If I were a Tommy I would have pronounced Ypres as Wipers also, and I pronounce it that way now anyway. I do not speak French and rebel at trying for the correct pronunciation. It is unsophisticated I know, I never thought of myself as being a darling of the Paris salons.
What is known about who was behind this material? This would have been subject to the US's Sedition statutes if it had been published here; from what I have been reading Uncle Sam vigorously and successfully prosecuted these cases. Many were incarcerated under the law in this country; I am not familiar how it went in the UK. Very cleverly written especially considering the UK censorship of news from the front. Perhaps returning troopers telling their stories?
If I were a Tommy I would have pronounced Ypres as Wipers also, and I pronounce it that way now anyway. I do not speak French and rebel at trying for the correct pronunciation. It is unsophisticated I know, I never thought of myself as being a darling of the Paris salons.
ReplyDeleteWhat is known about who was behind this material? This would have been subject to the US's Sedition statutes if it had been published here; from what I have been reading Uncle Sam vigorously and successfully prosecuted these cases. Many were incarcerated under the law in this country; I am not familiar how it went in the UK. Very cleverly written especially considering the UK censorship of news from the front. Perhaps returning troopers telling their stories?
ReplyDeletePS D. Haig, President....great!
Re: Anonymous May 12, 2014
DeleteWiper's Times was written on the front by soldiers in Ypres who happened to find a printing press.