Max
Full Member
"What the Funk's that?" "It's my bren gun"
Posts: 156
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Post by Max on Mar 9, 2005 14:14:06 GMT -5
As guv says about working in pairs, it's not just the kit, it's the time, one digs in and the other cooks, one sleeps the other keeps watch. This is probably why men that only spent 2-3 years together have a bond that lasts the rest of their lives.
Change of subject but could someone do a food list and the modern day subs, I missed HBII with Guv's rations!
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Post by Guv on Mar 9, 2005 15:33:40 GMT -5
Max, I'll post a repro list a.s.a.p.
The point about 'buddy-buddy" with an oppo is a spot on idea mate, the sooner we as individuals get sorted with an 'oppo' the better methinks.
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Post by rupert on Mar 10, 2005 3:35:09 GMT -5
Sounds like a great idea, will really bring a sense of cohesion to the overall display when digging in methinks.
Also its easier to make sure you have everything.
one brings gin the other brings tonic one brings lemon the other brings ice (could be a logistical nightmare, but Guv'll testify to there being ice in the field before now.)
To add to Guvs excellent observation about the buddy thing in times past,
Major Robert Rogers (rogers rangers) specified in his rules of ranging that all men should operate in pairs at all times, predominantly when working from canoe so that one could watch the shoreline whilsts the other concentrated on where they were going. He stipulated that all men should be independently capable, and jointly responsible for the well being of the unit. and this was in 1755. I think this ethos is quite a nice one.
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Max
Full Member
"What the Funk's that?" "It's my bren gun"
Posts: 156
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Post by Max on Mar 10, 2005 13:13:42 GMT -5
I've found a photo of a dead Canadian, He has his mess tins in his waterbottle carrier. Only thing is can't see a waterbottle?
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Post by Guv on Mar 10, 2005 13:31:07 GMT -5
An old trick was to put the small mess-tin in the waterbottle sleeve with a cold meal and a hexamine block or two on the left hip. The mug would be stored in the bottom of his respirator haversack, the water bottle was either on a cradle on his right hip or carried over the shoulder on a strap.
Instant tea and lunch with no small-pack in sight!
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OLL
Full Member
Here's a picture of me before the war.... Handsome eh!
Posts: 181
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Post by OLL on Mar 10, 2005 14:43:53 GMT -5
Guv, what did the section NCO's do apart from the organising and arranging? Would they buddy up also??
Also, could i have a repro rations list as well mate?
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Post by Guv on Mar 10, 2005 15:17:26 GMT -5
Good question Oll, apart from scrounge f*gs you mean?
As we ALL know, the most important, indespensable, hard-working member of the British Army is the Lance Corporal, and that was the case too back in WW2. (light blue touch-paper and wait for explosion...............)
The buck stopped there!
Not only did he have to command the gun group, act as a mother hen to 8 private soldiers - organising water and ammo, but be ready to take command should the Section Commander 'cop-it'.
He was the link between the PBI Private and the 'powers that be'. It was the most difficult step, from Private to Lance Jack - the sudden responsibility and authority was immense.
He would 'dig-in' with the gun group in a three man support trench and be the link between the Corporal and Riflemen and the supporting fire of the Bren.
The Bren was 75% of the Sections firepower and if it went out of action even for a short time, the consequences could be dire.
As for buddy-ing up, when out of the front lines, it was common for the two NCO's to bivvi down together, the idea was that the 8 Privates get to let off a bit of steam without some geezer with an arm full of tapes listening in.
When in operations in the field, the two NCO's would only join up for O groups or instructions in the field, and would NEVER share the same trench - as an unlucky (or lucky!) potato masher could take them both out.
Don't forget Chris's #1 golden rule - tapes and positions are for authenticity only,and mean absolutely nothing else - we are all equal - apart from Dan and Stu of course.
The way recruitment is going on I bet we could be looking for yet another single-stripe-hero before the end of the year too mate.
Adios
Guv.
(Okay,okay, so the most important soldier was the Private.)
