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Royal United Services Institution. Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rusi19 The in Colonel the Rt. Hon. Sir John Macdonald G.C.B., V.D Published online: 11 Sep 2009.

To cite this article: Colonel the Rt. Hon. Sir John Macdonald G.C.B., V.D (1917) The Knife in Trench Warfare, Royal United Services Institution. Journal, 62:445, 64-68, DOI: 10.1080/03071841709419314 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03071841709419314

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By COLONELTHE RT. HON.SIR JOHN MACDONALD,G.C.B., V.D.

?‘FIE question whether the knifc is a which should be recognized as a part of equipment has been raised since the present War began ; but it has not been practically answered. It may well be doubted whether it has really been considered in all its aspects, or, indeed, con- sidered with due care at all. That it has been unofficially recognized by battalion commanders and those serving under them as a valuable adjunct to equipment for trench combat is proved by the fact that many officers and soldiers have armed themselves with for close fight- ing purposes, so much so that many tradesmen have found it profitable to design knives for trench use, and offer such for sale, exhibiting them along with other military accessories in their shop windows. Some of these are very badly designed, as will be pointed out later, but the fact that many such knives have been purchased is beyond doubt, and our Allies, the French, have also armed themselves with the knife. It is to be hoped that this matter will be taken up and considered seriously. Hitherto it has been treated in the ordinary way. When any new device is laid before the British subject, his first and dominant inclination is to grasp any objection to it, and, if no other will serve, to condemn it as a “newfangled” idea, and be content with any fantastic reason tending to the conclusion that it will not do, or, at least, that what is already in use is good enough. It is this engrained and unreasoning con- servatism which has cost us in the past millions of loss. A marked case of this has been brought to light by the Occurrence of war with Germany. Many years ago two students in Edinburgh made a valu- able discovery in regard to aniline dyes, and offered their secret to our dye makers in this country, but were unable to effect business, although asking but a moderate sum for their remuneration. The dye trade brushed it aside without any reasonable consideration, the result being that the lads took the matter to Germany, and brought to that country many millions of profit, which truly came out of the pockets of our dye makers, who, as they would not look at a good thing when

