KONDOA Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 Heres a nice cross section which I think you would find in all units. This is a group from the 2nd Hull Heavy Bty. RGA. They are a bit older than most units though. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 ..and a few are on the "heavy" side, too. Ooh that's mean, sorry guys. Robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 I wouldn't have called the two guys on the left ' heavy ' I'd have called them Sir! Here's my Grandfather, 6 feet 3 inches aged 28 and like me slim build. Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbie Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 Nice legs. You got his legs Malcolm? robbie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malcolm Posted 21 November , 2004 Share Posted 21 November , 2004 Strangely Robbie, mine are nicer than his. One thing I remember about my Grandad was his legs. In 1918 during the March offensive his mob had to withdraw several times to conform with other units and maintain a line. During one of these withdrawals he jumped into a shellhole full of barbed wire. His choice was get out or get killed by the oncoming stormtrooops as he was a Lewis Gunner and had the gun with him so he ripped himself out leaving half his kilt and most of the skin from his legs. I remember his legs looked like a map of the London Underground. What a guy he was! Aye Malcolm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkristof Posted 21 November , 2004 Author Share Posted 21 November , 2004 I will try to make a small conclusion: - The average WW1 soldier was thiner and smaller than the people now, most because of the harder living then. - There were exceptions, like farmer guys, who were "bigger" and poor "industrial" guys who were skinny... - The higher the rank, the better the life, the bigger the belly. But let's estimate 85% was the regular small, thin soldier. Is this a good conclusion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LauraEJT Posted 23 November , 2004 Share Posted 23 November , 2004 Malcolm, Speaking from the girlie persepective-he had great legs! Fantastic that the photo survives-my grandfather always(modestly) said he had "a good leg" but the puttees sort of mask them a bit on the photos I've got! Cheers,Laura Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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