British Armed Forces (UK Military)

Two of the three SAS Regt. battalions (21 & 23) are TA units. Basic Selection standards are similar to those for the Regular Army's 22 SAS, but the initial Selection process is spread out over about a year (every other week-end plus a two week period for final assessments), rather than the very intensive month that the Regulars go through. Some assert this makes TA Selection easier, but many disagree: it requires massive commitment to hold down a civilian job whilst maintaining the requisite fitness level, and spend 48 hours every other week running for many miles over rough country carrying a rifle and a massive load! Candidates must complete exactly the same tests/ marches (eg "Fan Dance"; "Sketch Map"; "Long Drag") to the same standard as the Regulars.

Continuation Training is likewise very similar to that of the Regulars, but does not include the "Jungle Phase". Again, it is spread out over a year or more, and includes weapons and tactics; Standard Operating Procedures; survival skills & SERE ("Combat Survival"); patrol skills (medical, signalling, demolitions, languages); advanced reconnaissance skills; unarmed combat & close quarter combat; parachuting etc.. Although some TA SAS Troopers train in advanced free-fall parachuting (HALO/ HAHO) and combat diving, the main emphasis of TA SAS training is on the "classic" SAS roles of long range reconnaissance, raiding, and guerilla warfare.

The Territorial SAS battalions function primarily as long range reconnaissance units, but may also conduct raids and other such tasks. They do not train in "Counter Revolutionary Warfare" and counter-terrorism, but are tasked with things like "combat rescue". A number of TA SAS troops are serving in Afghanistan, and probably elsewhere!

It is not unknown for members of the TA SAS to transfer to the Regular SAS (eg Chris Ryan), but in order to do this they have to formally enlist in the Regular Army (and undergo a nominal period of training - usually recruits' final field exercise/ assessments with a "parent" regiment, typically the Parachute Regt), and they also have to repeat Selection and Continuation Training, especially the Jungle Phase.

Yes... Haig was hugely respected/ admired in the immediate aftermath of World War One. He campaigned vigorously for veterans (see the Haig Poppy appeal etc), and most veterans of "The Great War" regarded him as a "Great Man". General "Black Jack" Pershing of the US Army called him "The man who won the war".

After his death, however, and towards the end of the 1920s (especially following the publication of certain memoirs, plays - notably RC Sheriff's "Journey's End" - and poetry - eg Wilfred Owen) a growing pacifist mood pervaded Britain. There was widespread disillusion following the General Strike, 1926, and the Wall Street Crash of Oct 1929 and subsequent Great Depression (and consequent rise of European Dictators etc) intensified this. Surviving Great War politicians (notably Lloyd-George) also published memoirs in which Haig (recently deceased) was scapegoated for all the shortcomings of the Great War's conduct - conveniently, he could not respond, and nor could he sue!

So, over time, Haig became a convenient repository/ scapegoat for all bitterness relating to the First World War, and in the minds of many (especially on the Left) he came to symbolise all that was wrong with the ruling elite. This perception was reinforced again in the 1960s by plays like "Oh! What a Lovely War!" (produced by a Marxist Theatre "collective") and the commercially very successful film based on it. "Haig bashing" was the default setting of the prevalent Left/ Liberal "intelligensia" and "counter culture" of the period.

Since then, however, most serious military historians (eg John Terraine, Gary Sheffield et al) have done much to cut through all the myths and sentimental balony that had grown up around Haig, and there is a better founded appreciation of what a capable commander he really was. The majority of soldiers who served under his command always acknowledged this - it's just that a changing world could not (especially from mid C20th/ post the even greater horrors of WW2) quite come to terms with the horrendous reality of what was necessary to beat the might of the Kaiser's Armies in the Main Theatre of Operations of World War One!

Simple facts: from mid 1916 it was the British Army commanded by Douglas Haig that took on the main burden of fighting the main army of the primary enemy in the most important theatre of operations of the Great War (WW1). That army became, under Haig, the most formidable instrument of war in the World at the time (even the French acknowledged this!), and ultimately led the Allies in the crushing of the Imperial German Army.