Downloaded by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] 15:14 04 October 2014 offered to them, had to pay through the nose to those more astute than themselves. This is mentioned as an instance of what has been too common in the past from our constitutional aversion to what is novel, and complaisant contentment with what we have. It is to be hoped that it may be possible to induce authority not to refuse a real consideration to the question of the trench-knife, which, it is believed, may save many a life and give many a success in the trenches. Those who favour it would earnestly ask that what is to be said for it be considered in all its bearings. If, after real attention, it is condemned, then there is no THE KNIFE Ih’ TREh’CII U’ARPARE 65 mmto be said. What is pleaded for is that it is at least worthy of serious consideration, and it is hoped to show that actual Occurrences at the Front demonstrate that for want of such a handy short weapon the soldier may be, and often is, handicapped in the close struggle in narrow trenches which so often occurs in modern fighting. The present War has proved itself to be very different in its details from any contest between armies that the world has ever seen. In one particular it presents features ivhich in former days were but occasion- ally, if at all, present. For many years it was generally assumed that the improvement in power and rangc of would Iead to battIes being decided at a distance, and that hand-to-hand fighting would be the rare exception, only occurring in isolated cases. No doubt it was so in the Boer War, where every Boer had his pony in waiting and made off whenever there ~3srisk of coming to close quarters. How completely has the twentieth century campaign esploded this theory. Fighting Infantry conie closer together, and in more cramped places than they ever did before, except when forts were being assaulted. In the old days there was resolute charging in the open, and very often those against whom the was directed were so unnerved that they gave way before the crossed. This is proved historically, and demonstrated by the fact that in the Napoleonic wars not more than 3 or 4 per cent. of the casualties were the result of wounds. To-day the line of figlit from the North Sea to Switzerland is one vast double siege front, on which the opposing trench fortifications are often but a stone’s throw apart, and success is only to be obtained by a direct rush to clear the enemy’s trench by driving him out or destroying him. Thus the a7me blanclze is in daily effective use, and the proportion of stab wounds is greatly increased. The suggestion of the trench-knife has been put aside by authority, for certain reasons assigned. It is said that it involves a style of fight- ing which is distasteful to the British character. . This is, of course, a sentimental argument. It has always been held in these islands that to stab another with a knife, though 3 common mode of contest in private life among Eastern and Latin nations, is un-English, and long may this be the feeling of the British subject. But surely such an idea can have no application to hand-to-hand fighting in war. Stabbing in war is a duty, and not a private wrong. A bayonet is just a stabbing knife, the only difference being that the knife is fastened to the end of the . A wound with a knife is just the same as a wound with a bayonet, or with a cutlass, or with a midshipman’s , which is a weapon that has never been condemned as un-English. This objection Downloaded by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] 15:14 04 October 2014 must fail, having no application to war in any sense. The other argument is technical. It is said that a man with a bayonet will always be niore than a match for the man armed with a knife 46 only,’’ even in a narrow trench. One may demur to this “ always.” If two men have got into position close to one another, the bayonet mnnot be used unless the man with the bayonet has room and time to draw back so as to get the bayonet in front of his opponent. A momentary stroke with a knife will make him a casualty in one second. But even granting the proposition, it is based upon the false idea that 66 THE Kh’IFE IN TRENCH WARFARE the knife is proposed to be substituted for the bayonet. No one who is favourable to the trench-knife equipment would for a moment suggest it could take the place of the bayonet, or that the soldier should not have his bayonet, and be thoroughly trained to its use, as he is now. In most contingencies the bayonet is the indispensable weapon, from which the soldier should never be parted under any circumstances. The question of the trench-knife should be considered, not as a weapon contrasted with the bayonet, and proposed to be substituted for it, but only as a uxful and needful weapon in circumstances which now, under modern conditions, frequently occur where the use of the bayonet is impossible, and the attempt to use it would expose a man to unneces- sary danger. It is earnestly to be hoped that attention will be given to the question in this aspect. When it is said that the bayonet, even in a narrow trench,” is a more effective weapon than a knife, the conten- tion is disputable. It is disproved by what has occurred in trenches on many occasions. That it is not sound will be seen to be clearly enough when what often occurs, and must occur, in the trench combat is fairly considered. It frequently happens that when a man gets into a trench, an enemy, or more than one enemy, may be close to him or come round from n traverse and get close to him. Therc may even be a jam-up of friends and foes, crowded together so closely that the and bayonet cannot bc thrust out or drawn back, so as to present a chance of a bayonet stroke being given. How, in such circumstances, can the bayonet be effective? Common .sense leads to the certainty that in lines of trenches into which men leap down in attack, enemies may come from traverses or dugouts, and a crowd be caused. This hardly calls for illustration from facts, but facts are abundant. Scarcely a week passes without one reading how Corporal So-and-So, finding himself jammed up with an opponent, had to try to do his best when the enemy got too close past his bayonet, and to club him with the butt, or Private So-andSo had to resort to his fists to knock his man out of time, or, if not a boxer, caught him by the throat by both hands and throttled the life out of him. This latter is surely more un-English and less military than a jab with a knife, d-kh is just a small dirk or a skean- dhu, traditional armament both in the case of Scots and of young naval officers. Another report speaks of a “ Tommy ’’ of great strength seizing the Boche ” against whom he is crowded up, and throwing him out of the trench on to the parapet. So much is a weapon for the trench felt to be necessary that soldicrs arm themselves with knobkerries studded with nails, a most unhandy weapon, as it must be raised over the head in order to give an effective blow.

