Regimental nicknames, Now's your time! Options

[Ian Underwood]

Some more AIF ones. Straight from the AWM site.

The 34th Battalion It was planned that the bulk of the battalion’s recruits would be drawn from the Maitland area and thus it was dubbed “Maitland’s Own”. The first recruits for the 34th, however, hailed from the far north-west of the state and arrived at Maitland after joining a recruiting march that began at Walgett. These men were known as the “Wallabies”.

The 36th Battalion was raised at Broadmeadow Camp, in Newcastle, New South Wales in February 1916. The bulk of the battalion’s recruits had been enlisted as a result of a recruiting drive conducted amongst the rifle clubs of New South Wales by the Minister for Public Information in the New South Wales government, Ambrose Carmichael. Thus, the battalion became known as “Carmichael’s Thousand”. Carmichael led by example and enlisted as well, serving in the battalion as a captain.

The 44th Battalion was raised at Claremont, Western Australia in February 1916. It formed part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division, and soon became known as “Old Bill’s Thousand” after its first commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel William Mansbridge.

The 42nd Battalion was raised at Enoggera, on the outskirts of Brisbane, in December 1915 and became part of the 11th Brigade of the 3rd Australian Division. Due to sharing its numeric title with the famous Scottish regiment the Black Watch, the battalion became known as the “Australian Black Watch”. This association was recognised with a bagpipe band

[Arnie]

Hi

In the Great war the German army gave units nicknames the 40th Artillery Regiment was called the the 'Thirtynine and a halves' by the infantry, because of their record of dropshorts.

Arnie

[rmtruby]

Does anyone know the nickname of the Staffordshire Yeomanry?

Thanks

Ray

[truthergw]

Mention in another post of the Australian Black Watch prompts me to mention that the name accorded to the Black Watch by other Scottish regiments was far too rude to give here.Suffice it to say that it implied an unnatural relationship with sheep. Although it was used within the regiment with a kind of perverse pride, woe betide the outsider who used it.

[Deleted_Juice_*]

Very interesting posts. Keep them coming!

22nd French-Canadian battalion CEF: They were first nicknamed "The little pigs" when they landed in Boulogne in 1915, not because of their behaviour (that would come later... ) but because of their Cap Badge: a beaver (old symbol of French-Canadians). French women who had never seen beavers thought they were little pigs (petits cochons)...

Later on, they were nicknamed "Van-Doos" by english-speaking comrades after they took the village of Courcelette (with fellows of the 5th Brigade CEF). "Van-Doos" stood for "Vingt-Deuxieme" (22nd) bataillon Canadien-Francais.

Juice.

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[FredJCarss]

Truthergw The Black Watch never got involved with sheep - it was another regiment (probably English ).

The sheep deny it as well!!!

Here's another for you all R.E.M.E. ROUGH ENGINEERING MADE EASY.


Fred

[Deleted_Russell.Gore@crawley.gov.uk_*]

11th Londons = The Bunhill Pissers
The Queens = The Mutton Lancers
10th Londons = The Hackney Gurkhas
RAMC = Rob All My Comrades & Run Away Mothers Coming & Rats After Mouldy Cheese
5th NF = The Old and Bold
The Norfolks = The Bad Pennys & The Holy Boys
Catering Corps = Fitters & Turners
REME = Ruin Everything Mechanical and Electrical
The Cheshires = The Acorns
7th Londons = The Shiny Seventh
6th Londons = The Cast Iron Sixth
DWWRR = The Wellington Boots
RFA = The Nine Mile Snipers
The Middlesex = The Diehards

[Deleted_adrian.field_*]

Kate, are you sure about of our own Northamptons, I understood the name came from the Battle of "Talavera". The 48th came by honour and glory, on that day. After the centre of the British line was smashed, the 48th came pouring through the gap, lead by Colonel Donnellan, who would die later that day from his wounds.
The Duke of Wellington, who had himself saw service in the Northamptons, being gazetted as a Captain to the 58th (2nd batt) in 1787, remarked,of the deed "where would we have been without the 48th and there backs of steel". Adrian.

[Deleted_adrian.field_*]

DrB, can I recommend a book,

Britain in Arms.
by F A M Webster.
Publisher: Sidgwick & Jackson Ltd
1914.
This little book is a gem, as it covers all the British & Empire Forces, I hope this is of some help. Adrian.

[Deleted_adrian.field_*]

Kate, sorry about the two very obvious spelling mistakes, I was educated at Weston Favell. Adrian

[stiletto_33853]

The Life Guards were known as The Cheeses or The Cheesemongers.

Andy

[GRUMPY]

ASC = Ally Sloper's Cavalry [annoyed my late grandfather no end]

2 RWF = Birmingham Fusiliers.

[Deleted_lidzy_*]

Hello All!!
When the 2/3rd Battalion London Regiment arrived in Gallipoli in September 1915, the battle hardened regulars they were attached to for instruction called them
"Bendall's Boy Scouts" on account of the youthful appearance of many of them. (Their C.O. was a Lieutenant-Colonel Bendall)
All the best,
Tony

[GRUMPY]

The Life Guards were known as The Cheeses or The Cheesemongers.

Andy

or "The spit-and-polish donkey wallopers"

[DrB]

HLI, the "Pig and Whistle Light Infantry" (from their cap badge)
"Tuxford's Dandies" the 5th, Western Cavalry, CEF.
"Tobin's Tigers" the 29th Bn, CEF
DrB

[Rob Bulloch]

Hello to the Forum.
Here is my 5 cents worth. The Canadian Forestry Corps "The Sawdust Fusiliers"

Cheers Rob.

[cartoss]

As well as Steelbacks the Northampton's were also known as "The Cobblers". The 2 pre war regular battallions still refered to themselves by the pre-Cardwell numbers. 48 for 1st and 58 for 2nd. I understand this lasted almost until disbandment. The Highland Division were "Highway Decorators" from the HD symbol and also the Hydraulics because they would lift anything. Didn't the AIF have a nickname relating to their criminal past?

[BeppoSapone]

Didn't the AIF have a nickname relating to their criminal past?

"The Forty Thousand Thieves"?

[Jimmy Knacky]

"The Fighting Fifth"
The Northumberland Fusiliers

[Barnsey]

Not quite a nickname but my old grandad always said that "BUFFS" stood for "Buried Under Fifty Foot of Sh...."

Certainly seems applicable re: Loos !!

[Ciaran Byrne]

5th (Royal Irish) Lancers = The Redbreasts, The Daily Advertisers, The Irish lancers

16th Lancers = The Scarlet Lancers

RAMC = Rather cruelly dubbed "Rob all my commrades" by some of the more pessimistic Tommies

The Dublin Fusiliers = The Toughs

The Royal Irish Fusiliers = The Faughs (from the gaelic phrase which was their motto "Clear The Way")

The Eniskillens = The Skins

[Deleted_scotty c_*]

Black watch was the "gallant forty twa" after the regiments first designation as the 42nd "foot"

[Deleted_scotty c_*]

Black watch was the "gallant forty twa" after the regiments first designation as the 42nd "foot"

just for giggles...I was attached to 26 cmmd wrksp REME in 1970's

we figured it meant " Rough Engineering Made Easy"

[OxfordYeoman]

Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars (Oxfordshire Yeomanry) were called "Queer Objects on Horseback"

[edwin astill]

York and Lancaster Regt - having a strong Irish element and recruiting in Yorkshire - "The Cork & Doncasters"

Edwin Astill