Question on British military geographical terms

[Hans]

For the term 'ridge' would the British have referred to this as a crest, finger, etc or some other term?

A ridge being a raised area, with a valley or draw on each side running down from a higher hill or mountain.

TIA

[Michael Emrys]

I've heard the term 'spur' used more often than 'ridge' to name the feature you describe. But this is in the US. I am not sure what the Brits would call it.

BTW, I am accustomed to thinking of a ridge as an extended crest in a range of hills or mountains. In other words, it would be the highest ground in the immediate vicinity. A spur would extend outward and downward with, as you say, draws or canyons flanking it.

Michael

[...................................]

Sure the Brits would use the word 'ridge' for the type of feature you described. Cameron Ridge at Keren is similar AFAIK.

However the Brits also knew a small rise in the ground near El Alamein as Ruweisat Ridge when it was merely a low hill. To add to your confusion, they called another Alamien feature Kidney Ridge, which was fair enough when viewed on a map because of its shape. However when troops arrived there they found it was actually a depression! Despite this minor detail, and in the good old British tradition of eccentricity, the name Kidney Ridge stuck.

So in short they called many and various features 'ridges', and the feature you describe could certainly be included.

[Edit] typo.

[ May 10, 2004, 11:57 AM: Message edited by: Pheasant Plucker ]

[JonS]

Originally posted by Pheasant Plucker:

... they called another Alamien feature Kidney Ridge, which was fair enough when viewed on a map because of its shape. However when troops arrived there they found it was actually a depression! Despite this minor detail, and in the good old British tradition of eccentricity, the name Kidney Ridge stuck.

Well, the Rifle Brigade never went to Kidney Ridge - they got lost on the way and, as you say, wound up in the depression. Because Kidney Ridge was where they were meant to be, that is what they called where they were.

As a side effect of using the name for where they were meant to be for where they were, relief and artillery support was not forthcoming. Well, it was, but it went to the right place, which was of course the wrong place.

It all worked out rather splendidly in the end though

Regards

Jon