This discussion has been closed.
Posted by Grumpyfred (U2228930) on Wednesday, 8th March 2006
I remember as a young man, our family taking my grandfather to meet one of his old Great War comrades. He told us this story. Every day while they where in the tranches, a German Aircraft would come over and shoot them up. My grandfather was a crack shot, and to him this was just a very large bird. So this morning he had had enough. He brought up his Lee Enfield, and shot the pilot through the head, the plane crashed not far away. The Company commander dashed over, and tore a strip of him. "I will not have other ranks shooting at officers. Don't you ever do that again." were the words. Anybody else ever heard of stupid things like that.
, in reply to message 1.
Posted by The Earl of Suffolk (U1888243) on Wednesday, 8th March 2006
I read somewhere that before the battle of Waterloo started, Napoleon came within range of the British cannon.
A gunner asked Wellington if he could try a shot at him & Wellington replied "certainly not, commanders of armies have far more important things to do than to fire at one another"!
Supposedly my dads uncle was put on a charge for having lost his Lee Enfield on his return from Dunkirk..
But thats the British Army for you!
Wonderful. Burn lorrys, blow up tanks. Destroy guns that may have been needed on the beaches, but loose your rifle. You are on a charge Sun Shine.
Hey I wonder if thats why captains go down with their ships???
An enlisted man serving in Iraq was recently badly burned as a result of a bomb explosion. His "Flack Jacket" was burned badly and had to be surgically removed from his body. After months of recovery he was given a "Disability" dascharge from the army. Upon his release he had to account for all his equipment. When he could not account for his "Flack Jacket" he had to pay the government $625 before he could be discharged.
, in reply to message 5.
Posted by Backtothedarkplace (U2955180) on Wednesday, 8th March 2006
Hey I wonder if thats why captains go down with their ships???Β
I was told by a freind who was on hms coventry duringthe falklands that he was sat in the life raft with the captain watching his ship sink and one of the young jacks asked if this meant they were let off captains rounds?
Reminds me of a joke.
A guardsman has done his 12 years of service, war and peace, during which he has painstakingly cleaned and oiled his rifle every day. On his last day the CO calls him in to commend him on his exemplary record.
"Now Guardsman Briggs" he says "You have served under me for 12 years since I was a young Lieutenant and I have always looked to you as a fine example of a British soldier. Is there anything I can do for you on your last day with the colours?"
"Yes SIR, permission to take my rifle with on my discharge SIR."
The CO thinks about this for some time and finally says "That is a very unusual request Briggs but due to your exemplary service and war record I will grant it, good luck my man."
Briggs marches out of the COs office with a chit for the armourer to release his rifle which he carries out of the gates with his kit bag. When he gets home his wife is puzzled as to why he has got the rifle as they live in a city and Briggs has never shot for pleasure.
At ex Guardsman Briggs new home he spends two days lovingly constructing a stone plinth to which he mounts a brass plaque. Then he carefully bolts the gleaming rifle onto the brass plaque.
Standing back to admire his work he whispers to himself "Now rust you farckin barsteward!"
I like it. But that is no way to treat an old friend.
Would be interesting to see how long it would take an SA80A2 to rust away against an SMLE though!
The off SMLE turns up after all these years from the Great War. Even after 80 years, it can still be seen as a rifle. Will the 80 be the same?
During WW1, RFC pilots had to remove the clock from their aircraft if they crashed otherwise they were charged for it.
think it was in the phoney war - and german divisions were hidden in a forest (black?) - it was suggested that the RAF should drop incendiarces (SP) but stopped cos it was PRIVATE property
When FAA planes classed as "beyond repair" were being shoved over the side from the carrier, various persons could be seen struggling frantically to get the clocks and other "rabbits" out of them.
Vessels engaged in the Dunkirk evacuation were later requested to turn in any weapons they had "acquired" during the operation. Some did hand in rifles, but any automatics normally got added to the ship's defensive AA battery, purely unofficially.
The History message boards are now closed. They remain visible as a matter of record but the opportunity to add new comments or open new threads is no longer available. Thank you all for your valued contributions over many years.
or Β to take part in a discussion.
The message board is currently closed for posting.
The message board is closed for posting.
This messageboard is .
Find out more about this board's
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Β© 2014 The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.