Some of us complain when we cannot go fishing. We are not so unlucky. Came across this recently, made me think.

The scene......Battle of the Somme. The British have captured, at enormous cost, some German trenches, and an officer has to rename them. What's on his mind?



Lehman Graben is now Trout Trench, Sud Graben is now Grayling Trench, Moltke Graben now Fish Trench, Schweickert Graben now Cod Trench. Also Pike , Eel, Chub, Salmon, Grilse, Roach, Bass Trenches. Red trenches are still in German hands, and the object of next attacks.

Don't think I'll moan again when want to go fishing.

Peter

There's an account in a book call "Fishing's Strangest Days" of an soldier who nipped off to flyfish the Ancre in Northern France during WW1 following a lull in German shelling...wonder if it was the same bloke?

When I was on an exercise in the Dandenongs as an Infrantyman with the Australian Civilian Militiary Forces (back when Vietnam was kicking off), we were made to cross a river near to the camp by means of stripping off, putting our kit and rifles in a raft made from our capes, and swimming across the current (Those standing on the bank found it much more hilarious than it sounds).

After the evening meal, I borrowed a fishing rod from one of the officers, and headed back to the river to try for the trout I'd seen.

I didn't catch anything but I remember a b****y Kookaburra flying into the branches of the tree next to me and laughing its b****y head off at my attempts!

I'm sure I hear that same b****y bird whenever my cast ends in a tangled mess of line, droppers and flies, or the flies whack me in the back of the head with a thud as the wind catches the flying line.

Once knew a security guard on a boat converted to a nightclub who spent six hours a night 6 days a week fishing for codling and mackrel right through one summer, and got paid to do it

jamesjigus....don't know if it was the same bloke.....but having looked at the Ancre, it looks likea very trouty river: clean water through a chalky valley; I'll be in the area in March so I might have a closer look and find what permit situation is.

The thought of someone thinking about fishing during The Somme still stops me thinking I am unlucky if life does not let me fish when I want to.

Peter

LOL.

"Sorry mate, those shoes are casual....WOW!! GO ON IN MATE, THIS ONES A WHOPPER"!!!

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www.paypalsucks.com

Totally agree. Anyone who thinks we have it tough these days only need read about the early years of the previous century.

Just looked it up and the average life expectancy for the UK 100 years ago was just over 40 for men, just about 50 for women. Yeah, we've really got it tough all right. Just to think how closely most people lived with death back then. It's pretty sobering to think that if you've ever in your life needed antibiotics to fight off any serious infection, you'd most likely have been in the RIP category in 1911.

I enjoy reading history, but for me reading about WW1 is just painful. The same mistakes repeated again and again. All the while the soldiers were fully aware in many cases that they were nothing but cannon fodder.

Grouse

If we reflect on WW1 as being a pointless war what about the american civil war-many thousands of lives lost and what did it prove in the end-that man is super efficient at killing his fellow man. Glad I wasn't alive in the 1860s as if I'd have chosen which side to fight for no doubt I'd have chosen the wrong one!

As so many did and still do. Any side is the wrong one in a war, sadly. But there's superiors who start them and foot-folk that has to finish them. The latter have my utmost respect...

Johan

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Johan Janssens

Unfortunatley I was one of those who had to follow orders as I was in the US air force eight years beween 1963-1971. Okay we didn't have to sit in trenches or charge each other in suicide assaults. Just a security policeman making sure everything remained in order-not very easy at that time of history with what was happening both in america and abroad. Suppose to be honest I saw a bit too much history being made! I still find it hard to believe some of the things I witnessed and doubt anyone would believe me if I wrote a book about it. UFOs I later found out were experimental craft that the air force wouldn't admit to in 1968, conspiracies that the american government will never admit to, events one might class as "supernatural". If one doesn't experience at least a few of these things what a sheltered life they must lead. Sorry to bore you all but I've now vented my spleen and feel better for it!