Ephedrine was used by many that went to gyms. The side effects were dehydration, needing the loo a lot ( so i was told ) and irritability.......many looked upon it like a baby speed

Giving soldiers Amphetamines started in the first world war I believe, and then go back a bit further and you'll find that Gin was used to by the brave and fearless Britishto make their soldiers courageous and give them that 'don't give a damn' feeling now called a "euphoric high"in modern parlance...nothing changes just the type of drug.

#2 albanoch, I just finished a book on the history of the Russian/Japanese war of 1904 - 1905. Just before the Japanese troops attacked Port Arthur they gave their guys Saki mixed with a don't give a damn drug (it's name escapes me),the Japanese lost 40,000 killed and wounded on the first day. I think back then most armies were at it.

Speed kills.

There's something to be said for being a pacifist....

Rum was also issued before going over the top and rum in the tea was known as "gunfire" by the troops.

-- before the Japanese troops attacked Port Arthur

Quingdao is the new Port o MacArthur. I'm sure Ellen has OKed their defences while she was there to open a their B & Q mega store.

Dress this subject how you like, drug affecting trigger happy pilots, what absolute rubbish.
A profession as a combat pilot must be the hardest career to follow. What’s the percentage of failure & how many compared to doctors, lawyers. We are talking amongst the brightest on this planet.

Friendly fire deaths is the worst for soldiers on the ground, hence the British army just laugh at the pathetic standard of US troops. US Govt money can buy all the fancy weaponry but not the brains to fill it. All brawn & no brains. Doesn't matter if the US army has 1000's of troops the British army could wipe them clean.
It's called professionalism.

Drugs to keep pilots awake, that's unnecessary. The air craft travel at lightening speeds and cover distance in an instance. With world wide air bases including Tallil airbase in Iraq why do pilots have long missions?????

Pilots have the highest standard of living & feeding arrangements in the field. Infantry soldiers live in ditches with no aircon & packet food. Pilots can be accommodated 800 miles behind enemy lines, comfortable bed, running hot water, aircon & three square meals, not forgetting the bar for a night cap.

Sounds like inaccurate reporting.

However this may be accurate - Now the MOD are drug pushers?

#4 Guga II :-)

Ah, makes sense, give them a wee disco biscuit like the the nightclubers and stick them up at 5,000 feet with a controls for a computer game, and shoot the hell out of people.
This is what it sounds like to me.

3. George F, Michigan
sorry to be off topic slightly, what was the book, do you recommend it? There's aren't too many books in English on that war

#11. Dougie - Edinburgh - There is a short history of the war available here:
http://www.ospreypublishing.com/title_detail.php/title=S4469
I'm sure it will also have a bibliography if you are looking for something more "in depth".

So it was the amphetamines that made the two American pilots disobey direct orders not to fire on the Canadian soldiers??? Beans??? Bennies??? Right! Wouldn't have anything to do with arrogance and pig headedness - no, couldn't be...

#11 Dougie, The book is called "The Tide at Sunrise"
A History of the Russo - Japanese War and it's written by Denis & Peggy Warner. The book is very well written and researched and yep I highly recommend it mate. There is also photos of the main people on both sides as well as battlefield pics.
A very good book.

Hi James
Osprey books seem to be for children from what I've seen... Amazon says this one is 96 pages :) I'm going to get the Cassell book by R.M. Connaughton
Thanks anyway!

15. George F, Michigan
It looks like the best book on the topic too, I just can't justify the price (amazon says over 80 pounds - $160US?). So maybe later.. thanks for the info :)

#17 Dougie, try the library mate, that's were I got it :-)

Dougie I found it for 35 quid $70

Just found a copy for $5 used acceptable it says.

Dougie that $5 is in crap state though I have found another for $36 (18 Quid)

Post #2

Actually, it was Dutch regulars that were given gin (jenever) prior to battle, hence the term 'Dutch courage'.