German flame-thrower horror on the battlefield
Having ethics in warfare seems almost a contradiction in terms. When it is possible to blow a man to pieces with high explosive, tear his flesh to pieces with shrapnel or butcher him with bayonets and clubs, what does it matter if new ways are found to inflict damage on the enemy? Today we can see all manner of horror from around the world’s conflicts by switching on our TV sets or logging on to the internet. Nothing should really surprise us anymore but in 1914/15 Europe things were somewhat different. Two things brought instant condemnation as acts of barbarism; the use of asphyxiating gas and the deliberate targeting of civilians in towns cities and on the high seas. This week a third was added; the practice of throwing burning liquid at soldiers and burning them to death. The Germans were using portable flame projectors which they called flammenwerfer. Flame throwers have been used since in conflicts including the Second World War and Vietnam. They remain controversial weapons but as far as I am aware have never actually been ‘banned’. The willingness of the Germans to employ weapons such as asphyxiating gas and flame projectors and at the same time drag civilians onto the front line was a considerable propaganda gift to the Allies. Whatever the ethical arguments, it demonstrated what many believed to be a barbarous nature which represented what they were fighting against. The Allies were not by any means squeaky clean themselves, but the German way of waging war in 1914-18 has remained a case to answer ever since. In time the Allies retaliated in kind and the use of flame throwers was no exception. Interestingly a local Halifax firm, Hartley and Sugden of Gibbet Street claims to have played a part in the development and manufacture of a number of British ‘flame throwing devices’. Details and verification are difficult to establish but they claim a link to the massive flame throwers (Livens Large Gallery Flame Projector) used experimentally on the Somme in 1916. Some years ago these were the subject of a ‘Time Team’ TV documentary jointly presented by Tony Robinson and historian Peter Barton. Hartley and A water colour of Lofthouse Wakefield internment camp by inmate A Lindner and donated to Herbert Hanson who was a camp guard there. Herbert’s great nephew, Paul Hanson was given this and several other artifacts and contacted us in response to our weekly feature; It is reproduced here with his permission. for employees and members of various organisations over the last few days and this week is no exception. The songsters from Bethesda, Elland had their annual trip which they would not forget in a hurry. The 26 choir members met at 6.30am (note the time) Monday morning ready for an exciting trip to Buxton and Matlock but owing to a fault with the ‘motor-charabanc’ their departure was not made until 8.30am. A light shower (‘Singing in the Rain?) did not dampen their enjoyment and on reaching Sheffield, breakfast was provided at Collinson’s Cafe (more like lunch!) with dinner at the Lion Hotel. On the return, everything went well until the charabanc developed a serious problem that delayed them again. They did not arrive home until 2am Tuesday morning. I wonder what excuses did they had ready for their waiting wives? command of English. They climbed a wall, escaped to Leeds, bought first-class tickets to Manchester, and then to cover their tracks, third class to Liverpool. They then moved on to London and had a rare old time in night cafes and dancing saloons purporting to be Frenchmen. A Danish steamer gave them an opportunity to stow away and after four nights, they arrived in Copenhagen. They spent a short time in prison but were released and regained their full liberty. Whether the Wakefield prison authorities instituted an enquiry is unreported but they had many questions to answer.