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

Thu May 8 15:51:33 UTC 2025

Mr. Cutchins: ...What was the jump off day?
Mr. Withrow: We jumped off the evening of the 7th.

P. 228. Alleged Executions Without Trial in France. Senate Hearings. 1923.

https://books.google.com/books?id=IBUvAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA228&dq=%22jump+off+day%22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwin_e2fmpSNAxUW4ckDHWyYNRcQuwV6BAgFEAg#v=onepage&q=%22jump%20off%20day%22&f=false

SG

________________________________
From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 11:57 AM
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918

Just to be precise, the article Stephen helpfully cites refers to an event
of May, 1918.

JL

On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 10:53 AM Stephen Goranson <
0000179d4093b2d6-dmarc-request at listserv.uga.edu> wrote:

> Without denying French usage, nor speculating here now which came first,
> there are several English uses of J Day in relatively close association
> with the day of jump(ing) off.
>
> E.g., in Everybody's Magazine, vol. XXXIX no. 5, November, 1918, p.35:
>
> ..."J" day...."J" day....The men who were to fight had been brought up to
> a point near the jumping-off trench....
>
>
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://books.google.com/books?id=d2A_AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA4-PA35&dq=jump*off**A22J*day*22&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja9eDdxoyNAxUlaDABHb31Nj0QuwV6BAgGEAc*v=onepage&q=jump*20off*20*22J*20day*22&f=false__;KyslKyUjJSUlJSU!!OToaGQ!o5p53-9HTj4oStPmJUAkAIKBHILd7Z8ludUA4iJ2XVcygARQ_nZSlOY0Hq12ipiIo2ybvkBTPGSJ0R6OX5NsxA$
>
> sg
>
> ________________________________
> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> dave at wilton.net <dave at WILTON.NET>
> Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 10:37 AM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
>
>
> There's "the right way, the wrong way, and the Navy way."
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: Monday, May 5, 2025 8:07am
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: [ADS-L] "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
>
>
>
> I've never seen a WW2 "J day" either.
>
> As you know, the date of the invasion of Okinawa (Apr. 1, 1945) was
> designated "L day," allegedly for "landing day." Just why isn't clear to
> me.
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, May 5, 2025 at 7:23 AM dave at wilton.net <dave at wilton.net> wrote:
>
> >
> > I've seen some web articles saying J-day was used during WWII, but no
> > actual evidence provided.
> >
> > As for how widespread the AEF usage was, I also was unaware of its
> > existence. I stumbled upon it while looking for D-day/H-hour examples. As
> > far as I know, the usage was restricted to operations orders/plans. (I
> > tried various newspaper databases, but OCR errors made searches
> > impractical.)
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
> > Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 5:46pm
> > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > Subject: Re: [ADS-L] "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> >
> >
> >
> > More interesting would be whether the U.S. army ever used "J day" again.
> > Long ago I read a countless number of AEF sources (admittedly mostly
> > unofficial) and don't recall ever noticing it.
> >
> > JL
> >
> > On Sun, May 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM dave at wilton.net <dave at wilton.net> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > I had thought of "jump off," but didn't want to bias the suggestions.
> > >
> > > But I think "jour" is more likely, and from the emails to the list,
> > > somewhat better evidenced. It makes sense that the AEF would have
> > initially
> > > adopted French terms (J = jour / H = heure), and then later translated
> > them
> > > into English. But the conclusion is speculative.
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: "Peter Reitan" <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 11:47am
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> > > Subject: Re: [ADS-L] "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Typo. Le jour J - le jour de l'attaque.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> > > Peter Reitan <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 7:59:25 AM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -----------------------
> > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster: Peter Reitan <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
> > > Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > >
> >
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >
> > > 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
> > > oc=
> > > tobre-2 novembre 1917)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> > > Peter =
> > > Reitan <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 7:41:15 AM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -------------------=
