Bizarre Vintage Jobs That No Longer Exist (And for Good Reason!)

Lobsterbacks (Redcoat Decoys)

During certain colonial conflicts, the British military used poor locals to dress in red uniforms and draw enemy fire—essentially acting as cannon fodder or distraction. These “lobsterbacks” weren’t always willing and were often the first casualties.

It was a tactic of brutal efficiency with a horrifying human cost. The position wasn’t always formally acknowledged, but battlefield letters and reports describe the practice. As warfare evolved and public scrutiny increased, such dehumanizing jobs were abandoned.

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