Battle Facts - Part II Trivia Quiz

Answer: The French Pastry War.

The French Pastry War was fought between Mexico and France. It started when a pastry chef living in Mexico made claims that his store was ruined and looted by Mexican officers. He wanted compensation, and the French Government requested it. The request was denied and following a failed ultimatum, war broke out.

The Texas Revolution was also known as The Texas War of Independence.
It was fought between Mexico, and settlers from Texas, in the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. At the time, the State of Texas was part of Mexico.
The war started on 2 October, 1835 and concluded on 21 April, 1836.
The Battle of the Alamo lasted from 23 February until 6 March, 1836.

The Mexican-American War lasted from 1846 until 1848

The Cayuse War (fought between 1847 and 1855 in the then Oregon Territiry) had nothing to do with Mexico.

Answer: Louis-Philippe in 1831.

Formed in 1831, the intention was to create a unit that would allow foreign persons to fight in the French armed services.

Officially only one woman has served as a member of the French Foreign Legion, Susan Travers (from England).

The French Foreign Legion has fought in various wars from the Battle of Camarón in Mexico (1863) to the Gulf War during the 1990s.

Answer: The Swiss Guard.

The Swiss Guard was formed in the 15th century.

Traditionally the Swiss Guard wears swords and carries halberds (a long pole with a spear and axe on the end of it). But they are also decked out with Sig P75 pistols and H&K MP5 sub-machine guns.

They are based at the Vatican and their dress uniform is of a Renaissance period style consisting of the colours blue, red, yellow and orange.

Answer: A painful lingering death from a burst intestine.

William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066 and succeeded after the Battle of Hastings on the 14th of October of the same year. He was the English king from December, 1066 until September, 1087.

During a battle against the French town of Mantes, William's horse reared back from a burning ember. William hit the saddle's pommel and sustained internal injuries. He was conveyed to Rouen where he died on 9th September 1087. His servants then left his body lying on the floor and fled.

His body was later taken to Caen for burial, but the story doesn't end there. The coffin was too small for his bloated body and as the monks tried to squeeze him into the small gap he burst open. The mourners at the funeral had to run out of the building, horrified at what they had just witnessed, combined with the putrid smell.

Answer: Arizona (for troops at Fort Huachuca).

The first drive-through restaurant popped up in Sierra Vista near Fort Huachuca in 1975. It was built to avoid the Base Commander's policy that uniformed soldiers were prohibited from entering the town, and any business within the town.

Answer: Napoleon.

Napoleon Bonaparte was born on Corsica. He was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Many of his campaigns still arouse interest in military academies.

Answer: Grapelade.

Grapelade was a grape marmalade that was purchased by the US Army for its soldiers during World War I. The foodstuff was so popular that when the war was over, and the troops had returned home, there was huge demand for it.

Answer: A leek.

St. David is the patron saint of Wales and the leek is the national Welsh symbol.

St. David made his troops wear a leek in their hats to distinguish his army from the enemy.

To quote Shakespeare: "The Welshmen did good service in a garden where the leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps." Henry V, Act IV, scene vii.

Answer: World War II (landed at Anzio, Italy).

James Arness was one of the American troops that stormed the beaches at Anzio on the 21st of January, 1944. He was also the first to jump off his landing craft, but not because he was eager to get on the beach; he was ordered to do so because of his height - they wanted to gauge the depth of the water! It got to his waist.

He won a number of medals in World War II, including the Bronze Star.

Answer: 116

It lasted from 1337 until 1453 and was fought between France and England.

It should be noted that the question specifically used the word "conflict". Another war called the "Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years' War" lasted for 335 years but it was hardly a war. It started in 1651 and ended in 1986. The reason it dragged out for so long was because of a lack of a peace treaty. Not a single shot was fired and the causalities were non-existent. It was between The Netherlands and Isles of Scilly.

For more info: http://www.scillyarchive.com/history/335-year-war/