SOLDIERS' TALK

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 148, 19 December 1929, Page 17

SOLDIERS' TALK

SLANG OF THE GREAT WAR

STRANGE WORDS AND PHRASES

A comprehensive Hat of the unique Words and phrases coined and used during the ' Great War would' require a volume; and what an interesting book it would be. Some of them:—surprisingly Sew—-have become .part and parcel of everyday language; the majority, however, are quickly .passing into oblivion, being only remembered when a few old comrades foregather at the anniversary of the Armistice or the celebration of Anzac .ana other memorable days. Much of the war-time slang (writes F.W.H. in the Melbourne "Age") was inspired by an instinct of self-protection against the _ terrible assaults of reality. As one writer has expressed, it: "To mitigate" his . (the^ soldier's) often atrocious sufferings, to lessen his sense of the perils surrounding him at all times and in all places, he'Svas at pains to become familiar, indeed cheeky, with them" all; and, like Beaumarchais's Figaro, "make haste to laugh lest he be compelled to weep." Thus "what the soldier said in the war" is evidence of many things. It is evidence of his sufferings, and of the amazing powers of adaptation which the human mind can summon to the breach of all ordinary habit, outlook, and experience. But, above all, it is evidence of the innate humour of the typical Digger and Tommy. . FOOD UNDER NEW NAMES.. What humorous and suggestive appellations he coined for food. Thus poached eggs on toast were dubber, "Adam and Eve on a raft"; -fried eggs and bacon were "Two dots and a dash"; sausages were ""barkers"; milk became "cow juice" and "dooley"; cheese was "cough and sneeze"; a bun was a "wad"; whilst a thick slice of bread became a "doorstep." Whilst butter was invariably "grease," salt became dignified into "Lot's wife"; gravy was "gippa"; potatoes were of course "murphies" and "/juds," and also "totties"; and onions were:i"violets." A favourite estaminet dish, "Ponunes de terre -t'rites," was promptly christened "Bombardier Fritz"; porridge was invariably "bergoo"; and food generally was "chuck," ''rooty and "toke." Originality was "displayed mi the nomenclature of enemy shells. These in general were dubbed "iron rations," the title originally applied to the tin rations supplied to the troops.' Individual enemy shells were known by aueh distinctive names as "Asiatic Annie" "Whistling Percy," "Pip Squeak," "Jack Johnson," "Woolley Bear," "Minnie," "Tube. Train," "Black Maria," "Whizz Bang," and "Coal Box." Anti-aircraft shells were invariably "Archies." Some famous guns were "Big Bertha" "Grandmother," "Lazy Eliza,'.' "Coughing Clara," and "Billy Wells." DESCRIBING WOUNDS AND DEATH. As might be expected, many grimly ironical phrases were coined to describe wounds and death. A bad head wound was dubbed "a cushy one on the bake"; a nasty wound was "a dull thud" or "a loud one"; to be hit by a bullet was to stop one," and to feel ill was to "feel like death warmed up." Being taken to undergo an operation wag "to go to the.pictures"; an anaesthetic was a "dope'?j to be in hospital was to be "v» dock." An expectation of inevitable death was .expressed by "I s'pose I'll be a land owner," and the cemetery was known as "the rest camp." The war zone was often referred to as "the shooting gallery," and the soldier's bayonet was. described as a "tooth-pick," a "toasting-fork," a "winkle-pin," and

'a 'persuader." His identity disc was his "cold moat ticket," and his clasp knife a "cat stabber." The cheaper cigarette supplied to" the' troops were known as "yellow perils" and "canteen stinkers," while Woodbines, were "coffin nails," and the butt of a cigarette was a 'Tblink." Divisional orders were irreverently dubbed "Comic Cuts," and flying was known as the "comic business." The soldier, delighted in transforming the alliterative and distinguished names of regiments and decorations into unflattering titles. Thus tho A.S.C. became "Ally Sloper's Cavalry," the Durham Light Infantry were the "Dirty Little Imps," the D.S.O. was "Dirty Shirt On," the A.O.C. were known as All Old Crocks," and the E.A.M.C. as the "Linseed Lancers." One important class of slang words naturally sprang from the fighting mens attempt to pronounce and adapt French words and phrases. Thus "katsoo". preserved, somewhat the French pronunciation of quatre sous, while allez toute de suite became "alley toot sweet." "Sanferian," or "snaffer," contained all the elements of cela ne fait nen. "Comprey?" for comprenez? was very popular, as also were "bon," or bong," "fashy". (fache), and "mougee. Ypres became "Wipers" and Bepray." "Balloo" was as near as he could get to Bailleul. A FAMILIAR WORD. most familiar of war words . Uoahe has an interesting pre-war history. Originally it had nothing to do with the German, and it:was' not so applied untU.after. the war of IS7O. It originally, signified "a bad lot." Zola, m 'L'Assommoir," called the Alsatian concierges "les boch.es";' later 'Germans were described as^Albocbes (Allemandboche),.and then the al was dropped. Boehe, in France, became the ' parent of such words asybochiser; to Germanise; bochonnie,., Germany, and bochonnerie, German villainy. ■:•■-•••.,-■ *■■-'■ Two slang "words-. whicK^npparently could mean anything whatever were "oojar" and "gadget." The latter was applied to almost every device or appliance used by soldiers and airmen, and when they were at a loss for a word to express their feelings about a circumstance, person, or thing they invariably described it as an (adjective to ooiar or oojiboo). STUDENTS AT HOME +- (From "Tho Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 7th November. The New Zealand students at prosent taking their medical course ..at Edinburgh University are:—Final year: J. W. Bridgman, who has taken the full course. Fourth year: Athol E. Parkes (Auckland). Third year; John G. Hislop, David .0. L. Clay, and James K. Elliott. Second year: Barclay F. Maefarlano and Bobert A. Elliott. First year: James H, Brownlee and Georee B. Mac Gibbon. S New Zealand students who are in attendance at King's College, London, are:—B. C. Rennie, M.8., Ch.B., and John Mark, M.8., Ch.B., who are both working for the. F.R.C.S., and F. G. Spurdle, who is working for the Ph.D. in • Hißtory. Miss Olive M. Rowe (Christchureh), on the nomination of the Vice-Chan-cellor of Oxford University, has been awarded a studentship at the British School of Archaeology in Athens.