Red Tab Casualties

[PhilB]

I used to think that red tab casualties must, of necessity, have been comparitively low because they spent much less time in the exposed areas, particularly the front line. While this may be true, I wonder if their casualty rate was boosted by the fact that the German artillery would search for HQs and possibly even individual officers observed moving between HQs. Is that a reasonable supposition? Generally speaking, how far back might a HQ be vulnerable - brigade, division, corps? Phil B

[LtColSki USMC0302]

I used to think that red tab casualties must, of necessity, have been comparitively low because they spent much less time in the exposed areas, particularly the front line. While this may be true, I wonder if their casualty rate was boosted by the fact that the German artillery would search for HQs and possibly even individual officers observed moving between HQs. Is that a reasonable supposition? Generally speaking, how far back might a HQ be vulnerable - brigade, division, corps? Phil B

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Shooting from the hip here, but wasn't the GOC 3rd Division, MajGen Hamilton, killed when his Div HQ was hit by artillery fire in August 1914?

Cheers,

~Dan

[Dave Phillips]

Hi

'Bloody Red Tabs' Frank Davies and Graham Maddocks has 78 Generals killed and 146 wounded between 1914-1918. It is a good read and most casualties were a result of these officers being closer to the Front than their Chateaux!

Maybe the war would have been shorter if these brave (or foolish) officers had stayed in their headquarters?

Dave

[Tony Lund]

Shooting from the hip here, but wasn't the GOC 3rd Division, MajGen Hamilton, killed when his Div HQ was hit by artillery fire in August 1914?

Cheers,

~Dan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hamilton.

Not far off. 14th October 1914.

[Robert Dunlop]

By the last year, all HQs were vulnerable. Bombing raids would be directed at higher level HQs, including GHQ and GQG, that were not reachable by artillery. Brigade HQs were often in easy reach, especially the advanced HQ when they were on attack. Divisional HQs could also be bought under artillery fire, as witnessed in Operation Michael for example. I don't know if any corps HQs came under fire. Gough's Fifth Army HQ did not and he was able to motor to all of his corps HQs, who had been feeding reports throughout the morning. Gough makes no mention of any artillery fire during those visits.

Robert

[PhilB]

And do you consider that these HQs were specially targetted? That must have made the siting of brigade HQs quite critical and life inside them pretty unpleasant once the Germans knew where they were? Phil B

[Robert Dunlop]

Headquarters were specially targetted. There were a number of ways that they could be spotted from the air. They might be detected when being created. Traffic, such as runners and messengers, were a give-away, as were the tracks they might leave. Aerial telegraph wires were another. It was a fair bet that captured HQs would be reused. Given the size of HQ staff, things like villages and chateau might be used, making these terrain features potential targets.

Robert

[PhilB]

Hi

'Bloody Red Tabs' Frank Davies and Graham Maddocks has 78 Generals killed and 146 wounded between 1914-1918. Maybe the war would have been shorter if these brave (or foolish) officers had stayed in their headquarters?

Dave

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/qu

Sounds like the HQ was not the safest place for them, Dave! Phil B

[armourersergeant]

Shooting from the hip here, but wasn't the GOC 3rd Division, MajGen Hamilton, killed when his Div HQ was hit by artillery fire in August 1914?

Cheers,

~Dan

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hubert Hamilton was not killed whilst in his HQ but whilst near the front taking a look see as to the situation!

A great many were killed not safe but in the front area!!!

regards

Arm

[Rob B]

I know its an old thread but of all the "bloody Red Tabs" Carton de Wiart was a regular bleeder and most of his time was spent walking in the front or reserve trenches as opposed to reclining in a Chateau. Probably the reason for his regular trips to blighty on a stretcher!

Rob