S91: Survey of Combat Troops in England
a. To gauge the attitudes and morale of veteran infantry riflemen in the First Division. This division had fought both in North Africa and Sicily and had suffered heavy casualties. At the time of the survey it was preparing for the next campaign.
b. In order to measure morale of the infantrymen, questions were asked on personal adjustment, pride in company, worthwhileness of the rifleman's job, worthwhileness of the war and optimism or pessimism about the future, mental readiness for further combat, fears experienced in battle, respect for company officers and confidence in their leadership in combat.
c. Questions were also asked in order to measure vindictiveness toward the Germans and Japanese, experience with German atrocities, the effect of personal contact with captured Germans on sentiments toward them, the fairness with which decorations were awarded, the adequacy of training of battle replacements, and the effectiveness of the job being done by supporting troops.
d. Childhood adjustment and psychosomatic complaint items were asked in their standard form as developed by Research Branch Headquarters in Washington. These items were being used in other surveys at the same general time in order to supply information to the office of the Surgeon General.
e. This survey was the basis for a further study a few months later of infantry combat veterans, both enlisted men and officers, in ETO and in the South and Central Pacific areas. (See S-100 and S-101)
Questionnaire
Date
Original Size
Location
Theater ID
ES14
Sample Description
A total of eighteen companies in the 18th and 26th Regiments of the First Division were sampled. These companies were located in England at Dorchester, Piddlehinton, Broadmayne, Blandford and Swanage.
Types of samples derived:
a. Cross-section of veteran riflemen in the First Division.
- Number: 431
- Special notes: Sample is from five companies of the 18th Regiment and five companies of the 26th Regiment. It is representative of the enlisted men who are combat veterans of rifle companies of the First Division but cannot be assumed to be representative of other Army units.
b. Special sample of Silver Star veterans
- Number: 75
- Special notes: Sample is from four companies of the 18th Regiment and four companies of the 26th Regiment; with the addition of fifteen Silver Star Men who were surplus from the cross-section.
Sample Method
a. In order to measure morale of the infantrymen, questions were asked on personal adjustment, pride in company, worthwhileness of the rifleman's job, worthwhileness of the war and optimism or pessimism about the future, mental readiness for further combat, fears experienced in battle, respect for company officers and confidence in their leadership in combat.
b. Questions were also asked in order to measure vindictiveness toward the Germans and Japanese, experience with German atrocities, the effect of personal contact with captured Germans on sentiments toward them, the fairness with which decorations were awarded, the adequacy of training of battle replacements, and the effectiveness of the job being done by supporting troops.
c. Childhood adjustment and psychosomatic complaint items were asked in their standard form as developed by Research Branch Headquarters in Washington.
Scales and Scores
Personal Adjustment Scale
a. Q. 16, 66, 67
b. Scores are on Col. 77
Location Details
Dorchester, England
Piddlehinton, England
Broadmayne, England
Blandford, England
Swange, England
Origin
Hqs, ETO
Reports
B-81 What the Front Line Infantry Man Thinks
B-81-2 What the Front Line Infantry Man Thinks
B-167 Summary of Misc. Materials on Troop Reactions to Enemy Radio Propaganda