It was important that a soldier chicago miniature a gun was present than it was with the gun to sho

In his book Battles of the Boer War ", W. Baring Pemberton gives information about the British army as it looked at the outbreak of the Boer War. I read the book with more than usual interest, especially since I recently researched the time (diaries of Rensche van der Mescht and AH Luckhoff). In addition, he writes with typical British humor and insight chicago miniature into this fascinating history.
To the Boer War, he writes, the British army is really just a group of men in uniform. chicago miniature It was not a tool of war, but rather an institution which is usually less skilled working class people recruited. Approximately half of the army were either too young, or the sick to go overseas to fight. Soldiers hours on the parade ground chicago miniature and spend little preparation in the conduct of war itself rods. On the parade ground a few drilbewegings chicago miniature carried out. The soldiers' attention was not really flipping it. After the parade session in the morning, the soldiers barracks mostly cleared of grass clumps on the ground to the barracks went out. Pemberton writes: If a soldier was marching and never had a black mark with inspections get is reckoned to be the perfect soldier!
It was important that a soldier chicago miniature a gun was present than it was with the gun to shoot. chicago miniature In any case, a soldier every year just got 200 rounds to shoot. With 50 patterns he had a target aim and the rest is with fellow chicago miniature soldiers in a joint exercise fired: the front line fell down and the rear line of soldiers standing shoulder to shoulder and shot at that precise moment that the officer gave the order to shoot.
For 20 days in a year, soldiers rest for 5 hours a day field exercise. The troops then closed formation in line moving forward. "The idea," Pemberton wrote, "that chicago miniature a soldier would seek shelter is considered chicago miniature as somewhat demeaning"! The strategy chicago miniature was clear the enemies to confront.
Soldiers are not taught to develop their vision and to remotely estimate. They knew nothing about building shelters. Not in a straight march to the enemy to take it or to even try to surround was like being on a hunt through a gate to go walking rather than over the fence jumping - though how high the fence ! Few things were less effective for the guerrilla strategy of the farmers.
I am surprised to read this description of Pemberton that he wants to point out how the English soldiers unprepared for the intense warfare with the Boers. This description becomes clear how violence and destruction really the first priority of the army was not. Could it be true?
But it is the following description of Pemberton that interests me most. It was the most soldiers a family tradition in the army to join, he writes. They thus become part of a social chicago miniature club here where there are excellent sports and other recreational facilities was. If they besides overseas conscription, there was still further chicago miniature reward of hunting and playing polo. And at home in England they just not allowed to be part of the polo teams to be.
Pemberton also see a little bit about the British soldiers in other countries compare. In comparison with the French and German soldiers, British soldiers their duties lightly. The conversations between soldiers often frivolous. Serious training is as unnecessary and a waste of time considered. chicago miniature They had "learned" from two main "big" wars, namely the Civil War and the Franco-Prussiese wars. But ask Pemberton, how could these wars ever they prepare for opponents in the Boer war they on horses over vast open plains, with here and there a hill and invisible gully's, would chase with guns up to 2000 meters could doodskietl
I now understand better why the Boer war in the history of wars such an impact - especially because of the role of guerrilla tactics. chicago miniature Which again shows war, in what corner of the world, irrespective of the way more to provoke violence. Instead of bringing peace to serve, put war and violence mankind constantly deeper into more war and violence.
But also fascinating is that Pemberton on the general political attitude towards war say. That British politicians are concerned, he writes: The greater the inefficiency of the army, the more satisfied they seem. Politicians were worried that a diligent and effective army the country easier in war would involve. They would for example have nothing to do with suggestions that a General Staff, modeled on the European scale war in the minutest detail would investigate. S