Several years ago I came across a soldier's definition of Dawn / Nautical Twilight. It went something like Nautical Twilight (when the sky first started getting light) was when you could see a white horse at 50 meters and Dawn was when you could see a grey horse at 100 meters.
Does anyone know the exact quote and who said it?
Thanks!
Bob
Robert- greetings,
The reference to the white or grey horse is more concerned with the British practice of morning 'Stand To' in the face of the enemy, and judging full daylight. It refers to the point at which troops who had 'stood to their arms' before dawn, could 'Stand Down' to eat and go about their routine duties.
Here are three references from the period:
‘Stand to,’ Waal Campaign 1795
Seven nights we lay upon our arms, we had seven night marches, and the other six we were so near the enemy as to sleep accoutred, ready to turn out at a minute’s notice, and every morning under arms at five o’clock and remained out till perfect daylight.
Harness, 80th Regt. 21st January 1795
‘Trusty and Well Beloved’ Letters Home of William Harness, Major 80th Regiment of Foot. 1794-95 (edited by Caroline Duncan-Jones 1957)
‘Stand to,’ Helder Campaign 1799
Military men all know that the custom of being at the alarm post before daybreak is almost universal; for, that being the usual time of attack, it behoves those who are apprehensive of a visit from the enemy to be on the lookout, and to be prepared to receive them when they come- here they remain, till as the vulgar phrase goes, “You can see a white horse a mile off,” that is, till it is clear daylight, and they have ascertained that no enemy is in the neighbourhood; after which, if all be quiet, they retire to their quarters.
Surtees, 25 Years a Rifleman (1833)
‘Stand to,’ 1813-14
[September 1813] Wednesday, fall in two hours before daybreak, or as they say on service, “until we can see a grey horse a mile:” to prevent our being taken by surprise..
Thomas Morris, Recollections of Military Service. (1845), p.36 I put this to the test not long ago on a damp January morning in SW Scotland. From my notes:
[Latitude: aprox 54.80. Sunrise scheduled for 0840.
I am looking aprox E-S-E ]
"07.20-07.30 In the space of ten minutes or so it is no longer dark outside. First light. In the dusk I can see clear enough to see bird feeders on the hedge across the track. Grey cloud cover breaking in places to show patches of white behind. A dead, bone-white light. Slowly these patches of white spread as gleam of daylight grows in eastern sky.
Cool, temperate breeze from southwest. Spots of rain
Fitful bird calls. Blackbird ripple of alarm. Challenge of a smaller bird in the hedgerow.
break of day dawn daylight
Looking for reference points.
’A white horse clearly seen a mile away’ is bloody far (intervening hedgerows?)
08.20 the white memorial stone in the cemetery 300 yards distant {S-S-W} is only just distinct.
Growing chill settling in the bones after only an hour, aching in head, restless, waiting for the moment to ’stand down.’ Thoughts of a hot drink and a bite to eat.
Blank light of a grey winter’s day.
An hour later, at 0920 sheep in Bunker Hill [a field about 500 yards distant] are now clearly visible)" The white sheep would have to do.There was no 'sunrise' as such that morning, with the sun appearing over the horizon but 40 minutes after scheduled sunrise there was something like "perfect daylight."
I hope that helps, JF