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Post by Whizz_Bang on Mar 10, 2005 19:24:09 GMT -5
On a slightly different note, a BIG misconception is that Infantry are the dreggs of the army. After leasons learned during WW1 (remove an officer and nobody has any idea what the plan of attack was).. Infantry tended to be better educated than the average. Each sodiers was briefed with the objectives beforehand usually by the L/Cpl. The brass briefs the Sarge, the Sarge briefs the Corp, the Corp briefs the L/Cpl. Thus everyone knew their role & specifically their role.
As Guv mentioned, the L/Cpl is the mediator, any gripes or issues would be dealt by the L/Cpl, if it cant be resolved the Corp gets involved but theres a chance the higher it goes the more official it becomes. If there's a cock up within the section the corpoal is accountable but he'll wanna know why it happened..... the L/cpl is there to see he doesn't get bothered by such trivialities.
Good topic btw.
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Post by Guv on Mar 11, 2005 2:30:16 GMT -5
"It's my job to get you all to Berlin and back without getin' killed"
Big Joe - Kellys Heroes
That's the Corporals job.
(Although Big Joe is a sergeant, his equivelant rank in the British Army is a Corporal as they are both Section commanders.)
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Post by Tiny on Mar 11, 2005 4:19:13 GMT -5
Would there be any way of encorporating this aspect in to our displays? During public battle's would be easy enough, but for the static stuff? Maybe have a couple of people up front to talk to the MOP's and the rest of us carrying out our day to day routines?
Or have I got way too much time on my hands at work?
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Max
Full Member
"What the Funk's that?" "It's my bren gun"
Posts: 156
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Post by Max on Mar 11, 2005 13:32:40 GMT -5
I know we're all equal but as the group gets bigger there is more of a need for someone to tell us what to do, which for myself I don't mind. So if we come up with a list of all the jobs/activities a section could do it the field, then during a public display the L/cpl can tell someone to do this, ask have you done that, even in front of a crowd send someone running of to Battalion HQ and watch their faces as they think "what they've got a Battalion here!!"
Like when theres a market a small patrol can be sent off to recce it, and then another and so on. But all the public at the camp see is the cpl or L/cpl giving a kit/weapons check and telling them which way to go and what to watch out for.
Think I'll get meself something lighter to patrol with though!!
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Post by Guv on Mar 11, 2005 17:49:47 GMT -5
Max mate,
This was the whole idea behind Chris's 'Rank and Promotion' procedure which he instigated three years ago.
Nothing at all to do with favourite-ism or length of service with the group, but who 'looked the part' and had actual experience to pull it off in front of the general public - i.e. service experience etc. (no pulling-it off jokes please Paul!)
The plan for this year will be probably to have each section do a stint with the mops, giving other chaps a chance to stretch their legs and get a bit of a break.
If we get 100% turnout at an event, that will give us 10 blokes in #1 Section, 10 blokes in #2, 6 blokes and 1 officer in HQ Section and 3 left over towards #3 Section. Of course, that will never happen, but it looks like we can field 3 Sections without a problem. Perhaps next year a whole Platoon??
As ever, play-it-by-ear will be the approach, as long as EVERYBODY is happy, that's the main thing. It looks like the next six months will be a blast!
Guv.
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Ian
New Member
Posts: 30
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Post by Ian on Mar 12, 2005 14:30:31 GMT -5
Personally I like talking to the mops, that's one of the reasons I joined this re-enactment group, you will find me at the barriers talking to anybody that willl listen.
There are 101 good reasons for this, but I think you all all intelligent enough to know what they are.
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Post by rupert on Mar 14, 2005 3:56:30 GMT -5
On the point that Max made earlier, I think that the whole operational section facade is a cool idea. After the D-day thing last year I wrote a couple of scripts based around a briefing of the sections, I have since lost the said scripts. think Chris might have one. anyhoo whadda ya say to working on some briefings to put on a display for the public. or maybe some T.E.W.T.S for the sections to work on?
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Post by Tiny on Mar 14, 2005 8:24:39 GMT -5
Some cracking ideas there lads, thats what I was struggling to say earlier ;D. Every time I've been to LH shows and seen groups acting out different things, it's always impressed me. Nothing worse in my opinion than seeing a group sitting around chatting amoungst themselves ignoring the paying mops.
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