# Bakers Dozen

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173>\
**Category:** Thread Games\
**Created:** [August 4, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173 "2010-08-04T17:56:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1965

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**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39284 "2015-11-12T12:47:58Z")

</div>

In Honor of Today (11 Nov 2015) Being Armistice Day, Quick Facts about WWI

1. Dr. Dolittle was created during WWI. Hugh Lofting wrote to his kids from trenches but wanted to not write about the war, so he created and wrote about the fictional character.
2. The malady we identify today as post-traumatic stress disorder was first observed by doctors in WWI, who called it shellshock in the belief it was caused by the vibrations of exploding shells acting on the nervous system.
3. A baboon named Jackie served in the South African army on the Western Front. Initially a mascot, Jackie was later given messenger and watch duties – as well as his own uniform, paybook and rations. Jackie’s right leg was amputated after a shell blast in 1918. He was later promoted to corporal and given a medal for bravery.
4. The youngest soldier to lie about their age and serve was 12 years old: Sidney Lewis.
5. Influenza spread like wildfire in the trenches and through rapid troop movements, and ended up killing far more troops than ever died in actual combat.
6. Plastic surgery and facial reconstruction was pioneered during WW1.
7. Gavrilo Princip, the man who started WWI by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, didn’t live to see the end of the war. He died of tuberculosis in prison on April 28, 1918 at the age of 23.
8. Trenches along the Western Front were dug in zig-zag fashion, to make them easier to defend in case opposing troops managed to fight their way into them.
9. At the beginning of the war, tanks were grouped according to their ‘gender’. The male tanks had cannons attached while the females carried machine guns. The prototype tank was named Little Willie.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39285 "2015-11-12T13:08:38Z")

</div>

In Honor of Today (11 Nov 2015) Being Armistice Day, Quick Facts about WWI

1. Dr. Dolittle was created during WWI. Hugh Lofting wrote to his kids from trenches but wanted to not write about the war, so he created and wrote about the fictional character.
2. The malady we identify today as post-traumatic stress disorder was first observed by doctors in WWI, who called it shellshock in the belief it was caused by the vibrations of exploding shells acting on the nervous system.
3. A baboon named Jackie served in the South African army on the Western Front. Initially a mascot, Jackie was later given messenger and watch duties – as well as his own uniform, paybook and rations. Jackie’s right leg was amputated after a shell blast in 1918. He was later promoted to corporal and given a medal for bravery.
4. The youngest soldier to lie about their age and serve was 12 years old: Sidney Lewis.
5. Influenza spread like wildfire in the trenches and through rapid troop movements, and ended up killing far more troops than ever died in actual combat.
6. Plastic surgery and facial reconstruction was pioneered during WW1.
7. Gavrilo Princip, the man who started WWI by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, didn’t live to see the end of the war. He died of tuberculosis in prison on April 28, 1918 at the age of 23.
8. Trenches along the Western Front were dug in zig-zag fashion, to make them easier to defend in case opposing troops managed to fight their way into them.
9. At the beginning of the war, tanks were grouped according to their ‘gender’. The male tanks had cannons attached while the females carried machine guns. The prototype tank was named Little Willie.
10. Early biplanes had no combat utility, and were used only for reconnaissance. Pilots would shut off the engines for stealth, and in the silience enemy pilots would shout insults at each other.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39286 "2015-11-12T15:13:28Z")

</div>

In Honor of Today (11 Nov 2015) Being Armistice Day, Quick Facts about WWI

1. Dr. Dolittle was created during WWI. Hugh Lofting wrote to his kids from trenches but wanted to not write about the war, so he created and wrote about the fictional character.
2. The malady we identify today as post-traumatic stress disorder was first observed by doctors in WWI, who called it shellshock in the belief it was caused by the vibrations of exploding shells acting on the nervous system.
3. A baboon named Jackie served in the South African army on the Western Front. Initially a mascot, Jackie was later given messenger and watch duties – as well as his own uniform, paybook and rations. Jackie’s right leg was amputated after a shell blast in 1918. He was later promoted to corporal and given a medal for bravery.
4. The youngest soldier to lie about their age and serve was 12 years old: Sidney Lewis.
5. Influenza spread like wildfire in the trenches and through rapid troop movements, and ended up killing far more troops than ever died in actual combat.
6. Plastic surgery and facial reconstruction was pioneered during WW1.
7. Gavrilo Princip, the man who started WWI by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, didn’t live to see the end of the war. He died of tuberculosis in prison on April 28, 1918 at the age of 23.
8. Trenches along the Western Front were dug in zig-zag fashion, to make them easier to defend in case opposing troops managed to fight their way into them.
9. At the beginning of the war, tanks were grouped according to their ‘gender’. The male tanks had cannons attached while the females carried machine guns. The prototype tank was named Little Willie.
10. Early biplanes had no combat utility, and were used only for reconnaissance. Pilots would shut off the engines for stealth, and in the silience enemy pilots would shout insults at each other.
11. Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker designed the interrupter gear in 1915 which timed projectiles to miss the rotating propeller of aircraft when fired. Germans dominated the skies until summer of 1916 when the Allies were able to emulate the gear.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39287 "2015-11-12T16:45:50Z")

