[1066AD]

"Cold steel ... they don't like it up 'em"
The Argylls distinguished themselves in Aden in the 60s too.

[CholeraJoe]

As Winston Churchill recalled, "The 21st wheeled right into line, and the lance points came down. At that point, the command to charge was given. For the next 20 minutes, it was a total melee."

Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurban, Sudan. Last British Horse Cavalry charge in history.

[ThinkDifferent]

Wow. Looks like "Don't bring a knife to a gun fight" is superceded by "Don't piss off the Brits". Outstanding work.

[GottaLuvAkitas1]

It seems the Brits see this as it really is, WAR!

Our soldiers have too many restants put upon them.
Our country does not control our own press, and our soldiers have to act like this is some kind of "honor" battle like during the Civil war "field" battles where they would march and keep marching into cannons pointed straight at them while the front lines were picked off row by row.

[Dan from Michigan]

I'm only a trace Scot(mostly Irish), but I'll raise my glass to our Celtic and English cousins here.

[dougherty]

Wow! Those SOBs picked the wrong target this time.

[SandRat]

William Wallace has returned with a vengeance in the very hearts of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.

[lambo]

Geez, I checked this thread, even though I saw a hundred posts, just to unburden myself of the "they don't like it up 'em" line. I was sure no one else would have used it. And there it is in the poster's comment.

Jonesy, is that you?

[Psycho_Bunny]

Because my family name is Acuff, I'm going to be the first to say it:

If you get your ass kicked by people whose concept of "formal dress" is a woolen skirt, you need to look into a profession that doesn't involve fighting.

[wontbackdown]

This definitely makes me proud of my Scottish heritage. I'm a Kennedy - the first Kennedy was married to the daughter of King Robert the Bruce. My ancestors came to the Carolinas in time to fight in the American Revolution. Another branch of the clan allowed the English to chase them into Ireland. We know who some of their descendents are.

Anyhow, because of their kilts and their ferocity in battle, Scottish warriors have been called "ladies from Hell".

[JackelopeBreeder]

They also have one helluva bunch of pipers. They put on a show in Tucson back in 1974 that had the crowd on its feet.

Don't mess with a Highland Regiment.

I like your screen name. My ancestors came across with William.

[fourdeuce82d]

they fixed bayonets and charged at 100 rebels using tactics learned in drills.

When the fighting ended bodies lay all over the highway — and more were floating in a nearby river. Good for them, big clangie danglies...but I want to know how many of those enemy dead had bayonet holes in them. I'm guessing none. Suspect it was violence of action...and .223

maybe not that SS108/M855 stuff... *grin*

[Rose in RoseBear]

Pingpingping!

[lainde]

That's amazing. I didn't know anyone used bayonets anymore. Go Brits!

[Peter J. Huss]

Incredible.

This is one of the greatest stories of bravery I have yet read from the war.

(Commander McBragg's response: "Quite.")

[Robert Teesdale]

Now this is an example of the fierce, overwhelming moral force of the West. Damn good job!

Fifteen British soldiers are ambushed by 100 terrorists. They fix bayonets and charge, killing 35 and taking more prisoners than half their own number, with only three minor injuries?

Reminds me of a line from a book I read once. The local colonial administrators were warning the British major against beginning a campaign against the local insurgents, since he was vastly outnumbered and also new to the region. His response?

Goddamme, Sir! One British bayonet is worth a thousand native spears."

What we've all just seen displayed by the Argylls is the mettle which built the British Empire.

That, and the extraordinary heroism of one of our Marines, is a clear demonstration of an indisputable fact:

There is no culture, no military force, and no nation which ever breeds men to the degree of determination and bravery that is regularly exhibited by the soldiers of the United States and the United Kingdom.

God bless America, and God Save the Queen!

[AnAmericanMother]

My dad served with the old 79th Cameron Highlanders (since amalgamated out of existence) in Italy in WWII.

He always has told me that the Highlanders are great guys, fun to be with, polite to a fault . . . but don't p**s 'em off! He said without a doubt they were man for man the best fighting men he ever saw.

(How a Combat Engineer from Rome GA wound up serving with the 79th is a story for another day . . . )

[Logic n' Reason]

"Do not be afraid to be powerful. Cold War-era gambits of proportionate response and dialog may have some utility in dealing with practical terrorists, but they are counter-productive in dealing with apocalyptic terrorists. Our great strengths are wealth and raw power. When we fail to bring those strengths to bear, we contribute to our own defeat. For a superpower to think small, which has been our habit across the last decade, at least, is self-defeating folly. Our responses to terrorist acts should make the world gasp!"

Way to go, UK!

'Nuff said.

[far sider]

"Cold steel ... they don't like it up 'em"

Yeah. Somehow I think they would have preferred warm glow sticks.

[DuncanWaring]

Ping

[strongbow]

Well Done Lads!! I love to buy these boys a pint of their favorite.