W
Wendy
Guest
These were given me a while a go when researching soldiers in WW1. I thought it may be of interest.
There have been a few questions concerning Army terms for the various periods of war but particularly WW1.
There are though some weird and wonderful expressions used by the men which are rarely given 'air -time' People who have documents or letters have problems deciphering many of these.
So a few odd ones may help -
Archie - anti-aircraft gun or fire.
A.S.C. - Army Service Corps but often called Ally Sloper's Cavalry or Aunt Sally's Cavalry.
Batt - Battalion.
B.E.F. - British Expeditionary Force along with M.E.F. -Mediterranean.
Blighty - England ( A Blighty One - a wound meaning a return to England).
Bouncing or Big Bertha - Term for any German large Artillery piece.
Brass hat - High ranking officer.
Bully - Bully Beef - Corned Dog , sorry Beef.
Cage Hotels - Prison Camps
C.C.S. Casualty Clearing Station.
Chats - Lice (The soldiers constant companions)
C.R.E. _ Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.A. - Artillery)
Derby's Disease - Lord Derby came up with a scheme were men were recruited under a voluntary scheme. The men were invited to enlist in the army and serve one day (Being paid 13p) They were then 'lent back' to their civvie employers to await recall to the colours - according to age, occupation and when needed. In March 1916 Conscription was brought in to supersede this.
Five-Nine - A 5.9-inch gun.
Flammenwerfer - Flame thrower which was first used by the Germans at Hooge near Ypres in 1915.
Flying pigs - German Trench Mortar.
F.P. No 1 - Field Punishment No 1 - Tying the man to a gun-wheel for one hour - morning and afternoon.
Funk Hole - A dug out.
Gas bag - early gas helmet.
Geese - Portuguese troops who were also known as 'Pork and Beans'
G.S. - General Service - G.S. Wagon etc.
H.E. - High Explosive.
H.Q. Headquarters.
I.B. - Infantry Brigade.
In the pink - Well, in good health etc.
Johnson - also termed a Coal Box - The heavy Artillery landing.
K.R. - King's regulations (now of course Queen's regulations)
L.I. Light infantry - as in D.L.I. - Durham Light Infantry.
Minnie - Minenwerfer - German trench mortar.
One N before I go - Napoo (from the French 'Il n'y en a plus' - there is no more.
There have been a few questions concerning Army terms for the various periods of war but particularly WW1.
There are though some weird and wonderful expressions used by the men which are rarely given 'air -time' People who have documents or letters have problems deciphering many of these.
So a few odd ones may help -
Archie - anti-aircraft gun or fire.
A.S.C. - Army Service Corps but often called Ally Sloper's Cavalry or Aunt Sally's Cavalry.
Batt - Battalion.
B.E.F. - British Expeditionary Force along with M.E.F. -Mediterranean.
Blighty - England ( A Blighty One - a wound meaning a return to England).
Bouncing or Big Bertha - Term for any German large Artillery piece.
Brass hat - High ranking officer.
Bully - Bully Beef - Corned Dog , sorry Beef.
Cage Hotels - Prison Camps
C.C.S. Casualty Clearing Station.
Chats - Lice (The soldiers constant companions)
C.R.E. _ Commander Royal Engineers (C.R.A. - Artillery)
Derby's Disease - Lord Derby came up with a scheme were men were recruited under a voluntary scheme. The men were invited to enlist in the army and serve one day (Being paid 13p) They were then 'lent back' to their civvie employers to await recall to the colours - according to age, occupation and when needed. In March 1916 Conscription was brought in to supersede this.
Five-Nine - A 5.9-inch gun.
Flammenwerfer - Flame thrower which was first used by the Germans at Hooge near Ypres in 1915.
Flying pigs - German Trench Mortar.
F.P. No 1 - Field Punishment No 1 - Tying the man to a gun-wheel for one hour - morning and afternoon.
Funk Hole - A dug out.
Gas bag - early gas helmet.
Geese - Portuguese troops who were also known as 'Pork and Beans'
G.S. - General Service - G.S. Wagon etc.
H.E. - High Explosive.
H.Q. Headquarters.
I.B. - Infantry Brigade.
In the pink - Well, in good health etc.
Johnson - also termed a Coal Box - The heavy Artillery landing.
K.R. - King's regulations (now of course Queen's regulations)
L.I. Light infantry - as in D.L.I. - Durham Light Infantry.
Minnie - Minenwerfer - German trench mortar.
One N before I go - Napoo (from the French 'Il n'y en a plus' - there is no more.