The Aerodrome Forum - View Single Post - July-Dec 1917

bristol scout · 8 July 2009, 01:02 PM

As i said James---regretably my ----yes, i admit it, Latent Francophobia does not permit me to be suitably objective enough i fear.

All i can sensibly say therefore is, whilst the French army performed with the deepest of devotion to duty (pity that word is unfashionable nowadays) right through that war (pity about round 2) ---even during those very shaky times i mentioned earlier---and we should not forget that her Allies had to bear a heavy price during those months---on balance the mainstay on the Western Front from mid 1916 onwards---increasingly so---were the British and Dominion troops.-----Not trying to dodge half of the question here----just think that French aircrew, fighter and Bomber, were quite glad that 'up the line' there were very aggressive airmen faced by the best of the German air services-----who, therefore, were not facing them!

My Francophobic attitude, whilst reprehensible to many here will, nevertheless not seem so unreasonable to some---and at least i've admitted it rules against my objectivity somewhat.

Dave.

8 July 2009, 01:02 PM	#109 (permalink)
bristol scout Forum Ace Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Newcastle on Tyne---England Posts: 1,499	As i said James---regretably my ----yes, i admit it, Latent Francophobia does not permit me to be suitably objective enough i fear. All i can sensibly say therefore is, whilst the French army performed with the deepest of devotion to duty (pity that word is unfashionable nowadays) right through that war (pity about round 2) ---even during those very shaky times i mentioned earlier---and we should not forget that her Allies had to bear a heavy price during those months---on balance the mainstay on the Western Front from mid 1916 onwards---increasingly so---were the British and Dominion troops.-----Not trying to dodge half of the question here----just think that French aircrew, fighter and Bomber, were quite glad that 'up the line' there were very aggressive airmen faced by the best of the German air services-----who, therefore, were not facing them! My Francophobic attitude, whilst reprehensible to many here will, nevertheless not seem so unreasonable to some---and at least i've admitted it rules against my objectivity somewhat. Dave.