commander? I don’t think so. He was a man of his time really. Limited. A true Victorian with a demands for smart turnout regardless of circumstances and no alcohol. A bit of an oddball then. But he wasn’t as he was painted.
Phil - Duke of Wellington. Now there was a commander. | | | |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 19:00 - Aug 3 with 71 views | Leaky |
Cab i be in a trench on my own as couldn't stand the bickering be in in a trench with that mob |  | | |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 19:18 - Aug 3 with 47 views | WeWereZombies |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 19:00 - Aug 3 by Leaky |
Cab i be in a trench on my own as couldn't stand the bickering be in in a trench with that mob |
That would be a foxhole, usually tense and lonely affairs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_fighting_position#Terminology
'It is known more commonly within United States Army slang as a "fighting position" or as a "ranger grave".'
There's always a place for brave and foolhardy individuals in the guerrilla movement. | |
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| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 19:26 - Aug 3 with 42 views | HighgateBlue |
| If all TWTD’ers were in the trenches together on 07:01 - Aug 3 by PioneerBlue |
Is there a place for a sniper? Happy to take anyone down not willing to die for the cause :) |
I'd be careful with that, given that Omari doesn't seem too happy to die for the cause right now!
(Joking. We don't know the facts, yada yada, all that.) |  | | |
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