Yes, American help was invaluable (probably shortening the war by 6 months to a year); the French contributed massively (as they had done from the outset, having done most of the really heavy fighting from 1914-16), but it was the Battle of Amiens/ the Hundred Days, and especially the magnificent breaching of the "impregnable" (in French and American estimation) Hindenburg Line, which finally broke German resistance.

As Gen Pershing, US Army, not known for his pro-British sentiments, noted afterwards, it was Haig's army that led the Allied Offensive, demonstrating a quite remarkable capability in fighting a dynamic, "all arms", battle of great tactical flexibility and innovativeness. Haig was quite simply THE man of the moment. No other British general (with the possible exception of Marlborough in the C18th) has ever, before or since, matched his achievements. Everyone knew this at the time - which is why Haig was so highly honoured after the war, but the British have since (with, some might say, characteristic perversity!) somehow forgotten this, and come to believe Haig was, at best, incompetent, and more likely a murderous idiot. He was not, and deserves, in truth, to be remembered as one of history's "Great Commanders".

roughly 46,800

Commonly known as the Dam Busters. I was with them in the fifties as electrical fitter working on Avro Lincolns and Canberra's. We also did a six month stint in Malaya.

Ken

As far as I can remember the Mosquito's based at RAF Schleswig up to 1958 did not have the dignity of a squadron number. The Mossies were B 35's modified to the target towing role with air driven winches fitted under the fuselage I seem to remember there were 9 B35's and one T3 ( full dual control and no winch).

We were simply known as the Target towing flight and we were a subsidiary of RAF Sylt. Our primary job was to tow target drogues for the Bundeswehr over the Todendorf firing ranges, light ack-ack wasn't too bad but heavy AA could be scary, especially remembering that in the mid fifties there where some gunners that had actually shot at Mossies in ernest a few years before!

We actually burned some Mossies as they were declared not worth flying home! One at least found its way to America to the Kermit Weeks aircraft museum, RA 299 I think.

I've got some photos if they are wanted

Jim

two …. many

Yes there is. Near the bank.

RAF Blackbushe was created in 1942.

In the UK he could be a Major (Maj), Liutenant-General (Lt Gen) or a Field Marshal (FM)!

RAF Mepal ended in 1963.

RAF Throwley was created in 1916.

For an airman 11minutes 11seconds

Officially, no

RAF Benevolent Fund was created in 1919.

The Scots Guards typically carry the L85A2 rifle while on patrol, which is a standard issue for British Army infantry units. In addition to the L85A2, they may also use sidearms such as the Glock 17 for personal defense. Depending on the specific mission or operational requirements, they might also have access to other weapons, including light machine guns like the L110A1.

The requirement is to be a non-commissioned officer with 22 years service, along with the good conduct medal.

Yeomanry

Which of these two forces are stronger than the other? either individually or in Teams. who generally is The Best?

Raf Vallone died on October 31, 2002 at the age of 86.

loyalists or lobster backs

'Fuzzy Wuzzy' originated from the British wars in the Sudan in 1894-1895. The Hadendowah warriors of the Mahdist army had distinctive looking hairstyles somewhat reminiscent of today's "afro". The Hadendowah warriors were savagely fierce fighters. In two separate battles they managed to break British defensive squares. In a tribute to their fighting prowess, the famous English poet Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem about them. The nursery rhyme (not written by Kipling) alludes to the fact that the warriors had this distinctive hair style and were "bears" e.g. tough, fierce, etc. on the battlefield. The nursery rhyme may also allude to the fact that between the first and second Red Sea campaigns of the first Sudan War, the Mahdi decreed that the "fuzzy" hairstyle was not Islamic. After that the Hadendowah warriors shaved their heads - making them not fuzzy after all.

RAF Watnall ended in 1961.

RAF Brize Norton

This depends on the new technologies getting invented and whether RAF can make it's some another type of bomber plane which will be best rated in the world.If they would be successful in making a new high tech bomber,they will definitely use another bomber.

As an airfield, no. Sold in the mid 90's, the runway area is occasionally used for antique fairs, whilst the domestic site is being turned into the new town of Witham St Hughs. The J-type hangars remain, but little else.