Walking The Ground

11/17/2024

Experience Christmas 1914 with First World War historians Peter Doyle and Taff Gillingham.

This December will mark the 110th anniversary of the famous 1914 Christmas Truce and the 1914 Princess Mary Christmas Gift. Great War Huts invites you to join us for a special event and exhibition, in partnership with author and historian Professor Peter Doyle.

11/17/2024

Variety’s list of the “30 Greastest War Films.”How many of these do you agree with? What should be removed from the list and what should be added?

These are the best movies about World War I, WW2, Vietnam and more, from "Inglourious Basterds" to "Saving Private Ryan."

11/17/2024

“This shaft marks the field of the engagement between the Union Cavalry commanded by Brig. Gen. D. McM. Gregg and the Confederate Cavalry commanded by Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. July 3d, 1863.”

11/16/2024

Whack-O! Who had the funnier moustache, me or Jimmy Edwards?

True story. Comedian Jimmy Edwards grew his trademark moustache during the Second World War.

On 21 September 1944, Flight Lieutenant James Edwards was piloting a Dakota III transport aircraft (S/N KG444) of 271 Squadron RAF on a supply drop over Arnhem. The aircraft was bounced by enemy fighters and badly shot up. With wounded men aboard who could not parachute to safety, Edwards kept the burning aircraft aloft and brought the Dakota in for a crash landing behind enemy lines. Edwards was badly burned on his face and arms during the crash.

Rescued by members of the Belgian resistance, Edwards was passed down one of the MI9 escape lines (similar to those portrayed in the BBC/VRT series Secret Army) and back to British lines.

The facial scars Edwards received from his wounds led to him growing his trademark moustache. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for valour, courage, and devotion to duty.

11/13/2024

Командир взвода автоматчиков 241-го стрелкового полка 95-й стрелковой дивизии сержант Павел Яковлевич Гольдберг в одном из цехов разрушенного завода "Баррикады".

Sergeant Pavel Yakovlevich Goldberg commanding an assault platoon of submachine gunners of the 241st Regiment, 95th Rifle Division, in one of the destroyed workshops of the Barrikady Factory at Stalingrad.

📷 Георгий Зельма (Georgy Zelma), 11.11.1942.

11/13/2024

Wojtek the bear served as a Corporal in the Polish Army 🇵🇱 🐻

Wojtek was a Syrian Brown Bear purchased as a young cub by polish soldiers passing through Hamadan, Iran, in 1942.

The soldiers were members of Polish II Corps who were exiles from their homeland and fighting for the Allies.

Wojtek became a member of 22nd Ammuntion Supply Company, fed on condensed milk, fruit, and honey. He also copied the Polish soldiers in the company and became fond of coffee in the morning and beer in the evening.

When the Polish II Corps was assigned to the Italian Campaign on 1943, all units were ordered to leave their mascots behind. The ingenious Poles got around the restriction by drafting Wojtek into the Polish Army as a Private.

Wojtek was no longer a cub. As a young adult, he was able to lift and carry 100 lb (45 kg) crates of artillery ammunition. It usually took 4 men to lift the crates and load them into a truck. Wojtek could do it on his own.

For his service during the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek was promoted to Corporal. He continued serving throughout the campaign and ended the war with Polish II Corps in Northern Italy.

After the war, Wojtek’s unit was posted to Scotland while the Polish Army in exile disbanded. Some members returned to Poland (now in Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc), while others remained in Britain for resettlement as refugees.

Corporal Wojtek was honorably discharged from the Polish Army in 1947 and retired to Edinburgh Zoo, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was often visited by old comrades who would call out to him in Polish and toss him ci******es - a favorite snack. The remarkable bear passed away in 1963.

Today, a bronze statue of Wojtek stands in West Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh. It depicts the bear walking alongside one of his fellow Polish soldiers.

11/13/2024

Kriegsspiel.

11/11/2024

A Belgian woman gives Canadian artillery horse a drink, November 1918.

Source: Library and Archives Canada, image no. 3397221.

11/11/2024

As the war began, so the war ended.

Photo 1: Soldiers of 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, rest in the Grand Place at Mons, Belgium, 22 August 1914.

Photo 2: Soldiers of the 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada), CEF, rest in the Grand Place in Mons, Belgium, 11 November 1918.

11/11/2024

Mule team drawing ammunition on a light railway track near Petit Vimy, France, April 1917.

Men identified (left to right):
Gnr. Tom Fieldhouse
Pte. Gerry St. Soucy
Pte. Frank Barker
Pte. Jackson
Pte. Neill
Pte. Brown
Gnr. W. E. Weaver

Source: Library and Archives Canada, item no. 3194791.

11/11/2024

KUCHA THE BATTERY MULE.

A short story by A. S. Barrow, published in The Tatler, 16 December 1914. Told from the point-of-view of an Army mule assigned to a mountain artillery battery.

"Action front!" rang out Fullerton's voice; and as we unlimbered I trotted up by No. 2 of our gun team, Travers, the big red-haired battery sergeant major, went down with a bullet through his head. As the breach was being unstrapped from my back down went No. 2 and the bullet also grazed my hip. There was a yell. Their swordsmen were into us, hacking and stabbing and screaming for blood...

11/09/2024

Coal Box, mascot of the 2nd Battalion, The King’s Royal Rifle Corps.

Coal Box wandered into British lines in Belgium in 1914 and was adopted by 2nd KRRC. The plucky pony remained with the battalion throughout the First World War and accompanied the Band and Bugles on parade.

Cared for by Lance Corporal Geary, Coal Box had a special “pony box” on the back of a GS lorry which carried him during long marches.

After the war, Coal Box served with 2nd KRRC in England and Ireland.

In 1921, now blind, the battalion took the sad decision to alleviate their beloved mascot’s suffering.

📷 Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum.

11/09/2024

Jimson, the British Army’s most decorated mule.

Jimson began his military career in India as a pack mule carrying ammunition. He was awarded the India Medal with three campaign clasps: Relief of Chitral, Punjab Frontier, and Tirah.

Jimson served in South Africa during the Boer War. He was awarded two medals with seven campaign clasps: Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing’s Nek, South Africa 1901, and South Africa 1902.

📷 NAM 1992-08-77-4.

11/09/2024

Second Battle of Falujah began November 8, 2004. Today is the 20th anniversary.

Photo of an air strike called in on a suspected insurgent hideout at the edge of Fallujah, Iraq by U.S. Marines assigned K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, during the opening hours of Operation Phantom Fury.

The battle for control of the city continues for 45-days until December 23, 2004. During this period, 95 U.S. military personnel are killed and 560 wounded.

The battle was later described as "some of the heaviest urban combat U.S. military have been involved in since the Battle of Huế City in Vietnam in 1968.”

📷 LCPL James J. Vooris.