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

[Stephen Goranson]

Jonathan's "Jump off" suggestion may be strengthened by a "jump off line" included in a battle map in

The Thirty-seventh Division in the World War, 1917-1918, Volume 2 (GB)

SG

________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 10:33 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918

"Jump-off" day?  At least later in the year, U.S. forces were said to
"jump off" when launching an attack.  E.g.,

1918 _Buffalo Evening News_ (Sept. 17) 1: "Over the top" is now the "jump
off," and "zero hour" has changed to "H hour."

1918 _Wheeling Intelligencer_  (Oct. 7) 2: All of its advances since the
"jump off" on Wednesday have been made...in the face of tremendous
opposition.

On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 8:56 AM dave at wilton.net <dave at wilton.net> wrote:

>
> The OED has 17 September 1918 for "H-Hour," but I've found this from 21
> February:
>
> Headquarters, 16th Infantry. “Plan for Raid on Richecourt Salient.” 21
> February 1918. World War Records First Division A.E.F. Regular, vol. 10.
> First Division Museum. [
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://firstdivisionmuseum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=cdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9e5437f*2Fiwfd0000*2F20180808*2F00000002__;JSUl!!OToaGQ!pNwkQWVWZ2JGZhTR-kLpKbFwE7H0chS-OCO2Rdlhlzx187y4fYQAuvdFjb0eZ7AntHs3YoNqk_OKRs9LuR2T-g$
> ](
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://firstdivisionmuseum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=cdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9e5437f*2Fiwfd0000*2F20180808*2F00000002__;JSUl!!OToaGQ!pNwkQWVWZ2JGZhTR-kLpKbFwE7H0chS-OCO2Rdlhlzx187y4fYQAuvdFjb0eZ7AntHs3YoNqk_OKRs9LuR2T-g$
> )[  ](
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://firstdivisionmuseum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=cdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9e5437f*2Fiwfd0000*2F20180808*2F00000002__;JSUl!!OToaGQ!pNwkQWVWZ2JGZhTR-kLpKbFwE7H0chS-OCO2Rdlhlzx187y4fYQAuvdFjb0eZ7AntHs3YoNqk_OKRs9LuR2T-g$
> )
>
> "Artillery: From J minus 5 day to J day—Cutting gaps in the enemy’s wire
> at points other than that of the real objective, namely, Salient LAHAYVILLE
> and Salient 2520.
>
> "[…]
>
> "Box Barrage—A box barrage of 45 minutes duration will be held at H hour
> as shown on the sketch. At H plus 25 the box barrage will close down to the
> enemy’s first four lines which will be heavily shelled till close of
> operation."
>
> I have no idea what the "J" stands for. Any info or guesses are welcome.
>
> I was unable to antedate the OED's 7 September use of "D-Day." I think
> that the term may have been introduced for this operation. (I found one
> relating to the same operation in a field order of a subordinate unit dated
> 10 September.)
>
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