WW1 soldier sketched tree under fire replaced it with fake
Camera technology must have been pretty bad back then. A soldier in WW1 sketched a dead tree so well it was copied and replaced with a steel replica
and a solider inside it.
In the days before satellite surveillance provided detailed images from the sky, Private Smith would creep behind enemy lines - and draw.
His sketches were so accurate they could identify exact enemy numbers, the type of weapons used and the geography of the land ahead.
In one mission, the sapper with the Royal Engineers Special Branch crawled to within a few yards of an enemy HQ and drew a tree so accurately that his comrades were able to create a hollow steel replica.
The real tree was then removed under cover of darkness and replaced by the replica - with a soldier stationed inside who was able to report back on German activity.
Describing his Vimy Ridge mission, Private Smith wrote in his diary: 'The Hun's shelling was almost incessant.
A diary entry by the artist, known as 'Smithie', recalls risking sniper fire to crawl behind enemy lines in Arras, France, in 1915 to draw a tree positioned just 20ft from enemy barracks.
After it was replaced by the steel replica, a network of tunnels gave soldiers access to the 'tree'.
Private Smith wrote in his diary:
Much more on this amazing person in the link
http://www.mailonsunday.co....
Len Smith's drawing of this battle-damaged tree near German trenches allowed British army chiefs to replace it with a hollow replica with a soldier inside
By netchicken:
posted on 9-10-2008
In the days before satellite surveillance provided detailed images from the sky, Private Smith would creep behind enemy lines - and draw.
His sketches were so accurate they could identify exact enemy numbers, the type of weapons used and the geography of the land ahead.
In one mission, the sapper with the Royal Engineers Special Branch crawled to within a few yards of an enemy HQ and drew a tree so accurately that his comrades were able to create a hollow steel replica.
The real tree was then removed under cover of darkness and replaced by the replica - with a soldier stationed inside who was able to report back on German activity.
Describing his Vimy Ridge mission, Private Smith wrote in his diary: 'The Hun's shelling was almost incessant.
A diary entry by the artist, known as 'Smithie', recalls risking sniper fire to crawl behind enemy lines in Arras, France, in 1915 to draw a tree positioned just 20ft from enemy barracks.
After it was replaced by the steel replica, a network of tunnels gave soldiers access to the 'tree'.
Private Smith wrote in his diary:
... Quote:
Much more on this amazing person in the link
http://www.mailonsunday.co....
Len Smith's drawing of this battle-damaged tree near German trenches allowed British army chiefs to replace it with a hollow replica with a soldier inside