I've read a reference to a rum-hating CO who also opposed the provision of steel helmets on the grounds that they would make his men 'soft'. Who was this character - or were there many?BTW the reference comes from Middlebrook's First Day on Somme.

Des,
This is from "Eye Deep In Hell" by John Ellis.
"Some units were dry. General Pinney, of the 33rd Division, a teatotaller, forbade the issue of rum except in emergencies and General Haldane forbade the issue of rum throughout the dreaded 6th Corps. The Canadian 11th brigade were always known as the Pea-soupers because their commander had, temporarily, insisted on replacing the rum rations with pea-soup."
I've also read the story concerning steel helmets. I can't remember if it was one of the above named officers. I can't lay my hands on the book at the moment but when I do I'll get back to you.

Roger.

The "pea soup" brigade commander was Victor Odlum, a pre war newspaper publisher and member of a prominent orange Irish-Canadian family. Gen. Odlum was a "fire eater" of his day, and has never been accused of lacking either courage or character. A strict teetotaller, he saw no reason why he should not avail himself of the discretion he enjoyed regarding the issue of the rum ration. It is said his Divisional commander had to over rule him and re instate the ration to ward off a mutiny.

The Canadian position on the rum ration was somewhat surreal. In Canadian law, alcohol was completely forbidden on all military camps. The Militia Minister, Sam Hughes, another teetottaling orange Irish Canadian, initially policed this policy with vigor. However, Gen. Alderson, the british commander of the First Canadian Division risked his job to obtain a wet canteen. His problem was that too many men were getting drunk and causing trouble in surrounding towns. For the rest of the War the Canadian government turned a blind eye to what the lads were doing overseas. Remember that from July, 1916, prohibition was in effect back in Canada.

I've found a reference in Brassey's World War One British Army by Stephen Bull that some generals were reluctant to hand out helmets "as they looked stupid and would make the men soft." Unfortunately no specific names are given.

Roger.

Thanks very much - great information.
Des

Des
Sassoon mentions the same thing in his book 'memoirs of an Infantry Officer'.

"The Second Battalion of the Flintshire Fusiliers had recently returned from two months in the Clery sector of the Somme Front, where they had endured some of the severest weather of the War. Battalion records relate that there were no braziers in the trenches, fuel was so scarce that wooden crosses were taken from casual gra.ves, and except for the tepid tea that came up in tins wrapped in straw, the food was mostly cold. Maior-General Whincop who commanded the Division, had made himself obnoxiously conspicuous by forbidding the Rum 
Ration was, of course, overanxious to demonstrate his elasticity of mind, but the "No Rum Division" failed to appreciate their uniqueness in the Expeditionary Force. He also thought that smoking impaired the efficiency of the troops and would have liked to restrict their consumption of cigarettes. General Whincop had likewise demonstrated his independence of mind earlier in the War by forbidding the issue of steel helmets to his Divsion. His conservative objection (which was based on a belief that this new War Office luxury would weaken the men's fighting spirit-"make them  soft," in fact) was, of course, only a flash in the pan (or brain-pan) ."

Sassoon had just returned to France and was serving with 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers at the time this incident was mentioned.
Garth

Was there ever an 'all-good-living' unit i.e. teetotal?

With regard to Sassoon and 2RWF. 'The War the Infantry Knew', which is the 2RWF bible, has nine entries in the index for 'rum'. That for October 28th 1916 says that rum was no longer issued in the Division, it had to be rung out of the General "whose own habits were not ascetic". So he hated rum only in so far as he hated his men to have it. Earlier, a Company Commander of 2RWF forbad the issue as his men lined up to go over the top at Loos. The officer dropped dead in minutes with a heart attack, possibly brought on by the fervent prayers of his [understandably] miffed men.

The system of raising "Pals" battalions, or rather recruiting by affinity groups, resulted in some noble, if not bizzarre, attempts. There was supposedly a "temperance" battalion raised in Winnipeg. Perhaps this would be the 251st (Good Fellows) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. (I am not up on all of the fraternal orders!). They started recruiting late in 1916 and only raised a few hundred men before shipping out. How many of them were "temperate" to start with is anyone's guess, but as they ended up dispersed among normal (intemperate?) units, I presume this is just one of history's minor footnotes.

Has anyone heard of an organisation called 'Catch My Pal' - I think it was a 'sort of'military version of the YMCA which consisted of a group of men taking the pledge and vowing to support each other in keeping it?
It may just have been an Irish thing?
Tonight I am mainly drinking a Californian white wine which was a great price ...

The "no steel helmet" school of thought was similar to the "no prarachute" policy in the RFC. It was felt that if aircrew had them they would bale out rather than get involved in a dog fight if attacked.

Tim

Cheers Tim
Does anyone have any stories about British and/or Empire troops being ordered to charge without any loaded rounds - i.e. as in 'Gallipoli - Mel Gibson et al'? No rum is bad enough, no chute is also pretty harsh .. but 'no shoot' and just cold steel! That's crazy. Any truth in this movie claim?