Out of Bounds

Discussion in 'General' started by Shiny 9th, Dec 18, 2017.

  1. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    When reading through War Diaries, I often come across entries putting certain locations "Out of Bounds" to the troops.I have used my imagination as to why this should be and come up with a variety of explanations involving fights, drunkenness, prostitutes, etc. But is or was there an official set of reasons why such designations were made? Was it to protect locals, the troops or a bit of both?
     
  2. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    Shiny9th

    In my experience places were placed Out of Bounds strictly because they were considered detrimental to the local troops for any of a variety of reasons.

    There were also many cases when bars. for instance, were made Out of Bounds to ORs so that they could be kept for Officers Only.

    Ron
     
  3. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    I would say that these decisions were made at the discretion of the local commander but would also be raised by policy originating from those at higher levels.The protection of the individual as related to security and health would be the utmost consideration but there were other issues such as anti fraternisation activities in occupied territories such as Germany,which proved to be short lived.In a combat area where territory had recently been taken,it was often the rational decision to be taken before area administration became effective in order to prevent the access to civilian properties.

    Out of bounds orders initiated in the UK as a result of fracas between the services or nationalities appeared to be quite common to keep the peace by separating the parties.There was also another dimension which posed an additional problem to the US military authorities which arose from the treatment of coloured personnel and their reaction to this while off duty in pubs.

    In the 1950s as I would think during the war. It was not uncommon to see RAF Police and USAF Police stationed in the market places of towns to ensure if there was interservice rivalry,they would be immediately on hand to deal with the trouble causers.

    There was an example of wartime sexual health consideration which resulted in a town being placed out of bounds.This occurred from an HCU airfield which was about 12 miles from a town which had a dominance of ladies of the night.On the HCU,it was observed that there was an increase in the incidence of VD being contracted by the airmen.The military medical authorities were convinced that the problem originated from a particularly lady who was thought to be infected.The town was decreed to be out of bounds and those requiring FFI treatment at the unit was found to be reduced....so the account relates.
     
    Ron Goldstein likes this.
  4. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    US term was "Off Limits"
     
  5. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Many thanks all for the explanations. All helpful
     
  6. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

    Nothing high-level to add except to say that the cases I've seen the expression in my reading/research are:
    • An area thought to be high-risk for malaria.
    • A quarter of a foreign city in which locals were displaying anti-British sentiment.
     
  7. Harry Ree

    Harry Ree Very Senior Member

    Digressing,

    SOE had a rumour mill headed by a chap whose role was to generate dangerous rumours...designed for circulation among the people of France and in particular,among the German occupying forces.

    One day,Buckmaster records that the man came into his office and said "Have you heard they have discovered you can have VD for several months without knowing"

    "I can't say I have, replied" Buckmaster who went on, "No don't suppose you would.Still it might make some of the Boches in the garrison towns a bit nervy,eh"

    Buckmaster had the rumour circulated by simultaneously spreading the rumour that all the prostitutes in a certain town had VD and succeeded in having all the Germans there confined to barracks for several weeks.The troops grew disgruntled and practically mutinous.

    As related by Maurice Buckmaster in his They Fought Alone.

    As distinct from Out of Bounds was the experience of a friend of mine who served in the Canal Zone,a hot bed for uprising and incidents against British troops in the 1950s..... postwar, I think the British death toll was something like 650 to the time when the Canal Zone was given up....not all deaths would be terrorist related.

    This friend of mine was stationed some miles south of Ismailia and had an appointment at the Army dentists in Ismailia and as normal secure army transport was laid on.After his appointment,J,missed his transport back to camp and being the self starter he was, decided to hitch hike it back to camp knowing that there would be army transports heading south.This he did and was picked up to arrive safely back at camp.However his superiors saw his motivation to get back to camp in this way as hazarding himself and promptly put him on a charge which would have meant CB in the appropriate posting but as he said,it mattered little out there.
     
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  8. Swiper

    Swiper Resident Sospan

    Bayeux was out of bounds for much of June 1944. In part because it appears authorities were concerned with the mix that large numbers of troops, alcohol, prostitution and prospect of looting that was presented. This was lifted in July.

    So areas could be Out of Bounds for almost any reason, usually a region underpinning it - not necessarily sinister etc. In the UK some Exercises even assigned ground around gateways of historic interest as Out of Bounds to prevent damage - not that it always worked when you had Churchills edging through the narrow gap! Ex Spartan was notable as all local shops were assigned as such to teach troops to rely on rations etc.

    There are also hints of it being widespread among Civil Affairs - doing so to prevent civilians encountering minefields/too many UXBs etc, although one has to dig hard and there isn't a great record of most Proclamations or more local procedures with the loyal Mairie which would have clearly stated the rules in each area.
     
    Tricky Dicky likes this.
  9. Shiny 9th

    Shiny 9th Member

    Thanks for extra info. The context I was looking at was Malaya, late 45, post Operation Zipper. Troops now being used to guard prisoners, dumps, distribute food and assist with return to eventual civilian control.Some local rioting, looters and Japs at large. Kedah Province encompassing Penang and Butterworth.Oh and fears of Communists lurking and biding their time. Probably an unstable situation but men seeking entertainment after a long and difficult war, and now getting bored and irritated with waiting to return home.
     
  10. Charley Fortnum

    Charley Fortnum Dreaming of Red Eagles

  11. canuck

    canuck Closed Account

    In Italy, the Canadian Provost Corps. was renowned for erecting Out of Bound signs in every village, within hours of it's capture.
     
  12. Owen

    Owen -- --- -.. MOD

    ozzy16 and canuck like this.
  13. Ron Goldstein

    Ron Goldstein WW2 Veteran WW2 Veteran

    This Jon cartoon sums it up nicely ! Jon & Out of Bounds.JPG
     

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