# Using a bayonetted rifle and a helmet to mark a grave.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 21, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939 "2016-06-21T03:27:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939/1 "2016-06-21T03:27:48Z")

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When and where did this originate?

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**Author:** ![blue\_infinity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_infinity/32/2817_2.png) [@blue\_infinity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blue_infinity)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939/2 "2016-06-21T03:53:23Z")

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It’s called the Battlefield Cross, and probably originated during the American Civil War.

Couple of articles [here](http://www.battlecrossgeneration.org/)and [here](http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/battlefield-cross).

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**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939/3 "2016-06-21T04:10:07Z")

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> [@blue\_infinity](#):
>
> It’s called the Battlefield Cross, and probably originated during the American Civil War.
> 
> Couple of articles [here](http://www.battlecrossgeneration.org/)and [here](http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/battlefield-cross).

I wasn’t aware that soldiers in the Civil War wore military helmets.

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939/4 "2016-06-21T04:15:23Z")

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> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#):
>
> I wasn’t aware that soldiers in the Civil War wore military helmets.

No but they did have hats.

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**Author:** ![Rama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ccd318/32.png) [@Rama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rama)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939/5 "2016-06-21T18:05:03Z")

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Is it not dumb to leave rifles behind on a battlefield?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-a-bayonetted-rifle-and-a-helmet-to-mark-a-grave/757939/6 "2016-06-21T18:12:25Z")

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> [@Rama](#):
>
> Is it not dumb to leave rifles behind on a battlefield?

They are just temporary markers. Originally it seems they were just used to mark where a solider fell so that the body could be retrieved and buried elsewhere. They then would have been removed.

From the first link, at present:

> [@](#):
>
> After a set period of time, the memorial is respectfully dismantled, with the components being returned to the unit for appropriate disposition.