That should be it.

Good answer - but not the right one. This is a very real military matter from the past, I promise you.

Originally Posted by Del Boy

Good answer - but not the right one. This is a very real military matter from the past, I promise you.

I admit I dont know. I give up!

OK guys. Here is the answer. At the times of Henry V. , battle of Agincourt , 1415 etc., England had a massive force of long-bow archers, who were skilled at raining a devastating barrage of arrows upon their opponents. At the time, these archers were the stars of soldiery, and were held in high regard at the top of the pile.

Whenever any of these archers fell into the hands of the French, the practice was to chop off one of their two string fingers, and their career was over.

So when they faced their enemies before battle commenced, the lined up archers together would thrust their two fingers into the air, in a gesture of defiance and readiness, a deadly signal of what was to come.

So today, when an Englishman flicks the V's at you, he is dismissively announcing that he is ready and able to take you on, although he probably does not realise the significance.

The V for victory sign is a little different in that it is usually presented with the palm facing forward.

Right, I will pass the conch back to Fox. Thank you.

Fascinating....

And at the mentioned Battle of Agincourt, we are told that 3000 of these English longbow-men defeated 60,000 French.( Other reports reckon 5000- 30.00, but whatever.) The salute works! As Hitler discovered when he bombed London.

Okay, now it is your turn, Del Boy, again to ask the next question

What is so unusual about the Civil War military high look- out point on Blue Ridge mountains overlooking the battlefields of Shenandoah?