D.M.

Discussion in 'Airborne' started by Chotie's Daughter, Jun 11, 2012.

  1. Chotie's Daughter

    Chotie's Daughter Chotie's Daughter

    Does anyone know what D.M. was? Something used in training?

    I've found a reference in the war diary for 1st Air Landing Squadron on 25th June 1942 that says "Squadron tested for night vision and then marched to the compound. D.M. used."
     
  2. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    I'm not sure if this would fit in with the usage you mentioned but one use of the initials DM in the British Army in World War Two was:
    DM. Driver Mechanised Transport (Army Service Corps number prefix)

    [​IMG]

    Here's a copy of a trade patch from the time.
     
    CL1 likes this.
  3. Red Goblin

    Red Goblin Senior Member

  4. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

    Just had another thought.
    Although I've never seen the acronym D.M. used for this, could it stand for "direct march"?
     
  5. Chotie's Daughter

    Chotie's Daughter Chotie's Daughter

    OMG! Direct March sounds nicer than the chemical! The Driver Mechanised badge is lovely but not sure it fits....
     
  6. 26delta

    26delta Senior Member

    Night vision plus Defined March (measured steps against compass bearing) sounds plausible.
     
  7. Red Goblin

    Red Goblin Senior Member

    Hmm. WDR I can't imagine any kind of 'march' being "used" as being neither object, resource nor technique. Besides, unless an afterthought, such cases would then reasonably boil down to "Squadron tested for night vision and then D.M. to the compound."

    Can CD please help us by posting wider context (e.g. what was going on, why and where) and/or a photo of each relevant ORB page - to check for visual clues (e.g. more ambiguous handwriting or shortage of space obliging the author to coin an irregular acronym for a term prominently used shortly beforehand) ?
     
  8. 26delta

    26delta Senior Member

    I think I tracked it down. DM is short reference to Designated Marksman/Sniper. More than likely, they used the Type K "TABBY" monocular scope, which was classified as "SECRET" until the middle of 1944.
     
  9. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    Squadron tested for night vision (and then marched to the compound.) D.M. used." The DM refers to the test not the march.







    'Darkness is the friend of the Infantryman'. Night Vision, One of the techniques used to check night vision is - Distance Measuring (DM). We would put soldiers in pre dug trenches at night and lay out items of kit at varying distance and ask them to log what they see. Infantrymen are taught a technique for night vision. The eye contains rods and cones. For low and high light conditions. If you look directly at a point in dark light you will not see as well as you will if looking slightly to the left or right of the point you wish to view. Another technique taught is to move the head in a slow figure of 8 scan of the area this allows the night sensitive parts of the eye to scan. The eyes must be protected at night, a trip flare or parachute illumination the trained soldier will close his master eye to prevent temporary night blindness whilst keeping a watch with the other eye. We would whilst carrying out these tests have soldiers cock a weapon, talk on radio and move, the recruits would be asked to say in which direction the sound was from.


    Night training without technology (iron sights) was used to ensure a soldier can shoot at night (or any trade can work at night)even when hi tech lets him down. The CQBR (close quarter battle range) would have lanes set up with Figure 11 targets etc set up, the soldier would be briefed and on command advance 'watch and shoot' he and the instructor would advance and as targets came into view be engaged. The technique was to 'shotgun shoot' that is not using the sights but point and shoot. Here again the experienced soldier will momentarily close his master eye, flash will blind. There are of course Hi Tech methods used with night vision sights etc. 'Get low look up!'



    Fig: 11 Target



    Fig11.jpg
     
  10. williams46

    williams46 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Checking my AB64 (Part 1), (Soldier's Service and Pay Book), on page title, 'Particulars of Training', close to the last entry at the bottom of the page is, Gas Chamber Expd.D.M. I well remember that, as I'm sure all that have experienced it, then at the double running twice around a field wearing a respirator after inhaling DM, while gasping for air, then given a cup of weak cocoa. Some throw-up in their respirator. Unsure what would have happened if you failed the test, but we all managed to complete the experience. Still remember it, as if it happened yesterday.
     
  11. 26delta

    26delta Senior Member

    I remember my night vision training in Basic. We were placed in a room where a frieze would appear after the lights were turned out (very-low-light conditions). As soon as we could make out the scene, we were to exit the room and report to the sergeant what we saw. My recovery time was about 8 seconds. There were a few that were still there after 10 minutes. (I'm not sure, but those guys were probably given medical discharges.)
     
  12. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

    You may well be right on the DM (Adamsite) if they were moving from night vision training/testing to respirator training testing. 'Compound' may suggest that too:


    DM is now regarded as obsolete. It has been widely replaced by riot control agents such as CS which are less toxic and more rapid in onset of symptoms. Early battlefield use was intended to be via "Adamsite candles". These were large metal tubes containing a smoke composition made of Adamsite plus a slow burning pyrotechnic composition. A series of candles were lit and the Adamsite-laden smoke allowed to drift towards the enemy. Later delivery methods developed.


    One of those where DM could apply to night vision or respirator testing. However, the Adamsite (DM) is more likely.
     
  13. williams46

    williams46 WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    I understand a gas was released before the lethal gas was used, the object was to make breathing so difficult so as to want to discard the respirator, or at least put your fingers between your cheek to make breathing easier, the reason why the two times at the double run around the field wearing them, told if we failed we would have to keep doing it all over again until we could. It was done while wearing full battle order and rifle, as were all tests, a gas test very easy to remember.

    When I lived in Stockton California, my neighbor was in the US Army during WW1, he was still suffering from being gassed when in France and taking medication daily. He said a gas was released before the lethal gas was used, but the first gas was not easily detected at that time later in the War.
     
  14. Chotie's Daughter

    Chotie's Daughter Chotie's Daughter

    Thanks very much guys. :)

    Got to post today for the D.M. diary entry (25th June) so will suggest a range of possible options.

    Afraid I can't give you more info. from the Squadron War Diary cos I've only got my pencil notes from when I last visited the National Archives Centre at Kew. The record is WO 166/6955 if anyone wants to look it up.
     

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