Anybody thats read the new TBM should have read the editors note about the Paratroopers in WWI, going behind enemy lines with longbows. I would love to hear any info that somebody else might have on the subject.
Yea, me too. Very interesting.
I would love some info too, sounds like some good reading.
You know, I've been interested in hearing some info about this for a long time, but have never been able to find anything. I've spent some time looking on the internet, but have only found a few reports of British soldiers taking a few enemies with the bow and arrow during WWII.
In the Colorado History Museum years ago, they had an exhibit of 10th Mountain Division memorabilia. One of the items was a 70# bow that was used to take out sentries and demoralize the enemy. Haven't been back in a while, and I'm sure with the current bedwetter climate that prevails around here, that the bow is long gone, but I'd sure like to see it again, and maybe get some history.
On a different note, did you know that George Washington advocated the longbow to arm our troops against the British during the Revolution?
Can't remember where I read that, but nothing ever came of it.
Like TJ said, it might not be true.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Churchill
From another website...
"In 1939 Captain Jack Churchill of the Manchester Regiment was a member of the British team competing in the World Archery Championship at Oslo. With war in the offing, the party arrived back in England after some difficulties and he went, almost immediately, with the advance party of the British Expeditionary Force to the Continent. Before embarking, Captain Churchill had made by Purle of London a hundred-pound yew bow together with hunting arrows; he also equiped himself with two steel bows which were later broken whilst sticking out of the back of a lorry that was backed against a wall.
During the days of the "Phoney War" of 1939, Captain Churchill took every opportunity of practising with his bow by shooting at targets. In December 1939 the 4th Brigade of the 2nd Division of the BEF, took over part of the Maginot Line. It was a bitterly cold winter and snow lay on the frozen ground, so that patrols formed of groups from all battalions were sent out in front of the Maginot Line wearing white nightgowns and with their legs encased in layers of straw and sandbags. Frustrated and irritated by the official policy of not provoking the enemy, Captain Churchill decided upon a symbolic gesture which he thought would not only give him great personal satisfaction but might also create a certain alarm, despondency and bewilderment in the enemy lines. On the 31st December 1939, whilst out with a patrol amid the undulating, snow-covered countryside of no-man's-land, he stealthily made his way to between fifty and eighty yards from the German lines and drawing his bowstring back to his cheek, let loose an arrow which he heard bite into a frost-hard ground with an audible "Clack!". there was no reaction whatsoever, so Churchill again drew his bow and loosed a second arrow - this time a German voice called out and there was obviously some consternation caused in the enemy defences, although he did not have the satisfaction of knowing whether or not his arrow had hit anyone. Although elated by his gesture, the archer regretted not being able to retrieve his arrows. The shafts cost him 10s. 6d each and the War Office had no financial responsibility for such ammunition.
On 27th May 1940, whilst in command of a mixed force holding the village of L'Epinette, near Bethune, during the retreat to Dunkirk, Captain Churchill, who had been slightly wounded on the 25th, became the only European for centuries who, in the action of war, had killed an enemy with the longbow. Climbing into the loft of a small granary, through a vertical opening in one wall he saw, some thirty yards away, five German soldiers sheltering behind a wall but in clear view of the granary. Quickly and quietly Captain Churchill fetched up two infantrymen and instructed them to open rapid fire on the enemy but not to pull the trigger until he had loosed an arrow at the centre man. Captain Churchill lifted his bow, took careful aim and loosed the shaft. At the same time as the bow string twanged, the air was shattered by the rapid fire of the two infantrymen. Captain Churchill was delighted to see his arrow strike the centre German in the left of the chest and penetrate his body; the remaining Germans of the party slumped to the dusty ground. With the idea of retrieving his arrow by pushing or pulling it through the wound, Captain Churchill swiftly ran to the body but was unable to extract the shaft. In his haste he broke the arrow, leaving the barbed-head in the German's body. At this moment enemy machine-gun fire was opened down the line of the road and everyone dived for cover.
Sheet 21 of the War Diary of the 4th Infantry Brigade, dated the 30th of May 1940, bears the following paragraph:
One of the most reassuring sights of the embarkation was the sight of Captain Churchill passing down the beach with his bows and arrows! His actions in the Saar with his arrows are known to many and his disappointment at not having had the chance to keep in practice had tried him sorely. His high example and his great work with his machine-guns were a great help to the 4th Infantry Brigade.
Five years before the first atomic bomb exploded and nearly 600 years after the battle of Crecy an English archer had incongruously and briefly returned to the ancient battlefields of France."
I've been told that Delta still practices with the bow and arrow
A lot of the Socom units will practice with a bow and arrow, or at the least discuss the topic. In the event they get stuck behind the lines its a quiet way to survive.
Great story, bbassi! Not to take away from its seriousness ... I am reminded of my favorite cult movie, Arnie's "Predator." Man, what a bow he built by that campfire in one night, eh? With arrow tipped with ... what? Whatever, it shot plumb through that big jungle tree! Too bad he didn't get a chance to use it on the CrabMan alien! Delta Dave
LOL I forgot all about that bow Dave. Great movie though
I took my Brack on the desert romp in 1990. Never got to shoot anything, just planned airstikes
The last post on this Widow Wall thread is particularly interesting:
http://www.blackwidowbows.com/widowwall/thread.cfm?threadid=4216&messages=7&forum=1000
Q. Wonder how arrowing the enemy sits with the Hague Convention?...
A. Who cares!