Christmas Wah.

[SonofC]

I'm currently working with our American brethren. On Christmas night there was a rather pleasing Wah generated, which I'm going to share in the interests of Christmas Cheer. This is my first post - so please be gentle!

Lemme ‘splain…

It was mentioned during a brief that those assembled here might have noticed all the Brits wearing what appeared to be Santa hats but that, in the way of strange British Military traditions, of which there are many, these were not what they appeared. The wearing of these hats had its’ historical origins in the Battle of Mahanpur, which occurred on Christmas Day, 1836. During the battle, a vastly outnumbered British force, the 1st/28th Regiment of the Bengal Lancers, facing overwhelming odds, fought particularly valiantly against their foe and although they suffered substantial losses, eventually carried the day. The wearing of the hat was in memoriam to their valour and that of their fallen as the regimental headdress of the Lancers was a soft cap not dissimilar in shape and colour to the modern day Santa hat. As a consequence, on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day the ‘Santa/Lancers’ hat was formal attire for British military personnel.

Cue much giggling from the Brit desks. I nearly choked to death afterwards when one of our colleagues asked me what the precise differences between the headdress and the Santa hat were and whether there was any more information or pictures of the battle, or headdress, as they found it all very interesting…

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

[talk_shy_tall_knight]

Step aside Gervais.

[seanbean]

Not so far fetched - see here:

What Christmas truce? Carol service for our troops on the Afghan frontline ends with a blast of reality from the Taliban | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1100768/What-Christmas-truce-Carol-service-troops-Afghan-frontline-ends-blast-reality-Taliban.html)

[teeteringhead]

But with so many wierd traditions who is to know what isn't true? One recalls the tale of the sapper subaltern who had mislaid his gloves, so was walking across the square at Pirbright (in uniform on a v cold and frosty moring) with hands in pockets. Roared at by Depot RSM, sapper matey explains that during mine clearing on the Messine Ridge in WW1 in advance of a Guards Division assault, many sapper junior officers lost fingers to frostbite whilst clearing the mines.

Hencxeforth, sapper subalterns were permitted to cross the Pirbright Square with hands in pockets in recognition of their "above and beyond" conduct.

Total BS, but cue muttered apologies from RSM. :D

[john50uk]

Seanbean, many thanks for that link. Those are quality pics!!:ok:

[seanbean]

I have still to work out why they appear to be firing illuminating rounds in broad daylight.... Any cognoscenti care to "shed some light" on the matter?

[Green Flash]

Maybe as a marker so that Mr JDAM could come a'calling? (Although I suppose a smoke round might have been a better marker. Dunno)

[Rakshasa]

Judging by the length of the shadows and light quality in the pictures, it looks like it happened around sunrise or sunset. Good chance Terry was up on the shaded side of a nearby mountain.

[Bob Viking]

Anyone care to explain why we bother with Rammadan ceasefires, when this is what our boys get in return?!
Always seems to me like a good time to catch them with their pants down. So to speak!
BV:ugh:

[Romeo Oscar Golf]

Anyone care to explain why we bother with Rammadan ceasefires


Perhaps it's because we are (relatively) civilised?

[JackRyan]

No shame on the Yanks for this; we've enough ridiculous traditions and customs in our military. A recent example is sending our men on to the front line without body armour - incredible but true!