Getting up the blood spirit: An Army instructor's phrase in bayonet fighting exercise. Sacks stuffed with straw served as dummies, and the men had to attack them not only in scientific form, but with suitable ferocity – the "blood spirit." The phrase was invented during the war at the musketry school at Hardelot (see Spirit of the bayonet). The exercise formed part of the Army training course. The "enemy" (dummy stacks), were placed in alignment, the assailants were drawn up in front of a parapet or wall, which they scaled and then rushed forward to tackle the dummies, afterwards pressing on in pursuit.[1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.27.
Glossary of words and phrases
The above term is listed in our glossary of words and phrases of the Armed Forces of Great Britain during the Great War. Included are trench slang, service terms, expressions in everyday use, nicknames, the titles and origins of British and Commonwealth Regiments, and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary to the war, which is reflected in the language used. They have been transcribed from three primary sources (see Contents). Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.
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