Black Dudley Posted 20 November , 2013 Share Posted 20 November , 2013 Picked up this old postcard with the under-title - Captured English on 6.6.16 during storming / attack at Ypes, on the reverse is a pencil written letter dated 10.6.16. Researching the situation at Ypes at that time - the Battle of Mont Sorrel and Battle of Hill 60 raged 2nd June - 13th June with the Canadians being heavily involved. On most of these old postcards allied soldiers are described as English, when in fact they commonwealth soldiers, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand etc. Can members see from this poor picture, whether there are any clues as to which group these nine pows belonged to and why is only one wearing a tin hat and three have uniform caps, surely all were wearing tin hats when going on the attack. ? Any information welcome Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bartensabien Posted 15 May , 2017 Share Posted 15 May , 2017 wasn't the tin hat new (just introduced) in spring 1916 ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Battlefield Photography Posted 17 May , 2017 Share Posted 17 May , 2017 Tried to enhance the quality in Lightroom but no more details could be revealed. These soldiers could have been captured during the attack on Hooge on the 6th? Could explain why they don't have their tin hats as they were taken by surprise? In that case they could be soldiers of the 4th and 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles or the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry who were occupying the trenches at Hooge on the 6th of June. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 17 May , 2017 Share Posted 17 May , 2017 There are plenty of pictures of British prisoners from the June 1916 fighting. A lot of these prisoners are without helmets, perhaps they left them behind as there was no more use to wear them being behind the German lines. It was probably more comfortable to wear caps or nothing than running around with a helmet. Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 17 May , 2017 Share Posted 17 May , 2017 On page 140 of the Canadian Official History Chapter The St. Eloi Craters and Mount Sorrel, 1916 " At three in the morning of 4 April the 6th Canadian Brigade, commanded by Brig.- Gen. H. D. B. Ketchen, wearing steel helmets for the first time (only 50 per company were available), took over from the British 76th Brigade in front of the craters. " Perhaps by June there were still some units waiting for helmets? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AOK4 Posted 17 May , 2017 Share Posted 17 May , 2017 Come on, please. Browse the IWM picture collections and see how many POWs are still wearing their helmets a bit behind the frontline... f.i. http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205079368 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205079370 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205215511 http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205079798 They were just happy to throw the annoying heavy iron thing away. Don't search for difficult explanations if there is a simple one... Jan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loader Posted 18 May , 2017 Share Posted 18 May , 2017 I'd imagine some were also taken as souvenirs by the German troops who captured the men. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryTheGerman Posted 20 May , 2017 Share Posted 20 May , 2017 ... and vice versa. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted 20 May , 2017 Share Posted 20 May , 2017 So did men always go into action carrying their caps? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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