David Prestidge #1 Posted 15 August 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Terry_Reeves #2 Posted 15 August (edited) 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rksimpson #3 Posted 15 August Hi Doesn't it mean Old German lines? regards Robert Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Waddell #4 Posted 15 August 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Prestidge #5 Posted 15 August Thanks for the replies. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maureene #6 Posted 15 August 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 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paulgranger #7 Posted 15 August '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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
David Prestidge #8 Posted 15 August Thanks, Maureene - an amazing interview. Thanks for the heads up. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
frev #9 Posted 16 August 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. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WhiteStarLine #10 Posted 16 August Frev is correct, as this August 1916 war diary shows: Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paulgranger #11 Posted 16 August Thanks chaps. I always thought it was Bean who started it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites