Footsteps of the fallen

Mr Tickler's Suicide Squad


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In this episode, we look at the weapons of war used by men in the trenches.  The standard rifle of Tommy Atkins was the Short Magazine Lee Enfield,  a highly effective rifle, that was deadly in the hands of a trained marksman.  As casualties rose the declining standards of British musketry were a real concern for senior command.

At the business end of the rifle was often found the sword bayonet, 12" of honed steel used in close combat with the enemy -what did soldiers really think about this ancient weapon of war?

We conclude by looking at the development of grenades, starting with the famous "Jam Tin" bombs, we look at the cottage industry of trench-based explosives which developed from the start of the war; an endeavour that was generally more hazardous for the deliverer than the recipient.  We hear about the Mills bomb, possibly the most famous grenade in history, meet Monsieur X. Plosif the famous French dressmaker, and discover the perils of carrying cricket balls while wearing a kilt.

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Footsteps of the fallenBy Matt Dixon

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