Downloaded by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] 15:14 04 October 2014 Such incidents prove conclusively that a soldier with a bayonet niay under modern conditions of fighting be so placed that he has to resort to personal tactics because he finds himself in a position where his regulation weapon is practically useless, and he must improvise. But when such fisticuffings, or stranglings, or wrestlings, or batter- ings have to be resorted to, the soldier is placed at a great disadvantage should one or more enemies come on the scene while he is bruising, or choking, or throwing, or hammering. Both his hands are occupied, so that he cannot use them to protect himself, either with or without a THE KNIFE IN TRENCH WARFARE 67 weapon. And, further, lie has had to do what no soldier ever should do : he lias had to part with his weapon. He cannot use fists to strike or hands to choke or wrestle wliile he holds on to his rifle and bayonet, and 'it is reasonable to suppose lie would not do so unless the situation pre- sented him with no alternative. ?Ire read of the rifle being passed to a comrade behind to free tlie hands. But parting with his weapon, as he must, when it cannot be effcctivcly applied, and both hands being occu- pied, he is at the mercy of any opponent who can get at him. IIe may knock out, or strangle, or throw liis man, but, doing so, he is deprived of all personal power of self-protection. Any single enemy coming upon the scene lias him at his mercy. It is therefore contended that the argument \\hich puts the bayonet and knife in contrast is fallacious, and, further, that the facts refute the view that a man armed with a bayonet may not in be often in such positions as exclude the efficiency of the bayonet and make it necessary that some other mode of attack and defence must be resorted to, any such mode depriving him of all power of defence. If this be conceded, as in face of the facts it must be, then the argu- ment in favour of the knife, as a subsidiary weapon only, acquires strength, and calls for favourable consideration. If authority declines to concede this, then there is no more to be said at present. The'matter must stand over, as so many matters in tlie military region of public affairs have had to stand over for a generation or more, to be finally adopted and received with universd assent. There have been a good many cases of such decisive rejection, followed later by final consent, within the last half century. One is not, therefore, inclined to be dis- couraged by a single rebuff. Hope is still in Pandora's box. In the hope, therefore, that the trench-knife will not have to wait for official sanction, and that even yet its value may be recognized during what remains of the close trench combat in tlie present war, it only remains to state what is suggested as to the knife itself and its equip ment. It need not be large or long. Tlie blade should be in like this -<)-and be about 34 to 4 inches long. It should have a rough or grooved handle. The position in which it should be placed is very important. The blade should be in a sheath made fast to the jacket close to the left armpit. It can then be drawn instantly, so as to give a powerfuf back-handed stroke no matter how close up the foe might be. Suppose there were two or three of the enemy close up. Two or three jabs at the faces could be given in as few seconds, while the striker's forearm would be a guard for his own head. The jab in the face is the most flabbergasting strokc that can be given, qnd the back- Downloaded by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] 15:14 04 October 2014 handed stroke is the most powerful. Delivered with the back-handed swing it could not but be effective. Tlie true purpose is not to kill but to put out of action-a wounded man being much more troublesome to the enemy than a dead one. The true purpose is to disable and demoralize for the time. In no way can this be done better than by a stroke in the face. Some of the trench-linives which have been put upon the market, and of which many have been sold, are badly designed. They consist of a handle with a spike-shaped knife set at right angles to it, and 68 THE KNIFE IN TRENCH WARFARE

carried in a sheath at the right side or in the puttie. This is essentially a bad arrangement. In a crowd it may be difficult to get at or todraw it, and while doing so the soldier cannot protect himself. When out, it can only be used by the elbow being drawn back, so as to give a forward push. There may be no room to draw back so as to give an effective thrust. A thrust forward is also not so telling a stab, and is more easily pushed aside, than a swinging back-handed blow. It is only necessary to add further that to prevent the knife being lost in the trench " scrum " a lanyard should be made fast to the hilt, passed through a spring loop at the belt, and brought up to a fastening at the shoulder. In drawing the knife the cord would slip free of the spring loop. Thus, even if the knife were from any cause to be dropped from the hand, it would not be lost. These lines have been penned in the assured belief that if authority will sanction the trench-knife it will save many a life of our own gallant men and put a corresponding number of our enemies in the casualty list. If therc is any bad reasoning in what has been said, doubtless it will be exposed. If not, there may be hope that authority will not be like a certain animal that stoppeth her ear, evcn though the voice be not the voice of a charmer, but only of one who knows there is something to be said, and feels constrained to sap it. Downloaded by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] 15:14 04 October 2014