[Ads-l] "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918

[Peter Reitan]

They are in France, operating and planning alongside French troops, so perhaps jour?

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of dave at wilton.net <dave at WILTON.NET>
Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 5:55:53 AM
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Subject: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918

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Subject:      "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
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=0AThe OED has 17 September 1918 for "H-Hour," but I've found this from 21 =
February:=0A =0AHeadquarters, 16th Infantry. =E2=80=9CPlan for Raid on Rich=
ecourt Salient.=E2=80=9D 21 February 1918. World War Records First Division=
 A.E.F. Regular, vol. 10. First Division Museum. [ https://firstdivisionmus=
eum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-657=
4c9e5437f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 ]( https://firstdivisionmuseum.n=
mtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9e5=
437f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 )[  ]( https://firstdivisionmuseum.nm=
tvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9e54=
37f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 )=0A =0A"Artillery: From J minus 5 day=
 to J day=E2=80=94Cutting gaps in the enemy=E2=80=99s wire at points other =
than that of the real objective, namely, Salient LAHAYVILLE and Salient 252=
0.=0A=0A"[=E2=80=A6]=0A =0A"Box Barrage=E2=80=94A box barrage of 45 minutes=
 duration will be held at H hour as shown on the sketch. At H plus 25 the b=
ox barrage will close down to the enemy=E2=80=99s first four lines which wi=
ll be heavily shelled till close of operation."=0A =0AI have no idea what t=
he "J" stands for. Any info or guesses are welcome.=0A =0AI was unable to a=
ntedate the OED's 7 September use of "D-Day." I think that the term may hav=
e been introduced for this operation. (I found one relating to the same ope=
ration in a field order of a subordinate unit dated 10 September.)

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