Question of the Hour

[Fishbone Jones]

Who was the leader of the first British Military Mission to Tito and his partisan army?

Sir William Deakin, led the first British military mission to Tito's headquarters. The codename for the mission was "Operation Typical," and it consisted of "a six-man joint SOE-Military Intelligence" team.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

At the start of the German-Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, one particular group of soldiers were the first troops to see action.   Their uniforms were Polish.   The same group (though different individuals) again were the first ones to see action in June 1941 during the invasion of the Soviet Union; they wore the uniform of the Red Army.

What nationality was this group, and what were they called?

 

[redleafjumper]

Sir William Deakin is the correct answer.  Randolph Churchill served with (didn't lead) the subsequent mission to Yugoslavia.

 

[Danjanou]

At the start of the German-Soviet invasion of Poland in 1939, one particular group of soldiers were the first troops to see action.   Their uniforms were Polish.   The same group (though different individuals) again were the first ones to see action in June 1941 during the invasion of the Soviet Union; they wore the uniform of the Red Army.

What nationality was this group, and what were they called?

Without resorting to my google-fu powers I'm going to take a wild stab and say The Brandenburgers, the German Army's specialists in long range insertions, behind the lines sneak and peak types, dressing up as nuns and all round dirty tricks boys.

 

[Michael Dorosh]

Without resorting to my google-fu powers I'm going to take a wild stab and say The Brandenburgers, the German Army's specialists in long range insertions, behind the lines sneak and peak types, dressing up as nuns and all round dirty tricks boys.

I was hoping you would be on vacation. You're correct - though I hope the question was correct; I think they were the ones who wore Polish outfits.  I know there was an SS unit involved also in a seperate incident, I think they faked the attack on a radio station that was the alibi to go to war.

It's hard to frame these without making them accessible by google, so if I seem vague, I'm trying to be.

There was a movie set in WWII shot in the 60s. which featured the Brandenburg commando - sort ofs, (complete with cuff titles on their uniforms as I recall).  One of the lead actors became famous later as the first public figure to announce he had AIDs, which he died of in 1985.  The other lead actor, who died in 1994, played a World War One flying ace in another film.  What was the movie with the Brandenburgers in it, who were the two actors, and what was the WW I film he starred in?

 

[Danjanou]

I was hoping you would be on vacation.

I hope that's in reference to the fact you're aware I'm overworked  and will be going on a long overdue trip soon, and not because I know all the answers.  8)

You're correct - though I hope the question was correct; I think they were the ones who wore Polish outfits.  I know there was an SS unit involved also in a seperate incident, I think they faked the attack on a radio station that was the alibi to go to war.

 

As far as I recall that's true they also went into Holland before the main force. IIRC they technically came command of the Abwerhe (sp?) and canaries before Hitler wasted them away in pointless missions in Russia. I think you're right they were SS there too.

There was a movie set in WWII shot in the 60s. which featured the Brandenburg commando - sort ofs, (complete with cuff titles on their uniforms as I recall).  One of the lead actors became famous later as the first public figure to announce he had AIDs, which he died of in 1985.  The other lead actor, who died in 1994, played a World War One flying ace in another film.  What was the movie with the Brandenburgers in it, who were the two actors, and what was the WW I film he starred in?

Oh this one is easy

The movie was Tobruk / (1966). Parts of it were also used for the film Raid on Rommel with Richard Burton.

Rock Hudson (who died of AIDs in 1985)  played the Canadian Engineer Captain and George Peppard who also played the arrogant ace in the Blue Max played the Brandenburger Hauptmann.

Peppard and his men weren't really Brandenburgers though, my question who were they?

Who played the British Commando CO?

Who played his RSM?

 

[Bill Smy]

Which Canadian Governor General and Commander-in-Chief rose in rank from Ensign to Field Marshall wothout once resorting to purchase?

 

[STA Gunner]

Just a shot in the dark, because he was a stand up guy...

Viscount Byng?

 

[Michael Dorosh]

I hope that's in reference to the fact you're aware I'm overworked  and will be going on a long overdue trip soon, and not because I know all the answers.  8)
 

As far as I recall that's true they also went into Holland before the main force. IIRC they technically came command of the Abwerhe (sp?) and canaries before Hitler wasted them away in pointless missions in Russia. I think you're right they were SS there too.

Oh this one is easy

The movie was Tobruk / (1966). Parts of it were also used for the film Raid on Rommel with Richard Burton.

