TOMMY ATKINS.
In the volume of "Last Poems," by George Meredith, published'recently, there is one,entitled ■ "ATKINS." Yondoi's the man with his life in his hand, Legs on tho niarch for whatever the lane; ' Or to the slaughter or to the maiming. Getting the dole of : a dog for pay. Laurels he clasps in the words dosw," England's < his heart, under every sun—. Exquisite humour! that gives him a naming . ' Base, to the ear as an ass's-bray. The private soldier. seems to have invented his own nickname. At one time a little, pocket ledger was served out to every, soldier in which to enter certain particulars of < his . career, and with it was sent a sample form , filled in as a guide. In this the War Office used the hypothetical name "Thomas' Atkins," as the lawyers use John Doe and Richard Doe, niid the Church "N. or M." The book, says Dr. Brewer, was : instantly cabled "Tommy Atkins," and it did not take many days to transfer the name from the book to the man. - '
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 5
Word Count
174TOMMY ATKINS. Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 698, 24 December 1909, Page 5
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