MikeDixonUK

Somewhat off topic, but it's from the same War and I thought there might be some Chaps around here who know their stuff. I've been doing some passing research into my close Family History (read as: searching the numerous internet family history based websites) and am so far up to a Great Grandfather, whom we know was called Gerald Lyhnam, fought in WW1 and was from Scotland (not exactly a lot to go on, but what can you do) and with that information have found this medal card from the end of WW1 (from The National Archives), which seems to be the only evidence that someone called Gerald Lyhnam ever existed (on the internet at least): (Note the odd spelling of the surname Lyhnam, as opposed to the more common Lynam/Lynham.) The information we've been able to gather thus far is that he was in the Royal Scots (R. Scots in the Corps table) and the Machine Gun Corps (MGC in the Corps Table) as a Private, that he served in Western Europe (Theatre of War: 1) and that he first went on the 2nd of October 1915, and presumably either left the Army or the medal card was issued on the 18th of February 1919 with a Victory Medal, British War Medal and 1915 Star. Other than that we think that the two Regiment Numbers are his personal numbers from when he was serving in those Regiments, the part next to Victory in the Roll table seems to say MGC/101B16, which the nearest I've been able to guess is that he was in the 101st Machine Gun Company and / or the 16th Battalion (B16). Not sure what it says next to 15 Star in the Roll table, something like MGC/164 (164th Machine Gun Company?)- equally, not sure what it says infront of the 18/2/19 part - something like C.L. Z a.r. (CL Might mean he was sent a dated clasp for the Ribbon and ZAR might mean he was an Army Reserve.) Also there's an X in front of the R. Scots part, and another X between the Victory and British lines, which escape me. Any assistance from someone more knowledgeable than I (wouldn't be hard ) would be much appreciated.

Here's a very basic one from me: The Man from Aberdeen I knew a Man from Aberdeen, who joined the Corps in '17, to bravely fight for King and Queen, I knew a Man from Aberdeen. I knew a Man from Aberdeen, a braver Man there's never been, his reflexes - they were so keen, I knew a Man from Aberdeen. I knew a Man from Aberdeen, who caught a Bullet in his Spleen, and after that was never seen, Goodbye the Man from Aberdeen...

Let us not forget the great wartime works by Private S. Baldrick: The German Guns Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom... Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom! And of course: Hear the words I sing, War's a horrid thing, So I sing sing sing.... ...ding-a-ling-a-ling.

Thanks Chaps - glad you like the Picture. Here are a few DiD Campaign images from Day 1 of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. The Battle rages in the southern sector - British Infantry moves up to assault the second German line, supported by Tanks - meanwhile on their right - the Germans capture a disabled British Tank and launch a counter-attack to reclaim their trenches - supported by their own mechanical monster: A group of German Soldiers guard their captured British Tank: The Tank is soon "liberated": Seemingly the Germans are so angered that they decide to try to shoot down the Sopwith Triplane with a Railway Gun: The British Infantry continue to advance towards German Machinegun Nests: The advance continues as the Machinegun Nests fall silent: Perhaps the War will be over by Christmas...

That's brilliant, Lou! I was thinking about doing some sort of poetry style thing in the DiD thread, but alas I fear I'm not much good at it.

An RNAS-2 Sopwith Strutter flies one last pre-battle photo recon mission as the Sun rises over the lines at Ypres, July 1917

Aye, if you type in "Morane Saulnier L" into Google it comes up with a Picture of this Aircraft from an Airshow Website: Morane-Saulnier "L" Parasol Fighter (Replica) This is a smaller-scale replica of the first aeroplane to shoot down a Zeppelin in WWI. The Morane-Saulnier was one of the first successful fighter planes. It was built in both one and two-seat configurations. It had a forward-facing machine gun that fired through the arc of the propeller, which was armoured so as to deflect any shots that struck it. Good call, Vasco.

I always find the more you learn about your own personal history, the more amazing you find it that you even managed to be born at all, for example what if your Grandfather was killed in WW2, or WW1 before fathering one of your parents - they would never exist, and so you would never exist - then carry on the same thought all the way back through History, it's enough to drive a guy crazy. (well, crazier, anyway. ) Aparantly my Grandfather didn't like to talk about his experiences either, I would have liked to have met him but unfortunately he died quite a while ago before I was born. He was in the 1st Airborne Division as a Paratrooper (Airlanding) during Operation: Market Garden, and fought in the Oosterbeek perimiter - like I say though he didn't realy talk about it much aparantly, so most of what people in the family know are just from vague stories like about swimming the Rhine, or being in a field under Tank fire, etc. The only solid "evidence" of it being a telegram dated a few days after the end of Market Garden adressed to my Grandmother saying he was safe (no doubt an emotional moment reading that) - a Pegasus arm patch and (what the internet tells me) a Hitler Youth Dagger (although aparantly he got that off someone else.) Other than that we found a picture in him from a History book about the Border Regiment during WW2, which was taken during Market Garden: He's the one in the centre at the back, with some other Chaps from his Platoon. Other than that I'm aware of a Great Grandfather who fought in the 1st World War (the Father of the above Grandfather's Wife) although we know almost nothing about the specific details, but from a Medal Card from the end of WW1 we think he was in the Royal Scots and then the Machine Gun Corps.

