Military Strategy

[cabinetman]

I wonder if Ray can verify any truth to this.

Apologies to any French members (in advance).

From an email:

Why the English wore red coats in battle

A long time ago, Britain and France were at war. During one battle, the
French captured an English colonel. They took him to their headquarters, and
the French general began to question him. Finally, as an afterthought, the
French general asked, Why do you English officers all wear red coats? Don't
you know the red material makes you easier targets for us to shoot at.

In his bland English way, the officer informed the general that the reason
English officers wear red coats is so that if they are shot, the blood won't
show, and the men they are leading won't panic. And that is why, from that
day to this, all French Army officers wear brown trousers.
.

[jackellis]

Cab, this sounds like an urban legend. Funny, but not entirely plausible.

Hmmmm. I wonder if Mythbusters would take this on?

[Alex Franke]

It's a great story, but I would guess this to be more accurate:

"The adoption and continuing use of red by most English soldiers after the Restoration (1660) was the result of circumstances rather than policy, including the relative cheapness of red dyes.[2] There is no known basis for the myth that red coats were favoured because they did not show blood stains. Blood does in fact show on red clothing as a black stain."

[2] W.Y. Carman British Military Uniforms from Contemporary Pictures", Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd 1957
From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_coat_(British_army)

[Bruce Cohen]

And that is why, from that
day to this, all French Army officers wear brown trousers.
.

Well Cab,

Now you went and done it. Pissed off an entire nation, and not just a handful of Mods.

Bruce

[phi1l]

I'm pretty sure the real reason was because they found a real bargain on red dyed material at Big Lots..

[Mr__Bill]

It's not an urban legend, it's a joke. I guess C-man forgot the .


Had a friend who was a newly minted Lt. in Vietnam, (ROTC) the older Sargent he was assigned to (my friend understood the realities of the situation) advised him to spill his lunch in his lap .... so as the men would not notice things later..... he said he did, was glad he did and gave the Sargent a bottle of booze every payday until he was rotated home. He also said he learned early that the Lt. did paperwork and the Sargent led the men.

Bill

[cabinetman]

It's not an urban legend, it's a joke. I guess C-man forgot the .

Bill

I thought it was easy enough to figure it was a joke without the .
.

[herb fellows]

Oh, was that a joke?

[metalman]

I've seen quite a bit of combat, never seen the brown pants.

Guys getting home and their heads going to ****, yeah that I see every day.

[Pappy]

Well Cab,

Now you went and done it. Pissed off an entire nation, and not just a handful of Mods.

Bruce

Considering the military history of the nation in question, don't loose much sleep over it....

[LinuxRandal]

Considering the military history of the nation in question, don't loose much sleep over it....

Go to Google, and type in French Military victories. THEN click the I am feeling lucky button.