True World War I Stories
They were compiled in the early 30's and it's just been re-issued. Harrowing stuff, I cant imagine being given very little training and then being sent to the front. Most were injured in their first attack (probably why they survived the war).
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:24, 1 reply, 16 years ago)

This is precisely what happened to my great-grandfather
who went 'over the top' armed with nothing but a swagger-cane and was promptly shot to ribbons, but was treated and survived because he was such an early casualty.
( Monty Boyce, My cheese game is strong, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:27, Reply)

Surely he'd taken his own sidearm?
A Colt or Browning perhaps? On a lanyard like your mittens?
(porkylips looks better as the sun goes down., Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:30, Reply)

contrary to popular belief
being armed with a revolver is not much more use than a cane when running into the face of entrenched germans with machine guns and rifles
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:33, Reply)

"Dont forget your stick sir!"
Blackadder goes forth
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:36, Reply)

"...clearly, Field Marshall Haig is about to make another gargantuan effort to move his drinks cabinet six inches closer to Berlin"
It does seem to sum up the bleakly ineffective approach to that war very well, in a rather depressing way.
(LongJohnBaldry, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:38, Reply)

I think officers were issued with a Webley in WW1

( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 11:02, Reply)

Yowzers
My great grandfather served for a few years in WW1, I have loads of photos and 2 medals. He had bits of shrapnel in his legs for the rest of his life (apparently they would rise to the surface and he could pick them out).
( Colonel Dracula Two manky hookers and a racist dwarf, Wed 21 Apr 2010, 10:36, Reply)