Landships II

Centurion · Legend

A Mything Link

eugene · Field Marshal

barbara tuchman, meantions this in the guns of august but she says its pure myth, to raise the morale level in Britian

Roger Todd · Legend

I have to say I like the sound of Centurion's propaganda photo session getting out of hand, sheer genius! Now, if he could only remember the name of that RNAS officer...

As for the 'Russianised' uniform, I'm sure I read somewhere years ago that the RNAS used a load of military coats made in Britain that were destined for Russia but for some reason weren't sent (the order may have been cancelled or something). Of course, that could be another urban myth...

EDIT: Centurion, here's a possible lead (which gives a different explanation for the artificial snow, but does at least include it)...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/war/rnacd_lite.shtml

Russians Invade London!

The obviously inhospitable weather awaiting the RACD [Russian Armoured Car Division] needed to be addressed by fitting out the men in suitable clothing. Gammages store in London was the outfitter and one particular visitor caused a nation wide panic :

After PO North was kitted out from head to toe in sealskin, to add to the effect, Mr Gammage himself showered the poor private with artificial snow to complete the frozen look!
North, already late for a date hurried from the store in his new arctic style and drew curious looks form passers-by. A number of sensational newspaper reports claimed that Russians with snow on their boots had been seen in central London. Sixty years later PO North wrote to the Daily Mail exploding the myth once and for all.

It's from the BBC Northern Ireland site, about Irishmen serving in the Russian Armoured Car Division (RACD). I suppose it might be possible to write to the Daily Mail to try to track down North's letter. There's a roll-call here, for what it may be worth (it would seem North's full name was William Wesley North): http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/war/rnacd_list.shtml

And there's some potentially useful information about the various RNAS armoured car divisions here: http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Base/1545/WWI/Main/ArmouredCars/RNArmouredCars.htm

-- Edited by Roger Todd at 15:39, 2005-12-30

-- Edited by Roger Todd at 16:14, 2005-12-30

JamesH · Major

I've heard a couple of explanations for this, both connected with Scottish troops. In those days your average Scot was rarely seen in the south of England, and their arrival was something of a culture shock. In London, where most troops from the British Isles went for departure to France, people from Scotland and Northern England were regarded as something of a curiosity, if not a slightly different species.

One suggestion is that the white spats which formed part of the dress uniform of Scots regiments were mistaken for snow and the rumour spread far and wide.

The other is that a Scottish soldier was asked by an inquisitive Southerner, intrigued by his outlandish appearance, where he was from. Supposedly, the Scot replied, "Ross-shire" - a county in Scotland. His accent would probably have added to the confusion.

True? Who knows?

Centurion · Legend

Roger Todd wrote:

I have to say I like the sound of Centurion's propaganda photo session getting out of hand, sheer genius! Now, if he could only remember the name of that RNAS officer... As for the 'Russianised' uniform, I'm sure I read somewhere years ago that the RNAS used a load of military coats made in Britain that were destined for Russia but for some reason weren't sent (the order may have been cancelled or something). Of course, that could be another urban myth... EDIT: Centurion, here's a possible lead (which gives a different explanation for the artificial snow, but does at least include it)... http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/war/rnacd_lite.shtml Russians Invade London! The obviously inhospitable weather awaiting the RACD [Russian Armoured Car Division] needed to be addressed by fitting out the men in suitable clothing. Gammages store in London was the outfitter and one particular visitor caused a nation wide panic : After PO North was kitted out from head to toe in sealskin, to add to the effect, Mr Gammage himself showered the poor private with artificial snow to complete the frozen look!North, already late for a date hurried from the store in his new arctic style and drew curious looks form passers-by. A number of sensational newspaper reports claimed that Russians with snow on their boots had been seen in central London. Sixty years later PO North wrote to the Daily Mail exploding the myth once and for all. It's from the BBC Northern Ireland site, about Irishmen serving in the Russian Armoured Car Division (RACD). I suppose it might be possible to write to the Daily Mail to try to track down North's letter. There's a roll-call here, for what it may be worth (it would seem North's full name was William Wesley North): http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/yourplaceandmine/topics/war/rnacd_list.shtml And there's some potentially useful information about the various RNAS armoured car divisions here: http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Base/1545/WWI/Main/ArmouredCars/RNArmouredCars.htm-- Edited by Roger Todd at 15:39, 2005-12-30 -- Edited by Roger Todd at 16:14, 2005-12-30

I knew that there were a lot of Ulstermen with the RNAS in Russia as another of those BBC Your Place or Mine stories refers to a minor mutiny when a number of them were refused permission to return home because of their worries over the Easter rising. Lampson seems to have turned a semi blind eye and treated it as a minor disciplinary offence.

The two stories have many similarities. I wonder if Gamages were intending to take a publicity photo (why else bother sprinkling the snow in the first place?). This would unify the two accounts considerably. Presumably if a photo was taken it might still be on file somewhere.

Roger Todd · Legend

Centurion wrote:

The two stories have many similarities. I wonder if Gamages were intending to take a publicity photo (why else bother sprinkling the snow in the first place?). This would unify the two accounts considerably. Presumably if a photo was taken it might still be on file somewhere.

I agree. I've noticed from a quick look on google that Gammages was also spelt Gamages, so I'll have a search for references - perhaps, although the store is long defunct, there may be a company archive based somewhere?