Rock Hudson (who died of AIDs in 1985)  played the Canadian Engineer Captain and George Peppard who also played the arrogant ace in the Blue Max played the Brandenburger Hauptmann.

Peppard and his men weren't really Brandenburgers though, my question who were they?

Who played the British Commando CO?

Who played his RSM?

I already googled this so I will hold off. 

Here's hoping you get that vacation soon. ;D

 

[Bill Smy]

Just a shot in the dark, because he was a stand up guy...

Viscount Byng?

If you accept that Ensign and 2nd Lieutenant are basically equivalent ranks, you're correct, STA Gunner. But I was thinking of another Governor General.

 

[Danjanou]

Which Canadian Governor General and Commander-in-Chief rose in rank from Ensign to Field Marshall wothout once resorting to purchase?

Field Marshal the Earl Alexander of Tunis (GG 1946-52)

http://www.gg.ca/governor_general/history/bios/alexander_e.asp

 

[geo]

Hmmm

Field Marshall Alexander?

 

[Danjanou]

Hmmm

Field Marshall Alexander?

"He was promoted to Field Marshal in 1944 after the capture of Tunis in 1943 and subsequently captured Rome in 1944."

(from the link I enclosed).

Mind I was alway under the impression that it was troops advancing out of the Anzio beachhead lead by the 1st SSF that captured Rome. Pretty daring for one middle aged senior officer to do it on his own. 8)

 

[Bill Smy]

Field Marshal the Earl Alexander of Tunis (GG 1946-52)

http://www.gg.ca/governor_general/history/bios/alexander_e.asp

Well, I guess I goofed on this. But the key word in my question was "Ensign".

 

[Bill Smy]

I guess I should have done a bit more homework on this and worded the question better. The answer I was looking for was Sir John Colborne.

Of course, the purchase system was long gone by the time of Byng and Alexander.

 

 

[reccecrewman]

Where does the common saying "The whole 9 yards" come from?

 

[armyvern]

This is a good one...I'm not sure anybody really knows for sure..

I've heard it's origins come from the amount of material required to make everything from a gentleman's suit, a nun's habit, a Scotsman's kilt.
To the Miltary origins in WWII (pilots using 'the whole nine yards' of their ammo, to Vietnamese tribes assisting US Forces, to Navalyards claiming it as their own.
Not to mention the famous "total load of the cement truck."

I wonder?? Where did it really come from?? ???

 

[Michael OLeary]

The whole nine yards:-

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/411150.html

At the outset it should be said that no one knows the origin, although many have a fervent belief that they do.

These are some of the versions going the rounds: take your pick...

- It comes from the nine cubic yards capacity of US concrete trucks and dates from around 1970s.

- The explanation refers to World War II aircraft, which if proved correct would clearly predate the concrete truck version. There are several aircraft related sources, 1. the length of US bombers bomb racks, 2. the length of RAF Spitfire's machine gun bullet belts, 3. the length of ammunition belts in ground based anti-aircraft turrets, etc. No evidence to show that any of these measured nine yards has been forthcoming.

- Tailors use nine yards of material for top quality suits. Related to 'dressed to the nines'?

- The derivation has even been suggested as being naval and that the yards are shipyards rather than measures of area or volume.

- Another naval version is that the yards are yardarms. Large sailing ships had three masts, each with three yardarms. The theory goes that ships in battle can continue changing direction as new sails are unfurled. Only when the last sail, on the ninth yardarm, is used do the enemy know which direction the ship is finally headed.

- A mediaeval test requiring the victim to walk nine paces over hot coals.

If anyone has any hard evidence of this phrase being used before 1967, e.g. an appearance of the phrase in print, we would love to see it. Please post your feedback at the Phrase Finder Discussion Forum - but please, evidence not conjecture.

 

[armyvern]

Now that is the web-site that I needed when the instructor insisted on my 6s (during another inane topic to kill time) that this saying had originated because of the Vietnamese tribes which assist the US.
Despite all the other suggestions mentionned by students (I myself mentionned the Scotsman kilt as that is what I've heard-but most insisted on the cement truck theory), he insisted that this was published in a book having to do with the War in Vietnam and therefore must be right.  ???

 

[redleafjumper]

The whole nine yards refers to the length of the ammunition belt for the .50 cal HMG (waist guns) in the B17 American Bomber of WW2.

What battle did Wellington consider his greatest victory and why?