"Alan S" wrote in message
news:biij14dths9nbsnd07gopq34v9cv53vjqj@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 1 May 2008 00:07:36 -0700 (PDT), Ned Flanders
> wrote:
>
>
>>Not everybody was allowed to fight though. In the British army only
>>Indian soldiers took part in the conflict.
>>
>>Other nationalities like Maoris from New Zealand were taken to the
>>battlefields in order to work.
>
> Nonsense.
In general, armies have a lot more soldiers in support roles than they do in
combat. I have heard figures of between five and nine in support for every
one on the front line for armies of the time. The differences may depend
upon whether soldiers in rest areas count as being in support or not. It
would therefore make sense for troops who were less well battle trained to
be put into support roles, at least when they first arrived.
Colin Bignell
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