"A wargamer’s pedantic view " Topic

As with most wargamers, I am a bit pedantic about the minutiae of military history. So I get peeved when the media or films get some minor detail wrong, even if these are too small and unimportant to affect the overall history.

Recently the media in New Zealand reported that the remains of twelve British soldiers had been uncovered at Ruapekapeka, the site of a colonial siege/battle between Māori and British forces that took place in 1845-6.

When I read about these twelve soldiers, I went into full pedantic mode. In fact, 'soldiers' were the smallest proportion of these twelve men, as seven of them were actually sailors. An important distinction in my view – certainly any sailor would bridle at being described as a soldier!

More about this, as well as my efforts to identify the names of these twelve men, on my blog here: link

Not to mention how upset the Marines would be!

As a retired US Marine, I still have to correct my wife's family who tell me I was "a soldier"

That's why the phrase in the US is "support our TROOPS".

Soldiers are in the Army, dangit! (An old sailor)

Surely 'troops' just refers to soldiers?

'Troops' to me sounds just like army and possibly marines (especially in the 19th century context of Ruapekapeka). 'Forces', however, could cover sailors etc too.

In the USA, my understanding is the news media uses a style guide. In the context of this thread, preferred language. Troops is the constant word used. They never mind that a troop might mean more than one combatant as in a cavalry troop, etc.

Language use has changed.
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During the 1st Gulf War, I remember a reporter calling a Bradley Fighting vehicle a tank. They really don't have depth of knowledge to get military stuff right enough of the time. It's not their cup of tea. Understandable.
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Respectfully,
Bill P.

Good thought, ge2002bill. I looked up the BBC style guide, and here is the military section:

link

It also confirms what I thought that marines are not to be called soldiers.

Surely 'troops' just refers to soldiers?

'Soldiers' are in the Army.

'Sailors' are in the Navy.

'Marines' is self-explanatory. I will happily point and laugh at the result of calling a Marine a 'soldier'. The person who does so will probably require a trip to the local hospital to remove their foot from their mouth.

'Airmen' are in the Air Force.

'Troops' is the generic for everyone in the US military, enlisted and commissioned.

In Britain it is pretty much only soldiers who are referred to as troops.

The army, navy, and air force are generically called the 'armed forces'. I can't offhand think of a term for members of all of them! Maybe 'servicemen', but that is a bit old fashioned and also doesn't account for the female personnel.

I am content to not consider marines soldiers! Bloody jarheads think they are the only arm that matters.

It's not always that simple: link

Marines are sea soldiers, commandos, paratroopers, sailors, pilots, medics, drivers and most importantly, good dancers.