Ww1 centenary

[Retlaw]

There is one thing I would like to correct about the upcoming Centenary celebrations regarding WW1, it is the myth being bandiied about by a so called Pals experts, that the Pals dug trenches on the Coppice, that is INCORRECT, the Coppice was and still is a public park. The Pals were not fully equipped with uniforms, boots and a few Boer War Rifles untill the end of November into December. The next question is where would they have aquired the picks & shovels for so many men, when all their millitary equipment had not yet been supplied. Look on Google Earth and the remains of 27 anti glider ditches can be seen, on the Coppice, think how long it would take to dig them. Those ditches were the result of the panic of WW2, on Govenment instructions all flat moorland had to have ditches dug to prevent a German attack by gliders and airborn troups. Our school was closed for a week, the Fire Station, Police Station and the Town Hall were protected by sand bags, I was given an Identity card and a gas mask, air raid shelters were built, ration books were issued.

The Pals were seen by a news reporter attempting to dig a trench as part of their training, but that was on Moleside, he also commented on the lack of rifles for the Pals, and other units he had seen in traning.

[DtheP47]

Great website

BBC - History: World War One