On the western front during WW1 many things changed on the front, Officers started to carry rifles as the snipers knew that officers normally carried a pistol. By walking up and saluting a person it will indicate to the sniper that this is an officer and a far better target than a soldier. During this time the British troops would only light two cigarettes with one one match as they found by the time they had lit the third the sniper had zeroed in on them. These days British officers no longer wear their rank on their shoulder during combat or while out training, all ranks hang a patch from the zipper on this patch of camouflaged cloth are the ranks in black, so that you need to be quite close to see what rank they carry. this applies all officers and NCO's

on the George Washington subject, i have read that the sniper did not shoot because his back was to the honorable sniper, who would never shoot a man in the back.

also, i read somewhere else that Marines do not salute unless "covered" by a uniform cap, is this correct? maybe thats something that came out of those orders to not salute

ok, whats is to see a sniper looking at thier helmet?
from what iv seen (movies only sofar) the higher ranks have some symbols painted on thier helmet? whats to stop a sniper checking for specific markings?

Locke...........In the British Army ranks are not displayed on the helmets

There are probably two things at work here.

One, movies like to make rank obvious so the audience can tell all those clean shaven, short haired guys apart. "The Great Raid" had all the officers sporting bright shiny lapel rank, probably for this very purpose.

Second, a general or some other high ranker isn't going to be on the front line. If he has a bright white star on his helmet, it is because he is back in the rear and wants the people around him to recognize him.

Modern US forces all have bright "garrison" patches and rank as well as subdued rank.

BTW, this is a great site!!

Much of the modern day sniping came about during WW1, the Germans started it of with their telescopic sights and they used to men out in no Mans Land to get a better view along the trenches. Then they got bolder and started carrying out very thick boiler plates into no mans land to give the sniper better protection. The Brits in turn called a number of big game hunters from Africa who brought along their elephant guns and shot the Germans straight through the boiler plates. They then went on to set up some fantastic hides and even the gillie suite was born in WW1. If you ever get a chance to read of some pf the things they did during this war you will find very little has changed except some of the equipment in forms of the sights.

on the discovery channel, WWI or II, a Officer was getting mad about how his soldiers were cowering down, he stands up and says, "Come on, they cant hit us from here." he was shot instantly in the throat. keep your head down!

Originally Posted by Doody

I was watching a show on the Revolutionary War and the program was talking about a time where a British sharpshooter took aim at an American officer but didn't fire. The sharpshooter later found out that he was aiming at George Washington. Also, at Bunker Hill the Americans took aim at British Officers. At that time, officers will easily identified by their uniforms.

I saw that, too.

Originally Posted by FULLMETALJACKET

on the discovery channel, WWI or II, a Officer was getting mad about how his soldiers were cowering down, he stands up and says, "Come on, they cant hit us from here." he was shot instantly in the throat. keep your head down!

General Sedgewick (union army), American civil war. The exact quote was "what are you cowering down there for? They couldn't hit an elephant at this range." Just before he was hit below the left cheek. He was conducting a seige somewhere, can't remember where or what year of the war, but his death (and absence of commander for his troops til a new commander got there 6 weeks later) caused a delay in the union attacks and subsequent failure to capture the fort (more time to strengthen defences etc). One of the best examples of a single well aimed shot changing the course of a battle.

I might have got some of the details wrong (it's 5 years since I read the story), but that's the general gist of it.

Have you heard people say it is unlucky to light three cigarettes of one match or light. this came about during WW1, when you light a match there is quite a flare up and by the time you got around to lighting the third cigarette the sniper had homed in on the spot and the third man would have collected a bullet.