Joe Broady
Airman 1st Class
- 121
- May 30, 2019
On archive.org I found a document to indoctrinate newly arrived Americans on the UK. Some excerpts:
"You are now in Great Britain as part of an Allied offensive to meet Hitler and beat him on his own ground. For the time being you will be Britain's guest. The purpose of this guide is to start getting you acquainted with the British, their country, and their ways."
"It isn't a good idea to say 'bloody' in mixed company in Britain. It is one of their worst swear words."
"British money is in pounds, shillings, and pence. The British are used to this system and they like it, and all your arguments that the American decimal system is better won't convince them."
"Britain may look a little shop-worn and grimy to you. There's been a war on since 1939. The houses haven't been painted because the factories have not been making paint - they're making planes."
"You are higher paid than the British "Tommy'. Don't rub it in."
Britain for GI Dummies
After the introduction to the UK are hundreds of pages of memoranda on various subjects. I haven't read even 1/4 of the stuff. It's a look at some of the details of running an army.
"The requisite characteristics for a device for destroying classified matter in the field are light weight for easy transportation and speed in destruction under field emergency conditions. The British "Destroyable Correspondence Carrier" combines these features in a metal tube lined with combustible materials. It weighs 42 pounds and has a capacity of 16 pounds of classified matter. Ignited either electrically or mechanically, combustion is complete in four or five minutes, at which time a shotgun shell explodes and breaks up the ashes."
destruction of classified material
"Increasing density of troops in certain areas of the theater is resulting in an increase in instances of friction between soldiers of different troop units, especially between colored and white soldiers."
"No discrimination will be permitted against either white or colored personnel. Equal opportunities for service and recreation are the right of every American soldier, regardless of branch, race, color, or creed."
"The making of derogatory remarks concerning soldiers of another race, or of engaging in any altercation with soldiers of another unit, whether resulting in physical violence or not, constitute serious offenses in the Theater of Operations. Officers exercising court-martial jurisdiction will insure trial by the highest court required to exact the maximum penalty for such offenses."
racial problems
"You are now in Great Britain as part of an Allied offensive to meet Hitler and beat him on his own ground. For the time being you will be Britain's guest. The purpose of this guide is to start getting you acquainted with the British, their country, and their ways."
"It isn't a good idea to say 'bloody' in mixed company in Britain. It is one of their worst swear words."
"British money is in pounds, shillings, and pence. The British are used to this system and they like it, and all your arguments that the American decimal system is better won't convince them."
"Britain may look a little shop-worn and grimy to you. There's been a war on since 1939. The houses haven't been painted because the factories have not been making paint - they're making planes."
"You are higher paid than the British "Tommy'. Don't rub it in."
Britain for GI Dummies
After the introduction to the UK are hundreds of pages of memoranda on various subjects. I haven't read even 1/4 of the stuff. It's a look at some of the details of running an army.
"The requisite characteristics for a device for destroying classified matter in the field are light weight for easy transportation and speed in destruction under field emergency conditions. The British "Destroyable Correspondence Carrier" combines these features in a metal tube lined with combustible materials. It weighs 42 pounds and has a capacity of 16 pounds of classified matter. Ignited either electrically or mechanically, combustion is complete in four or five minutes, at which time a shotgun shell explodes and breaks up the ashes."
destruction of classified material
"Increasing density of troops in certain areas of the theater is resulting in an increase in instances of friction between soldiers of different troop units, especially between colored and white soldiers."
"No discrimination will be permitted against either white or colored personnel. Equal opportunities for service and recreation are the right of every American soldier, regardless of branch, race, color, or creed."
"The making of derogatory remarks concerning soldiers of another race, or of engaging in any altercation with soldiers of another unit, whether resulting in physical violence or not, constitute serious offenses in the Theater of Operations. Officers exercising court-martial jurisdiction will insure trial by the highest court required to exact the maximum penalty for such offenses."
racial problems
