Old Front Line
WW1 Podcast with Paul Reed
Questions and Answers Episode 26
This week we discuss the background to the names British soldiers gave their German counterparts – names like Fritz and Bosch – we examine the role Portugal had on the Western Front and discuss where they are memorialised, look out how modern development has changed The Old Front Line and who was Princess Patricia of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry?
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7 Comments on “Questions and Answers Episode 26”
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Paul,
Thanks again for a great discussion. Hearing about the PPCLI is always fascinating to me because my grandfather was in this regiment. He started in the 164th battalion of the CEF. His victory medal has the PPCLI stamped on it. If a soldier in the CEF stayed in the 164th battalion, would his victory medal be imprinted with 164th battalion?
The 164th battalion was recruited in Halton and Dufferin counties, and mobilized in Orangeville, Ontario, with a strength 26 officers and 710 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 11 April, 1917, on the troop ship Carpathia, and disembarked in the UK on 22 April. Fascinating connection between the Titanic tragedy and this battalion travelling on the Carpathia. My grandfather’s name was Private Harry Lush. Thanks for letting me share. Burke Lush
Peterborough ON, CA
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Paul,
Thanks again for a great discussion. Hearing about the PPCLI is always fascinating to me because my grandfather was in this regiment. He started in the 164th battalion of the CEF. His victory medal has the PPCLI stamped on it. If a soldier in the CEF stayed in the 164th battalion, would his victory medal be imprinted with 164th battalion?
The 164th battalion was recruited in Halton and Dufferin counties, and mobilized in Orangeville, Ontario, with a strength 26 officers and 710 other ranks. The battalion embarked from Halifax on 11 April, 1917, on the troop ship Carpathia, and disembarked in the UK on 22 April. Fascinating connection between the Titanic tragedy and this battalion travelling on the Carpathia. My grandfather’s name was Private Harry Lush.
Thanks for letting me share.
Burke Lush
Peterborough ON, CA
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Hi Burke – I’d guess he still has an original ‘block number’ for the 164th but because his first overseas unit was PPCLI that’s why it’s on his medals. Some fascinating connections there!
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I visited Belgium town Dinant in June 2024, on a WFA Essex Branch Battlefield Tour. There I saw very moving photographs, of some of the families that a German Saxon Regiment murdered on Sunday 23rd August 1914. In total 674 Dinant civilians were ‘executed’ that day – men, women and children (some very young!). I have the greatest respect for Paul’s knowledge and ability to impart that to others. However, I was very disappointed by his suggestion about possible atrocities being ‘1914 propaganda’ – some of 1914 alleged actions may be untrue, but the Dinant massacre certainly happened. Brett Goodyear Grays, Essex, UK
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Somewhat surprised by your comment as that wasn’t what I said at all and I’ve spoken about these massacres in previous podcasts and lead tours to some of the many sites of then which go way beyond just Dinant. The section you refer to was about the language of propaganda which referred to how the enemy was dehumanised in the tone of that propaganda and was in no way a denial of any actual events. Never mind criticism but at least please listen to what I say, thanks.
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Sorry, not meant as criticism, I’m very grateful for your very interesting talks and associated photos, maps etc provided. However, in mentioning ‘Nuns’ etc as part of ‘1914 propaganda’ i.e. things almost certainly untrue, could make your worldwide audience think that there were no actual 1914 atrocities. About 10 years ago the BBC broadcast a radio programme fronted by Frank Gardner, whose premise was, that we had labelled the Germans as ‘baby killers’ when, in fact, they had been ‘nice’. In passing, the programme said that 1914 Belgium atrocities were merely ‘alleged’, as if they were untrue, when in fact over 6,000 Belgium civilians had been executed. Nor any mention of Poison Gas, Flamethrowers, Liner sinking or the death, by bombing, of 18 Poplar school children. I wrote a complaint to the BBC, but got no response, however, don’t think they have repeated the programme. I’m 82 and brought up on Radio 4 as gospel but, now I have no respect for the BBC, after hearing that programme!
Thanks again for your good work. Brett
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Thanks as ever for an excellent Q and A Paul. A pity to that the role played by our oldest ally has attracted such adverse criticism, I have certainly read and heard a lot. So I can only assume that it must be deserved.
Interesting to hear about German artillery monument in Celle. I believe that there was one in Cologne, erected in 1936, apparently meant to represent the “Flesquieres Gunner”. However, my understanding to that it was removed post WW2, possibly as part of the de-Nazification process.
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