Topic: The Odd And Unusual In The Military 9

Charge 7 · August 22nd, 2005

Unless Doody posts the answer before I get around to it, or somebody has a brainstorm, the answer will be here by tomorrow.

Rich · August 24th, 2005

Its from the George Herbert poem Jacula Prudentum meaning "short and pointed remarks made by judicious men" (circa 1625) There is controversy over whether it was an old saying rather than a Herbert coining the phrase.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost,
for want of a shoe the horse was lost,
for want of a horse the knight was lost,
for want of a knight the battle was lost,
for want of a battle the kingdom was lost,
all for want of a nail.

Basically a saying that means you have to look after the small stuff to make the big stuff happen.

He also coined (which I really like)
"Living well is the best revenge."

So to my answer, which is a hazardous guess

You're clues were
Nails, horses & cannons
British
Doody and you are inclined to know? I thought maybe that was cryptic - with the real meaning your online name Charge. Doody's - I was lost on that one???

So I think it was the French cavalry charge at Waterloo. The French captured the English cannon but they lacked any headless nails to spike the guns. The English which had formed infantry squares inflicted heavy losses on the cavalry and recaptured the guns. Had the French been able to destroy the guns, the battle would have likely turned out differently. Napoleon launched a frontal infantry assault against the English line and the same cannon they had been unable to destroy.
"for want of a nail the kingdom was lost".

The thing I can't figure out was that this battle was a 150 years after the phrase was written by Herbert. My best guess though

Charge 7 · August 24th, 2005

You are correct and get the 100 milbucks. Congrats!

Yes, it is odd that the phrase got turned around and so I was going to give partial credit for saying Richard III. My guess though is that since that was not documented and the incident at Waterloo was, and told the tale of the battle that it superceeded the former in the lexicon.

Next question will be much easier since one that I thought was "easy" didn't turn out as such.

For 100 milbucks name the only tank that served in both world wars.

Rich · August 25th, 2005

No-one seems to have had a go so I'll take a shot..

The French Renault FT-17 ???

Charge 7 · October 4th, 2005

Sorry, Rich, I forgot about this. You are correct. The French Renault FT-17 was indeed the only tank used in both world wars.

Next question:

This officer was the only one to attend the surrender ceremonies of all three Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) at the close of WWII. Since this is a rather hard one I'll set the reward for a correct answer at 500 milbucks.

IAmFighter · October 4th, 2005

I'll take a guess and say Lord Mountbattan?

82ndMechanic · October 4th, 2005

General Carl Spaatz.

CAPs highest award is the General Carl A. Spaatz Award so I thought some CAP'er would have gotten it.

Doc8404 · October 5th, 2005

I'm shooting in the dark here........General Dwight D. Eisenhower????

Rich · October 5th, 2005

Yep, 82nd's on the money - it was definitely Spaatz.

Charge 7 · October 7th, 2005

Indeed, 82nd is correct. You wanna give him the money as well as approve his answer, Rich? :P

Just kidding, 82nd gets my moola, but with that I'm calling a halt to this quiz line for the next several weeks while we prepare to move and then actually move. I won't be online so much for awhile.

August 22nd, 2005	Post 81
Charge 7 Master Gunner	Unless Doody posts the answer before I get around to it, or somebody has a brainstorm, the answer will be here by tomorrow. __________________ "Do not forget your dogs of war, your big guns, which are the most-to-be respected arguments of the rights of kings." - Frederick the Great, King of Prussia

October 4th, 2005	Post 86
IAmFighter Centurion	I'll take a guess and say Lord Mountbattan? __________________ \"The advance of hope in the Middle East requires new thinking in the region. By now it should be clear that authoritarian rule is not the way of the future it is the last gasp of a discredited past. Democracy is their goal and terrorists themselves have reason to fear.\" ~President George W. Bush Do not attack the First Marine Division. Leave the yellowlegs alone. Strike the American Army. ~Orders given to Communist troops in the Korean War; shortly afterward, the Marines were ordered to not wear their khaki leggings.

August 24th, 2005	Post 82
Rich Immunes	Its from the George Herbert poem Jacula Prudentum meaning "short and pointed remarks made by judicious men" (circa 1625) There is controversy over whether it was an old saying rather than a Herbert coining the phrase. For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the knight was lost, for want of a knight the battle was lost, for want of a battle the kingdom was lost, all for want of a nail. Basically a saying that means you have to look after the small stuff to make the big stuff happen. He also coined (which I really like) "Living well is the best revenge." So to my answer, which is a hazardous guess You're clues were Nails, horses & cannons British Doody and you are inclined to know? I thought maybe that was cryptic - with the real meaning your online name Charge. Doody's - I was lost on that one??? So I think it was the French cavalry charge at Waterloo. The French captured the English cannon but they lacked any headless nails to spike the guns. The English which had formed infantry squares inflicted heavy losses on the cavalry and recaptured the guns. Had the French been able to destroy the guns, the battle would have likely turned out differently. Napoleon launched a frontal infantry assault against the English line and the same cannon they had been unable to destroy. "for want of a nail the kingdom was lost". The thing I can't figure out was that this battle was a 150 years after the phrase was written by Herbert. My best guess though

August 24th, 2005	Post 83
Charge 7 Master Gunner	You are correct and get the 100 milbucks. Congrats! Yes, it is odd that the phrase got turned around and so I was going to give partial credit for saying Richard III. My guess though is that since that was not documented and the incident at Waterloo was, and told the tale of the battle that it superceeded the former in the lexicon. Next question will be much easier since one that I thought was "easy" didn't turn out as such. For 100 milbucks name the only tank that served in both world wars.

August 25th, 2005	Post 84
Rich Immunes	No-one seems to have had a go so I'll take a shot.. The French Renault FT-17 ???

October 4th, 2005	Post 85
Charge 7 Master Gunner	Sorry, Rich, I forgot about this. You are correct. The French Renault FT-17 was indeed the only tank used in both world wars. Next question: This officer was the only one to attend the surrender ceremonies of all three Axis powers (Germany, Italy and Japan) at the close of WWII. Since this is a rather hard one I'll set the reward for a correct answer at 500 milbucks.

October 4th, 2005	Post 87
82ndMechanic Optio	General Carl Spaatz. CAPs highest award is the General Carl A. Spaatz Award so I thought some CAP'er would have gotten it.

October 5th, 2005	Post 88
Doc8404 Tirones	I'm shooting in the dark here........General Dwight D. Eisenhower????

October 5th, 2005	Post 89
Rich Immunes	Yep, 82nd's on the money - it was definitely Spaatz.

October 7th, 2005	Post 90
Charge 7 Master Gunner	Indeed, 82nd is correct. You wanna give him the money as well as approve his answer, Rich? :P Just kidding, 82nd gets my moola, but with that I'm calling a halt to this quiz line for the next several weeks while we prepare to move and then actually move. I won't be online so much for awhile.