This article was downloaded by: [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] On: 04 October 2014, At: 15:14 Publisher: Routledge Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK Royal United Services Institution. Journal Publication details, including instructions for authors and subscription information: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/rusi19 The Knife in Trench Warfare 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 PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. 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Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/ page/terms-and-conditions Downloaded by [University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign] 15:14 04 October 2014 THE KNIFE IN TRENCH WARFARE. By COLONELTHE RT. HON.SIR JOHN MACDONALD,G.C.B., V.D. ?‘FIE question whether the knifc is a weapon which should be recognized as a part of Infantry 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 knives 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 firearms 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 charge was directed were so unnerved that they gave way before the bayonets 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 bayonet 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 firearm. A wound with a knife is just the same as a wound with a bayonet, or with a cutlass, or with a midshipman’s dirk, 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.