Thanks Olham. Was hoping for something a bit more uniquely German sounding than "Michael Richard", but I guess I have a pretty generic name like that.

My main test Pilot is called "Sopwith de Havilland", and a British knock off version of the Red Baron called "Manfield Vaughn Rich-Haughton"

I can't say I'm expecting there to be a direct "Germanized" translation of Dixon - although it'd be interesting to know if there was a German variant of "Richardson" (Dixon being a variant of Dickson, being a variant of Richardson) with the basic meaning being "son of Richard" - like how Johnson is "son of John", Thomson "son of Thomas" etc... Or maybe there's a German nickname for people called Richard? Like how we call people called Richard "Dick" - hence Dickson / Dixon "son of Dick" (stop giggling at the back! ) Usualy when I make a German character in OFF or Silent Hunter or some such I call him "Michael Rikartsohn" or "Michael Riksohn" or some such generic guess translation. (I'm affraid my parents / grandparents surnames are equally "local" and of English/Scottish/Irish origins as well unfortunately for this topic.)

Well done Germany, well played. Would've been another depressing tournament knock out for us if not for the fact that we've been so rubbish for 80% of the match that it makes it so hillarious. Although I think if any of the Officials decide to play OFF they'll be playing stricktly with the Labels on.

The ol' love-hate-love-hate-love-hate-love-hate-love-hate-love relationship with England continues once again. Looking forward to a possible England vs Germany match!

Thanks Hellshade. Here's the updated version with new music: (I know, Adagio in G Minor is over used in the field of WW1 - but it matches the video length. ) It's still processing atm so you might want to wait for a bit, but I'm posting it now as I'm off to watch the Football.

I've uploaded a video of a Scramble mission from yesterday morning as part of the DiD Campaign. However it seems that the Kaiser has forbidden the video to be shown in Germany because it has music from The Blue Max (go figure ), so I'm currently uploading a second version of it, with different music - to try to get past the German Military Censorship - and show the people the truth about the War!* *According to the British Military. But anyway, here's the original video for now - for those that can see it:

Just keep pretending that it's those pesky RFC two-seaters that keep bombing the Telephone line out of your Airfield.

Well I do apologize for trying to follow orders - I'll have to remind HQ that its an Air War next time.

What I meant was, you could be ordered to do a Scramble and down 3 craft with 100% accuracy (like that would ever happen. ) then the next mission you could be ordered to attack a railway station and start strafing stuff, then when you looked at your overall Dossier stats it'd show 50% accuracy, as it would put the stats of both sorties together. And I don't think the ground attack Squadrons would much agree with it being about Air Combat.

I'd imagine the problem with these sorts of stats would be if you do a lot of ground attack strafing, as if they register the bullets fired on that as well then it's likely to lower your accuracy.

29% so far in my Triplane Campaign, but then you can get pretty close in the ol' Tripe. Also, as I have tracers off - it might be that I try to get closer before I open fire, rather than firing at long range and using tracers to guide my fire - so I might hit more, but not necessarily in the right place.

Aye, he's still with us - thanks for asking, although I think he can only last so many mid-air collisions and friendly fire incidents before his number is up. Great Screenshot Morris.

I found it interesting from an OFF point of view to see what Pilots actualy did in Photo Recon and Artillery Ranging, even if the stuff they did was scripted. Loved the German AI rear gunner though.

You realy don't want this to happen on the 93rd mission of an 88 hour DiD Campaign... Although I think maybe I should paint some yellow/orange stripes over the Black Triplane, as it sure has a sting in it's tail.

Not sure if you've seen about this yet (or if it's been on before), but thought it might be of interest: Fighting the Red Baron "In this film the Red Arrow pilots fly original WWI aircraft, and carry out the key challenges the plane took on in the course of WWI: photo reconnaissance, artillery ranging and bombing missions; all leading to a final classic dogfight in replica period aircraft kitted out with camera guns." Something to Sky+ at the least.

Heh, well I guess there's a reason they call it "Sausage Side" Here's a picture I just took on the way back home from my last dawn mission, some of our brave Lads moving up to the front at Arras: "Marching into eternity..."