Bayonet Brits kill 35 rebels (Brits Go Hand To Hand 5 to 1)

The Sun ^ | 5-19-04

[My Favorite Headache]

OUTNUMBERED British soldiers killed 35 Iraqi attackers in the Army’s first bayonet charge since the Falklands War 22 years ago. The fearless Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders stormed rebel positions after being ambushed and pinned down.

Despite being outnumbered five to one, they suffered only three minor wounds in the hand-to-hand fighting near the city of Amara.

The battle erupted after Land Rovers carrying 20 Argylls came under attack on a highway.

After radioing for back-up, they fixed bayonets and charged at 100 rebels using tactics learned in drills.

Charge ... tactics from drills

When the fighting ended bodies lay all over the highway — and more were floating in a nearby river. Nine rebels were captured.

An Army spokesman said: “This was an intense engagement.”

The last bayonet charge was by the Scots Guards and the Paras against Argentinian positions.

[.cnI redruM]

This deserves a Rudyard Kipling Posting:

Cells
I've a head like a concertina: I've a tongue like a button-stick,
I've a mouth like an old potato, and I'm more than a little sick,
But I've had my fun o' the Corp'ral's Guard: I've made the cinders fly,
And I'm here in the Clink for a thundering drink and blacking the Corporal's eye.
With a second-hand overcoat under my head,
And a beautiful view of the yard,
O it's pack-drill for me and a fortnight's C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard!"
Mad drunk and resisting the Guard --
'Strewth, but I socked it them hard!
So it's pack-drill for me and a fortnight's C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard."

I started o' canteen porter, I finished o' canteen beer,
But a dose o' gin that a mate slipped in, it was that that brought me here.
'Twas that and an extry double Guard that rubbed my nose in the dirt --
But I fell away with the Corp'ral's stock and the best of the Corp'ral's shirt.

I left my cap in a public-house, my boots in the public road,
And Lord knows where -- and I don't care -- my belt and my tunic goed;
They'll stop my pay, they'll cut away the stripes I used to wear,
But I left my mark on the Corp'ral's face, and I think he'll keep it there!

My wife she cries on the barrack-gate, my kid in the barrack-yard,
It ain't that I mind the Ord'ly room -- it's that that cuts so hard.
I'll take my oath before them both that I will sure abstain,
But as soon as I'm in with a mate and gin, I know I'll do it again!
With a second-hand overcoat under my head,
And a beautiful view of the yard,
Yes, it's pack-drill for me and a fortnight's C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard!"
Mad drunk and resisting the Guard --
'Strewth, but I socked it them hard!
So it's pack-drill for me and a fortnight's C.B.
For "drunk and resisting the Guard."

[Toddsterpatriot]

This is a great story but would someone please explain how bayonets could ever be more effective than bullets. And also, how effective would they be if your enemy was using bullets.

Well, when the terrorists started pissing their pants at the sight of the charge, it ruined their aim.

Kinda hard to miss your target with that nice big bayonet!!!

[TASMANIANRED]

HU-A to the brits.

[.cnI redruM]

Yep, that brings everyone right back to basic.
BTW- What makes the grass grow green, Old Sarge?

[TalBlack]

"speaking of bagpipes...how would anybody know a bagpipe is out of tune ?"


In that case it would sound totally in key!

[kaehurowing]

My first thoughts exactly!

I'm sure Jonathan Quayle Higgins would have been there, holding up the pride of the regiment.

[Old Sarge]

You implying something, Redrum?

[.cnI redruM]

Blood makes the grass grow green.

The whole time I was stabbing the silhouettes with my bayonet. They would yell "What makes the grass grow green?"

We'd have to yell back "Blood! Blood Blood!"

[Old Sarge]

I was thinking back to an old song:

"BS, it makes the grass grow green,"
"CS - it does the same damn thing,"

You might remember the rest of that ribaldry?

There, Now, you jogged the few brain cells I had left after the barracks benders. "Blood, blood, blood!" They didn't sound out with that one, when I did these things...

[handy]

Awesome!

[Frank_2001]

Amen, and God bless Free Republic, because I sure couldn't have learned about this from Dan Rather!;)

[Cheeeeze]

Is the Sun a reputable paper?

Or were these like the British 'bobbies', with no bullets?

[familyop]

"Maybe I'm dreaming, but maybe a few Brits will actually have a sense of pride in their troops from this!"

Maybe, if the English can accept the greatness of units that are of particularly Scot heritage.

[John Lenin]

Awesome!

[familyop]

"Would that American troops could be allowed to do such things."

Actually some US combat line MOSs include quite a bit of bayonet training. I did a lot of it.

[2111USMC]

ping

[redangus]

Not the troops the the bagpipes. The Germans troops remarked that the pipes sounded like the ladies from hell.

[Fight to win]

"Yep. They got us surrounded, the poor bastards....."

[Becki]

There may be alot of them, and they may be crazy, but they sure as hell can't shoot and they apparently can't fight worth a damn, either.

The only way the terrorists can win with 5-1 odds is when the one is tied hand and foot.

Talk about your girlie men!

Becki

[TaxRelief]

Every April the "call of the clans" is more than certain FReepers can bear. So they tuck there computers away and head out to historical Rural Hill Farm for the Loch Norman Highland games.

A year of training-- between posting on FR threads --culminates in competition in the long bow, the mile race, the caber toss, the Haggis hurl, the ax throw, the climbing wall and other tests of strength, aim and stamina.

Then they dance the night away to the rhythm and beat of clan an drumma, while drinking the finest whisky in the land, toasting their warrior ancestors and feasting on the great haggis and a fine roast.

Aye...Not even FReeping can keep a Scottish lad away from this sacred ritual.

There's Freeper McHuber himself
standin' yonder in his fine bonnie kilt
and stringing his magnificent weapon.