OK let us be honest GUEST,Some bloke in Scotland = Musket {Clue: He's the only f**kin Idiot I've ever known to refer to the Royal Military Police as "RED TOPS"}

Having run out of, or being totally incapable of reasonable argument and lacking any understanding of fact or detail, when his views are challenged and his dearly held myths are exploded he resorts first to name calling. Now by coming onto the forum under a different guise he has to introduce Time Machines FFS!!!

Tell me Musket into whose shoes would you parachute yourself into way back there in 1914? Political Leader's? Haig's? A Corps or Divisional Commander's? Someone on the Staff? A front line Officer's? A Sergeant's? A Soldier's? Or those of either of your Granddads down the pit? What and how much do you think you would see from each of those perspectives? Post 1970, the historians who have poured over the vast wealth of personal correspondence sent and received by soldiers and officers alike give a good enough snap shot, they have read through it, neither you and I have read anything like that in terms of volume or range. You rely on the stories told to you by your relatives, I rely on those told by mine who both served at the front one with the Sherwood Forresters on the Western Front and the other with the KOSB at Gallipoli and in Palestine.

Historians in 100 years time will be saying roughly what those are saying today and what those said immediately after the war, they will say only some of what the "revisionists" said between the 1930s and 1969. That prediction of mine being based on the premise that very little "new" information will emerge between now and 2114. Interesting though Musket, but typical, is your over-simplistic "either" or "or" approach to everything. In this "Time Machine" of yours why not do both.

" Neither Teribus nor Keith seem willing to look at the facts, relying instead on contradictory publications written for their own means."

Had quite a chuckle at this as in reading through the various threads on the First World War it has been myself and Keith and a few others that have introduced fact based arguments, supported by quotations, and links to documents, while you have relied on myth and rumour, which when challenged doesn't even withstand cursory examination.

Take for example your seeming obsession with "RED TOPS". What was it that you had them doing when you first introduced them again? Oh yes they:

- Were lined up armed to the teeth in the trenches and forced men "over-the-top", even held the ladders for them eh?

- Were ordered to shoot out of hand any who refused to mount the trench ladders

- Were ordered to shoot out of hand anyone who turned round to come back.

- Patrolled the trenches with orders to shoot out of hand anyone they suspected of being a deserter.

You were asked repeatedly and given ample opportunity to produce one single example of any of that ever having happened – What was the result of that Musket? Not one single instance in an Army of millions during a war that spanned the globe and lasted over four years – NOT ONE SINGLE INSTANCE.

So now, unable to back up your original claims, and lacking the integrity to admit your mistake, it comes down to your criticism that the "RED TOPS" patrolled – High pal I've got news for you they are still doing that to this day - You muppet that is their function, it always has been:

- They are patrolling to ensure that servicemen do not kick over the traces and stay within the bounds of the law.

- They are patrolling to ensure that servicemen do not act in any manner not considered to be conducive to good order and military discipline.

- They are patrolling to ensure that young servicemen are not set upon by gangs of thugs and beaten up.

- They are patrolling to ensure that servicemen are not robbed blind and ripped off by locals.

When were waves of men sent over the top to wear down the enemy Musket? Be careful should you answer this because I am ready to blow up the typical myths born to "Oh What A Lovely War" and the "Blackadder" crap you are going to try and peddle as fact.

" You can see photographs of the jingoism and propaganda in place."

Only British Musket? Or did it also apply in equal measure in every nation engaged in the war?

"You can see accounts of the work of the red tops and court martial system. "

Yes we most certainly can, all very well documented, and none of that matches your fairy tales Musket. F**kin RED TOPS I ask you – you're a joke.