</div>

In Honor of Today (11 Nov 2015) Being Armistice Day, Quick Facts about WWI

1. Dr. Dolittle was created during WWI. Hugh Lofting wrote to his kids from trenches but wanted to not write about the war, so he created and wrote about the fictional character.
2. The malady we identify today as post-traumatic stress disorder was first observed by doctors in WWI, who called it shellshock in the belief it was caused by the vibrations of exploding shells acting on the nervous system.
3. A baboon named Jackie served in the South African army on the Western Front. Initially a mascot, Jackie was later given messenger and watch duties – as well as his own uniform, paybook and rations. Jackie’s right leg was amputated after a shell blast in 1918. He was later promoted to corporal and given a medal for bravery.
4. The youngest soldier to lie about their age and serve was 12 years old: Sidney Lewis.
5. Influenza spread like wildfire in the trenches and through rapid troop movements, and ended up killing far more troops than ever died in actual combat.
6. Plastic surgery and facial reconstruction was pioneered during WW1.
7. Gavrilo Princip, the man who started WWI by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, didn’t live to see the end of the war. He died of tuberculosis in prison on April 28, 1918 at the age of 23.
8. Trenches along the Western Front were dug in zig-zag fashion, to make them easier to defend in case opposing troops managed to fight their way into them.
9. At the beginning of the war, tanks were grouped according to their ‘gender’. The male tanks had cannons attached while the females carried machine guns. The prototype tank was named Little Willie.
10. Early biplanes had no combat utility, and were used only for reconnaissance. Pilots would shut off the engines for stealth, and in the silience enemy pilots would shout insults at each other.
11. The Armistice was signed at Compiègne, France, and was to take effect at 1100 hours: at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918. 😃
12. Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker designed the interrupter gear in 1915 which timed projectiles to miss the rotating propeller of aircraft when fired. Germans dominated the skies until summer of 1916 when the Allies were able to emulate the gear.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39288 "2015-11-12T18:11:17Z")

</div>

In Honor of Today (11 Nov 2015) Being Armistice Day, Quick Facts about WWI

1. Dr. Dolittle was created during WWI. Hugh Lofting wrote to his kids from trenches but wanted to not write about the war, so he created and wrote about the fictional character.
2. The malady we identify today as post-traumatic stress disorder was first observed by doctors in WWI, who called it shellshock in the belief it was caused by the vibrations of exploding shells acting on the nervous system.
3. A baboon named Jackie served in the South African army on the Western Front. Initially a mascot, Jackie was later given messenger and watch duties – as well as his own uniform, paybook and rations. Jackie’s right leg was amputated after a shell blast in 1918. He was later promoted to corporal and given a medal for bravery.
4. The youngest soldier to lie about their age and serve was 12 years old: Sidney Lewis.
5. Influenza spread like wildfire in the trenches and through rapid troop movements, and ended up killing far more troops than ever died in actual combat.
6. Plastic surgery and facial reconstruction was pioneered during WW1.
7. Gavrilo Princip, the man who started WWI by assassinating Franz Ferdinand, didn’t live to see the end of the war. He died of tuberculosis in prison on April 28, 1918 at the age of 23.
8. Trenches along the Western Front were dug in zig-zag fashion, to make them easier to defend in case opposing troops managed to fight their way into them.
9. At the beginning of the war, tanks were grouped according to their ‘gender’. The male tanks had cannons attached while the females carried machine guns. The prototype tank was named Little Willie.
10. Early biplanes had no combat utility, and were used only for reconnaissance. Pilots would shut off the engines for stealth, and in the silience enemy pilots would shout insults at each other.
11. The Armistice was signed at Compiègne, France, and was to take effect at 1100 hours: at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918.
12. Dutch engineer Anthony Fokker designed the interrupter gear in 1915 which timed projectiles to miss the rotating propeller of aircraft when fired. Germans dominated the skies until summer of 1916 when the Allies were able to emulate the gear.
13. Although the United States fought on the Allied (Entente) side, the U.S. never formally joined the Allied powers. The treaty that ended the war was negotiated solely between Germany, France and Great Britain.

New, and to continue the theme:

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39289 "2015-11-12T18:21:06Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39290 "2015-11-12T18:34:41Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39291 "2015-11-12T19:15:03Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39292 "2015-11-12T19:15:36Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39293 "2015-11-12T19:21:07Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39294 "2015-11-12T19:24:53Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. Sgt. Alvin York

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39295 "2015-11-12T19:40:40Z")

</div>

(fixing)

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39296 "2015-11-12T20:14:04Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York
8. James Whale

Director of _Frankenstein_, _Bride of Frankenstein_, and _Showboat_ (among other hits); played by Ian McKellen in _Gods and Monsters_.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39297 "2015-11-12T20:19:27Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York
8. James Whale
9. Siegfried Sassoon

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39298 "2015-11-12T20:25:08Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York
8. James Whale
9. Siegfried Sassoon
10. C.S. Lewis

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39299 "2015-11-12T22:02:43Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York
8. James Whale
9. Siegfried Sassoon
10. C.S. Lewis
11. Christy Mathewson

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39300 "2015-11-12T22:20:12Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York
8. James Whale
9. Siegfried Sassoon
10. C.S. Lewis
11. Christy Mathewson
12. Ernest Hemingway

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39301 "2015-11-12T22:58:14Z")

</div>

Renowned Veterans of World War I

1. J.R.R. Tolkien
2. George S. Patton
3. Harry S Truman
4. Edwin Hubble
5. Adolf Hitler
6. A. A. Milne
7. Sgt. Alvin York
8. James Whale
9. Siegfried Sassoon
10. C.S. Lewis
11. Christy Mathewson
12. Ernest Hemingway
13. Frank Buckles

Later survived the Bataan Death March.  
Died in 2011, the last surviving American WW1 vet.

Constellation Names if they were named by rednecks

1. The Western Porch Sofa

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39302 "2015-11-12T23:04:45Z")

</div>

Constellation Names if they were named by rednecks

1. The Western Porch Sofa
2. The Banana Moon Pie

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2015, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bakers-dozen/549173/39303 "2015-11-12T23:13:04Z")

</div>

Constellation Names if they were named by rednecks

1. The Western Porch Sofa
2. The Banana Moon Pie
3. The El Camino

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