> > > ----
> > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster: Peter Reitan <pjreitan at HOTMAIL.COM>
> > > Subject: Re: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > >
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
> > > ----
> > >
> > > They are in France, operating and planning alongside French troops, so
> > > perh=
> > > =3D
> > > aps jour?
> > >
> > > ________________________________
> > > From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
> > > dave at w=
> > > =3D
> > > ilton.net <dave at WILTON.NET>
> > > Sent: Sunday, May 4, 2025 5:55:53 AM
> > > To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Subject: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > -------------------=
> > > =3D
> > > ----
> > > Sender: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > Poster: "dave at wilton.net" <dave at WILTON.NET>
> > > Subject: "H-Hour" and "J-Day", 21 Feb 1918
> > >
> > >
> >
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------=
> > > =3D
> > > ----
> > >
> > > =3D3D0AThe OED has 17 September 1918 for "H-Hour," but I've found this
> > > from=
> > > 2=3D
> > > 1 =3D3D
> > > February:=3D3D0A =3D3D0AHeadquarters, 16th Infantry.
> > > =3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D9CP=
> > > lan for Ra=3D
> > > id on Rich=3D3D
> > > ecourt Salient.=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D9D 21 February 1918. World War
> Records
> > > Fi=
> > > rst Di=3D
> > > vision=3D3D
> > > A.E.F. Regular, vol. 10. First Division Museum. [
> > >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://firstdivisionmus=__;!!OToaGQ!riShWf-ata5GLKHGTIrWpf9UoCGEjFoVCCMCZKEwFIQmvGe9SRvUYxLKcYh5iBIbu_9CJUFkKbJG$
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > >
> > >
> >
> eum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b=
> > > -6=3D
> > > <
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://eum.nmtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b=-6=3D__;!!OToaGQ!riShWf-ata5GLKHGTIrWpf9UoCGEjFoVCCMCZKEwFIQmvGe9SRvUYxLKcYh5iBIbu_9CJRXjXIX1$
> > >
> > > 57=3D3D
> > > 4c9e5437f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 ](
> > >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://firstdivisionmuseum.n=__;!!OToaGQ!riShWf-ata5GLKHGTIrWpf9UoCGEjFoVCCMCZKEwFIQmvGe9SRvUYxLKcYh5iBIbu_9CJQWw0jOP$
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > >
> > >
> >
> mtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574=
> > > c9=3D
> > > <
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://mtvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574=c9=3D__;!!OToaGQ!riShWf-ata5GLKHGTIrWpf9UoCGEjFoVCCMCZKEwFIQmvGe9SRvUYxLKcYh5iBIbu_9CJTNmjKD1$
> > >
> > > e5=3D3D
> > > 437f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 )[ ](
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://firstdivisionmuseum.nm__;!!OToaGQ!riShWf-ata5GLKHGTIrWpf9UoCGEjFoVCCMCZKEwFIQmvGe9SRvUYxLKcYh5iBIbu_9CJaArr2dB$
> > > =
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > >
> > >
> >
> tvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c=
> > > 9e=3D
> > > <
> >
> https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://tvault.com/jsp/PsImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=3D3D3Dcdf20c52-01e6-47b0-ba0b-6574c=9e=3D__;!!OToaGQ!riShWf-ata5GLKHGTIrWpf9UoCGEjFoVCCMCZKEwFIQmvGe9SRvUYxLKcYh5iBIbu_9CJQXnLDhP$
> > >
> > > 54=3D3D
> > > 37f%2Fiwfd0000%2F20180808%2F00000002 )=3D3D0A =3D3D0A"Artillery: From J
> > > min=
> > > us 5=3D
> > > day=3D3D
> > > to J day=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D94Cutting gaps in the
> > > enemy=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D9=
> > > 9s wire at p=3D
> > > oints other =3D3D
> > > than that of the real objective, namely, Salient LAHAYVILLE and Salient
> > > 252=
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > > 0.=3D3D0A=3D3D0A"[=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3DA6]=3D3D0A =3D3D0A"Box
> > Barrage=3D3DE2=
> > > =3D3D80=3D3D94A box b=3D
> > > arrage of 45 minutes=3D3D
> > > duration will be held at H hour as shown on the sketch. At H plus 25
> the
> > > b=
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > > ox barrage will close down to the enemy=3D3DE2=3D3D80=3D3D99s first
> four
> > > li=
> > > nes wh=3D
> > > ich wi=3D3D
> > > ll be heavily shelled till close of operation."=3D3D0A =3D3D0AI have no
> > > ide=
> > > a wh=3D
> > > at t=3D3D
> > > he "J" stands for. Any info or guesses are welcome.=3D3D0A =3D3D0AI was
> > > una=
> > > ble =3D
> > > to a=3D3D
> > > ntedate the OED's 7 September use of "D-Day." I think that the term may
> > > hav=
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > > e been introduced for this operation. (I found one relating to the same
> > > ope=
> > > =3D
> > > =3D3D
> > > ration in a field order of a subordinate unit dated 10 September.)
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
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> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------
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