The History of:

Guys! I thought the calendar was a good idea!

It’s most likely that the calendar you’re using today reads something similar to 13/11/2015, has 12 months, 365 days in the year and an extra day every leap year. The Gregorian calendar is the most commonly used civil calendar in the world today. It’s a pretty easy way to understand what time of year it is and when seasons occur, because it’s so regular. But it wasn’t always like this. The Gregorian calendar itself is a revision of an earlier calendar with a similar regularity to it, the Julian calendar (there is only a difference in length between the two of 0.0002% difference between the two, or 10 minutes and 48 seconds each year).

The Julian calendar was created in 46 BCE out of the chaotic calendar of Numa. Over the two centuries leading up to 46 BCE the Numan calendar had come seriously out of alignment, and was roughly 80 days out. Times of crisis, wars, and political squabbling had meant that people had either forgotten to add, or intentionally left out, the intercalary month and religious holidays. The intercalary month was a month inserted between February and March every few years, to bring the 355 day calendar in line with the cycle of seasons. The month and religious days had to be declared by the chief priests of the ancient Roman religion, the Pontifex Maximus. However the Pontifex Maximus had become a politicised position over the centuries meaning that, as mentioned above, the Pontifex Maximus was able to abuse their power over the calendar to leave days out and shorten the period of office for their political opponents. The situation became so bad that Julius Caesar, in 46 BCE, used his power as Pontifex Maximus to completely reform the calendar. He made the year 365 days long, adding an extra day every 4th (leap) year, and created created the months we use today. In order to begin the next year, 45 BCE, in the correct season he added two extra months along with the intercalary month, meaning that 46 BCE had a grand total of 15 months and was 445 days long. Caesar called it ‘the last year of confusion’, but other people just referred to it as ‘the year of confusion’ or ‘annus confusionis’ in Latin.

So, just be thankful that Caesar gave us a calendar that made sense, and that we don’t have to go through a year of confusion like that.

I was explaining to someone today who thought that it would pretty safe to be in one of the artillery batteries during WWI that it was in fact very unsafe. During WWI the ranging of fire against an artillery battery was perfected with deadly results, often killing everyone in the battery. Unless of course were a crew of Big Bertha (Dicke Bertha) which fired from a huge distance away.

Big Bertha

The normal artillery was much smaller and therefore used much closer to the front.

Australian 18 pounders at Ypres 1917

Australian gunners with 18 pounders in France WWI

Australia photos as an example.

Some soldiers were wearing soft hats rather than helmets at the start of WWI. Not that good for stopping the sort of shrapnel that occurred in the trenches.

At the Start of World War I the french were resplendent in their new sky blue uniforms. It was said that they were sky blue so they would blend with the horizon. The reason is more likely one of  supply. The original design was for a patriotic uniform using alternate red, white and blue threads that would result in a modern grey colour of uniform. However the red tread was to be supplied from Germany a bit of problem when you are going to war with them. Hence the uniform was made of blue and white thread making the striking sky blue uniform.

WWI French Uniform Sky Blue

WWI French Uniform Sky Blue Peronne

It night seem a little bright but look at the uniform it was replacing.

WWI French Uniforms Red and Blue Peronne

The German poster “Field Uniforms of our Enemies in the West” from 1914 shows the variety of colourful uniforms of the French, British and Belgian armies.

Field Uniforms of our Enemies in the West

These uniform designs almost date back to Napoleonic times.

Napoleon’s Army Uniforms by Lucien Rousselot

The best cavalry sword of all time was the 1908 Pattern sword. Unfortunately it was only introduced to the British cavalry in 1908 just prior to World War I at the end of the effective usefulness of cavalry as a key military unit.

1908 British cavalry sword

The Pattern sword was designed with a pistol grip that made it excellent of charging. It was brilliantly balanced for use in a charge either slashing or as a stationary point like a spear.

Have tactics and armour really changed all that much since Roman Times.

police take cover behind shields

Riot police officers take cover behind shields during violent protests in Kiev – Source: Reuters

Dura Europos Scutum Shield

Dura Europos Scutum Roman Shield

As far as I know there has only been one scutum in good condition has ever been found. It was found at Dura Europos, a Roman fort in Syria.  It has pictures of an eagle, a lion, and winged gods. It was made in the 200s CE.