Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
- Start date
In documentaries that i have watched and books i have read, the British commandos adapted a casual and laid back dress style in action, emphasis was on physical fitness, weapons skills and being aggressive in action,..many soldiers transfered from the Regular British Army to join the commandos,.to escape the endless days of parades, stuffy upper class officer corps, to join a fighting unit
Lord Lovat when he landed at Dieppe didnt carry a Tommy gun,..photos show him with a hunting rifle slung over his shoulder
Well a lot might have transferred but not sure a lot got through training. My father was sent on a course in Scotland while he was an instructor at OCTU...he was one of few that passed. He was pretty tough... a farmboy, worked in the bush and had been a special constable briefly in the '30's. When he returned by train from the course for leave my mother met him at the station and did not recognize him!
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
Same concept, ###ier execution:
- Location
- my heart in the blue sea
Chips was a true hero -- but his Silver Star for valor and a Purple Heart were taken away because he was categorized as mere "equipment"
By Sandra Estrada
Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dogs for Defense was (DFD) was established. Word soon got out that the armed forces needed dogs. Thousands of patriotic pet owners across America responded by donating their pets for enlistment into the K-9 Corps. Little did a family from Pleasantville, NY know that their shepherd mix, Chips, would become the most decorated dog hero of World War II.
Spirited and quick to learn, Chips served bravely as a tank guard dog, traveling throughout Europe, Africa, and Italy with General Patton's Seventh Army.
On one occasion, Chips alerted to an impending ambush. Then, with a phone cable attached to his collar, Chips ran back to base, dodging gunfire so that the endangered platoon could establish a communications line and ask for the backup they so desperately needed.
Perhaps the event that most exemplifies his courage and devotion occurred early one morning on a beach in Sicily. As he and his handler proceeded up the beach, they came under fire from a disguised pillbox. Chips broke free from his handler and launched himself right into the pillbox. Moments later several bitten and surrendering Italian soldiers emerged, all shepherded by a very determined Chips.
Though wounded in the melee, Chips returned to duty that night, and alerted troops to an approaching group of Italians. This allowed his handler and squad time to capture all of them.
Chips was a true hero. He was awarded a Silver Star for valor, and a Purple Heart for his wounds. The newspapers heralded his exploits. Unfortunately, the press attracted the attention of the Commander of the Order of the Purple Heart. He complained to both President Roosevelt and the War Department, claiming that by so honoring Chips, they were demeaning all the men who have been awarded a Purple Heart. Chips' medals were taken away, and he was given an honorable discharge and returned to his family in Pleasantville. No military dog has received an official decoration since.
The debate surrounding the giving of metals to military dogs not only led to the denying of dogs the right to recognition for their efforts, but also paved the way for the military to classify them as "equipment" -- a classification that would cost them dearly. When the US pulled out of Vietnam, the military dogs were classified as "equipment" and left behind. Despite earnest efforts to bring the dogs home, the order to abandon them was firm. Over 4,000 dogs served in Vietnam, many sacrificing their lives. They saved thousands of American soldiers from death or injury. Stories vary as to what became of these valiant canines, but one thing is known to a certainty is that they shared all 24/7 with their handler. These dogs gave their full measure of devotion -- whatever the danger -- but they did not get to share the freedom of coming home.
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Chips was a Collie–German Shepherd–Siberian Husky mix who was the most decorated dog in World War II. The pooch saw action in Germany, France, North Africa, and Sicily. Among the animal’s heroic exploits are his assault on an Italian machine-gun nest and helping take 10 enemy Italian soldiers captive. Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Purple Heart, and Silver Star for his actions; unfortunately, the commendations were revoked as military policy at the time didn’t allow such recognition for animals. The dog returned to his home in Pleasantville, N.Y., in 1945.
Read more at http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/10959-five-war-dogs-for-memorial-day#HtikP2kYfchCfVhF.99
loved reading this post on devoted dogs who saved the life of hundreds of soldiers
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_CC-1
HMCS CC-1 was a CC-class submarine used by the Royal Canadian Navy. The ship was launched in 1913 in Seattle, Washington as the submarine Iquique for Chile.[1] This deal fell through and the boat, along with HMCS CC-2, was offered to British Columbia's premier Sir Richard McBride, just nine days before the declaration of war in 1914.[2][3] On August 4, 1914, the day the United Kingdom declared war on Germany, the boat departed at night (to maintain secrecy from the Chilean, German, and U.S. governments) for handover to BC authorities near Victoria, BC.[4] The Dominion Government of Canada later ratified the sale although there was a Parliamentary investigation of the cost of both boats, over twice the annual budget for the entire RCN in 1913-14.[3] The submarine entered into service for the RCN, with its near twin, as HMCS CC-1 on 6 August 1914.
Royal Canadian Navy service[edit]
The submarine was assigned to the west coast in the home port of Esquimalt, British Columbia, and conducted training operations and patrols for three years. Together with HMCS Rainbow, CC-1 and CC-2 were the only Canadian or British ships defending the west coast of Canada between 1914 and 1917. Britain had tasked the defence of British Columbia to the Imperial Japanese Navy's North American Task Force.[5] In 1917, the submarine was transferred to the east coast along with her sister and their mother ship, the submarine tender HMCS Shearwater. Its transit through the Panama Canal was the first time a Canadian warship traversed the Panama Canal under the White Ensign. It arrived in Halifax for preparation to send the two subs to the Mediterranean and Europe. Deemed unsafe for transatlantic crossing, CC-1 was held in Halifax as a Training Assistance Boat.[6] Her veteran crew were highly valued but were not able to conduct any other operations than training. Concerns over operational costs and her marginal seaworthiness resulted in her being paid off, and disposed of in 1920.
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I am sure if you passed training they would let you in no matter your origin. The only important thing was that you could kill Germans.
I read a book last year about the precursor to the commander training. The soldiers were taught to carry the knife in the left pocket, scabbard sewn in to make knife withdrawal easier, and a pistol in the right pocket, again holster sewn in. If needed the knife was withdrawn from the pocket, and lightly tossed to the right hand. I don't know if the trousers were standard issue, or modified ones.
I don't know about 'lightly tossed'...I have my father's F-S knife and it is not exactly light and it is dammed sharp and 'pointy'...I would be terrified that if I didn't catch it it would pierce my foot or if I caught it improperly I would gather a few nasty cuts. ....I would be more inclined to pass it carefully from hand to hand. The 'real' F-S knives are quite substantial and have a lot more heft than those postwar bronze copies with potmetal handles. You would also want pretty deep pockets.
I am not sure what the 'preferred' method of carry was as I have seen them on belts and sewn to gaitors.....the pocket would be an interesting choice....as long as you didn't mind that wicked point so close to your balls! Even with the nickel cap.
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Wow, check out those crazy-looking feckers, back row, right.
And look, there's Clark Gable, lower left. I thought he was a waist gunner on a B-17...
and whoever belongs to those hands in the middle of the pic is lost to history, poor chap.
