I was watching a Brittish series called Danger UXB. Its about bomb defusers in WWII England.

Anyway, in one episode, the unit was having an inspection. I believe they called it a "parade."

One of the guys was lighting his boots on fire. I mean he was holding the boots up to a flame.

When the CO came to inspect the group, he took the boots in question off the bed and dropped it into a bucket of water. Then he started yelling at the guy. Their accent is so thick I couldn't tell what he was saying.

My questions:

1. Why would you hold your boots up to a flame?
2. Why would that be bad?
3. Also, while I am asking questions about WWII and English military, what is a sapper?

Thanks! Stacey

1. Why would you hold your boots up to a flame?

Answer: he was burning the volatables out of the unhardened boot polish to allow it to "set" into the leather correctly so that it could be shined.

2. Why would that be bad?

Answer: Its an extreme fire hazard: Most WWII temporary barracks back in WWII were made of extremely cheap, easy to ignite wood or plywood panels.

3. Also, while I am asking questions about WWII and English military, what is a sapper?

Answer: its the nickname given to any British Engineering Soldier. It was the construction of saps or trenches to enable the enemy fortifications to be assaulted which gave the Corps its nickname of 'Sappers'.

http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineer...tage/index.htm

Thanks so much for that info. One of the charactors went AWOL to go see if his wife was safe. They demoted him to a sapper.

That explains alot...

Originally Posted by Mark Conley

1. Why would you hold your boots up to a flame?

Answer: he was burning the volatables out of the unhardened boot polish to allow it to "set" into the leather correctly so that it could be shined.

2. Why would that be bad?

Answer: Its an extreme fire hazard: Most WWII temporary barracks back in WWII were made of extremely cheap, easy to ignite wood or plywood panels.

3. Also, while I am asking questions about WWII and English military, what is a sapper?

Answer: its the nickname given to any British Engineering Soldier. It was the construction of saps or trenches to enable the enemy fortifications to be assaulted which gave the Corps its nickname of 'Sappers'.

http://www.army.mod.uk/royalengineer...tage/index.htm

Just being a bit picky here - but saps are the tunnels that were dug under the corners of castles in a siege. Fires would then be set and - in theory, the walls come tumbling down. This is the origin of the name 'sapper' that is the rank of a private in the Royal Engineers.

nice reply doodsy concidering i took the defitnition straight from a british site..figured they knew what they were talking about.

thanks for the update.

Yeah! Understand that, Mark, but it is a basic history thing, a Sap is a tunnel and Sappers dug 'em you can't change that can you?

If we were talking trenches - thats yer average infantry man's job, innit?