Ten Years Ago Today, item 11

• December 15, 2016 10:50:13 Jake Warren

  4

  Being a one-pipper in the Artillery was not such

  an arduous task as the same rank in the Infantry.

  the second lieutenant in a line regiment was the hero

  of the war. Field marshals, Generals, Colonels & Staff

  knew no doubt did their bit, but the second lieut.

  along with his Tommies was to my mind the man

  who won the war. He had to go where his men had

  to go. He was the man who simply dare not show

  any funk. He it was who must be with his men

  on raids and attacks, advances & retreats, front line

  jobs and reserve, working parties and ration carrying.

  he must endure all the grime and filth of the trench

  warfare, he it was who must be ready at all

  times to advise, bully, sympathise, laugh or cry

  with them all. Stern in the face of danger or

  trouble and always remembering the proud title of

  the British officer – gentlemen – which in spite of

  many sneers was applied with truth to the

  majority of those men and boys from all stations

  of life who accepted the responsibility of trying

  to lead men in the greatest of all wars.

                  But I digress, among the numerous duties of a

  second lieutenant in the Artillery  was one commonly called

  O.P. that is observation post duty. As you may know

  most times the guns fire without the gunners being able

  to see their target – known as indirect firing – and

  in order to see the result of each round it is

  necessary for an officer to go forward to some position to

• December 9, 2016 21:30:16 Sue Bryant

  4

  Being a one-pipper in the Artillery was not such

  an arduous task as the same rank in the Infantry.

  the second lieutenant in a line regiment was the hero

  of the war. Field marshals, Generals, Colonels & Staff

  knew no doubt did their bit, but the second lieut.

  along with his Tommies was to my mind the man

  who won the war. He had to go where his men had

  to go. He was the man who simply dare not show

  any funk. He it was who must be with his men

  on raids and attacks, advances & retreats, front line

  jobs and reserve, working parties and ration carrying.

  he must endure all the grime and filth of the trench

  warfare, he it was who must be ready at all

  times to advise, bully, sympathise, laugh or cry

  with them all. Stern in the face of danger or

  trouble and always remembering the proud title of

  the British officer – gentlemen – which in spit of

  many sneers was applied with truth to the

  majority of those men and boys from all stations

  of life who accepted the responsibility of trying

  to lead men in the greatest of all wars.

                  But I digress, among the numerous duties of a

  second lieutenant in the Artillery  was one commonly called

  O.P. that is observation post duty. As you may know

  most times the guns fire without the gunners being able

  to see their target – known as indirect firing – and

  in order to see the result of each round it is

  necessary for an officer to go forward to some position to

  
  

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• December 9, 2016 21:29:53 Sue Bryant

  4

  Being a one-pipper in the Artillery was not such

  an arduous task as the same rank in the Infantry.

  the second lieutenant in a line regiment was the hero

  of the war. Field marshals, Generals, Colonels & Staff

  knew no doubt did their bit, but the second lieut.

  along with his Tommies was to my mind the man

  who won the war. He had to go where his men had

  to go. He was the man who simply dare not show

  any funk. He it was who must be with his men

  on raids and attacks, advances & retreats, front line

  jobs and reserve, working parties and ration carrying.

  he must endure all the grime and filth of the trench

  warfare, he it was who must be ready at all

  times to advise, bully, sympathise, laugh or cry

  with them all. Stern in the face of danger or

  trouble and always remembering the proud title of

  the British officer – gentlemen – which in spit of

  many sneers was applied with truth to the

  majority of those men and boys from all stations

  of life who accepted the responsibility of trying

  to lead men in the greatest of all wars.

                  But I digress, among the numerous duties of a

  second lieutenant in the Artillery  was one commonly called

  O.P. that is observation post duty. As you may know

  most times the guns fire without the gunners being able

  to see their target – known as indirect firing – and

  in order to see the result of each round it is

  necessary for an officer to go forward to some position to

  
  

  • Show revision
  • Compare to current version
  • Compare to previous version

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