The Great War by Les Carlyon

[David Prestidge]

I have just started this book. He uses the term OG lines frequently. Obviously he is talking about German trenches, but what does the OG stand for? The book is very readable. Understandably, I suppose, as the writer was a distinguished journalist. I imagine that the line he takes doesn't play out too well with modern opinions, although it's hard to fault his view that Fromelles was an unmitigated disaster.

[Terry_Reeves]

David

 

Peter Pederson uses the same term in his book Anzacs on the Western Front and shows a map with the trench line on.

It can be found here. Scroll up for the map:

 

http://tinyurl.com/y3at6oju

 

TR

Edited 15 August by Terry_Reeves

[rksimpson]

Hi

 

Doesn't it mean Old German lines?

 

regards

 

Robert

[Waddell]

I read it many years ago and enjoyed it. Didn’t find it a controversial book in any way.

 

O.G I understood to be original German lines.

 

Scott.

[David Prestidge]

Thanks for the replies.

[Maureene]

The following interview with Les Carlyon may be of interest:

 

"Les Carlyon: voices from the Great War". Part of the series "Conversations" with  ABC’s Richard Fidler. Original broadcast November 2006, repeated 22 Apr 2016.

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/les-carlyon-voices-from-the-great-war/7788768

 

Cheers

Maureen

[paulgranger]

'O.G.' original or old German lines, originated in Bean's official history of the A I F. Regarding Fromelles, comment in the OP, Roger Lee's two books, one a narrative history, the other an examination of the planning of the battle are very interesting.

[David Prestidge]

Thanks, Maureene - an amazing interview. Thanks for the heads up.

[frev]

16 hours ago, paulgranger said:

'O.G.' original or old German lines, originated in Bean's official history of the A I F.

 

 

The use of O.G.1 and O.G.2 (for the old German lines) can be found in quite a few of the relevant War Diaries for Jul/Aug 1916 - long before Bean wrote the Official Histories.

[WhiteStarLine]

Frev is correct, as this August 1916 war diary shows:

[paulgranger]

Thanks chaps. I always thought it was Bean who started it.