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

[Peter Reitan]

In HathiTrust archive, a 1918 French military publication uses "le hour j - le jour de l'attaque".

D'un poste de commandement. (P.C. du 21e C.A.) Bataille de l'Ailette (23 octobre-2 novembre 1917)



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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Peter Reitan <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
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Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918

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Subject:      Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
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They are in France, operating and planning alongside French troops, so perh=
aps jour?

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From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of dave at w=
ilton.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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Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
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Subject:      "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
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=3D0AThe OED has 17 September 1918 for "H-Hour," but I've found this from 2=
1 =3D
February:=3D0A =3D0AHeadquarters, 16th Infantry. =3DE2=3D80=3D9CPlan for Ra=
id on Rich=3D
ecourt Salient.=3DE2=3D80=3D9D 21 February 1918. World War Records First Di=
vision=3D
 A.E.F. Regular, vol. 10. First Division Museum. [ https://firstdivisionmus=
=3D
eum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6=
57=3D
4c9e5437f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 ]( https://firstdivisionmuseum.n=
=3D
mtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9=
e5=3D
437f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 )[  ]( https://firstdivisionmuseum.nm=
=3D
tvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c9e=
54=3D
37f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 )=3D0A =3D0A"Artillery: From J minus 5=
 day=3D
 to J day=3DE2=3D80=3D94Cutting gaps in the enemy=3DE2=3D80=3D99s wire at p=
oints other =3D
than that of the real objective, namely, Salient LAHAYVILLE and Salient 252=
=3D
0.=3D0A=3D0A"[=3DE2=3D80=3DA6]=3D0A =3D0A"Box Barrage=3DE2=3D80=3D94A box b=
arrage of 45 minutes=3D
 duration will be held at H hour as shown on the sketch. At H plus 25 the b=
=3D
ox barrage will close down to the enemy=3DE2=3D80=3D99s first four lines wh=
ich wi=3D
ll be heavily shelled till close of operation."=3D0A =3D0AI have no idea wh=
at t=3D
he "J" stands for. Any info or guesses are welcome.=3D0A =3D0AI was unable =
to a=3D
ntedate the OED's 7 September use of "D-Day." I think that the term may hav=
=3D
e been introduced for this operation. (I found one relating to the same ope=
=3D
ration in a field order of a subordinate unit dated 10 September.)

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org

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The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org