BRITISH ARMY - Nicknames
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ต.ค. 2024
- Bit of just mentioning some of the nicknames that British Army has for Corps and Regiments in the British Army. I don't know all of them so please if there one or three that I have failed to mention, please stick it in the comments.
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Former Bootneck here, my mate was in the RAOC, we called them *The Rag and Oil Company*. The RAF Police were known as Snowdrops and everyone else were called Brylcreem boys. I had a good laugh at your vid and have subscribed. Its all good banter but we all respect each other and thats the bottom line.
Thank you Peter much appreciated mate. Respect to the RMs
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd RMs because the navy needs foot soldiers too :-)
RMs dont know the meaning of the word 'Quit'. But theres lots of words they dont know the meaning of :-)
How dare you!! Rag and Oil!!! 🤐🤐🤐. My brother-in-law was RM 1970s I do speak to him though..... I once lived in Eastney Barracks when it became housing.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Thank you for your service sir.
@@Richard500Blanket stackers 😁
Ex-scaley here. Afaik the name scaleybacks dates back to the days of lugging acid batteries on their backs, which used to leak battery acid down the unfortunate soldiers' backs, resulting in scarred skin i.e. scaley backs.
Swift and sure fella xx Catterick or Blandford
i was a handbag
Liney, 5sqn 7Sig Herford..
@@DaveM-ux8kl Valve op 3 sqn 7 Sigs Herford. Lived in South camp but sqn in North camp
@@chrismac2234 Catterick but only for trade trg, transferred from green slime so didn't do basic at 11 sigs
G’day mate, here in Australia the Army MP’s were known as med heads because of the red berets and because a lot were c*-+s in attitude. Cooks were either bait layers or tucker fu-+=#s. Infantry were pongs because wherever the infantry goes the pong goes. Thanks for the channel and your time. Have a good one 👍🇦🇺
Mark, brilliant comment, so pleased to hear from you lads over in Australia 🇦🇺. Cheers mucker
RMP were cherry berets, ROYAL ENGINEERS were royal engine queers, REME were royal engineers made easy, INFANTRY were pongo. #OPBANNERVETERAN
We had similar nicknames in the Aussie Army. The Army Apprentices (Appies) referred to adult entry trade trainees as 'Thicks'. Engineers were referred to as The Gods of The Battlefield (OK, I just made that up) although I was once asked on an all-corps advanced first aid course to 'define your role, sapper' and replied with 'We're the Thinking Man's Grunt, Sir". As an MP nobody ever called us monkeys, that is a very RMP thing, not RACMP. Come to think of it I can't recall anyone ever calling me a Meathead either... at least not to my face. WRAAC were called Madam Rack if officers, especially if they had those little black leather gloves on... or the Crack Troops. BTW, my dad said the Chunkies were the Royal Pioneer Corps, but also a name given to the assault troopers in APCs. He was 1KDG, later 1 Queens Dragoon Guards. He also served in the Rockapes, the RAF Regiment and the Australian Army Band Corps.
We Used to call the Paras Strap Danglers, went to watch a Mark Billy Billingham talk the other year and was speaking to him at the end, said to him we used to call you lot Strap Danglers, he pissed him and said I've not heard that one for years 😂😂
That's a good one, I've got a few PARA mates will use that next time I chat to them. Thanks 👍
I live in Burnley we were often called string danglers another variation, Marines were known as cabbage heads RAF who we worked with a lot were crab air or blue jobs. I will have to sit down and think about this one. Never liked the falling plates thing some paras have derogatory names for none paras dont like using those terms every one should be proud of their unit.
@mickwful lovely comment brother thank you
I've not heard that in yrs bud lol'lmao well done mucker lots of memories lol'lmao mark was csm 4a few yrs!! Long time ago now m8t I've been out now 24yrs!
@mickwful am from burnkey as well... you can maybe tell from the Josh Cullen picture
REME Ruining Everything Mechanical Everyday 👍
Rough engineering made easy
@@matthewbishop9342
😂
Why is he walking around in uniform being a pirate. Piracy is against the law.
Yeah. I've worked wirh some of them lads. The army has different ideas on electrical installations. There's is almost french/continental (crap).
I'm a little conscerned that they are not being taught properly, wirh they're unsafe working practices.
REME Rough Engineering Made Easy.
Great laugh with them, brings back memories. Great little community you have made here, bloody well done
Thank there is a good bunch of lads on here I'm chuffed to NAAFI breaks
Run away some ones coming
Couldn't agree more with this comment it is absolutely spot on 👏👏 I can see this channel growing and growing, it really ought to be on television 👍🇬🇧
@501sqn3 that's very kind of you
Nut stranglers was always a good one for REME. Black Mafia was the Green Jackets. Air Defence regiments RA known as the Cloud Punchers. Lots of nicknames I've forgotten.
Me too. Love the cloud punchers 😆
I remember seeing "3 RGJ Black Mafia" all over the bog walls at Rheinsehlen Camp....good reading 😂
within the Canadian RCEME there were Weapons Techs, we used to call them Gun Plumbers
RGJ "Falling Plates "
Haha, Not heard 'Cloud Puncher' for YEARS! Totally appropriat considering the weapon we had, the 'Javelin' SAM (updated Blowpipe) was terrible!@@LetsTab59-bd4fd
Scalybacks. I was told it came from the second world war. The batteries were much less friendly back then and backs could be splashed with acid. Not nice to think about
Yes that reminds me of someone else telling me you come to mention it. As you say nasty. Thank you .
I was Royal Signals .. You are correct. Spillage from lead acid batteries caused dematitus on guys backs causing burns & flaking skin.
They used to have coats with scales on the back stopping the leaking acid contacting the skin.
I notice that your beret badge is sort of midway between your left eye and ear. I've been seeing this a lot in recent army documentaries and berets are starting to look a bit like cheesecutters. This especially with regiments with big badges, Paras etc. I was in the mob between 1960 and 1972 and during that time the RSM would've jumped on us if we'd worn our berets with the badge anywhere but above the left eye.
You're absolutely correct, it seems its become more exceptable over the years , I don't wear mine right over my left ear, more like just past my left eye. Thank you for commenting 👍
I have been pulled up for this a couple of times ! And asked when did I join the French army ?...lol
Berets look more like cowpats these days.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fdalso…..the leather band of the beret should be an inch above the eyebrow…not sitting on it!
Hi Keith, greetings from the slop jockey, bean burner, fat splasher with the 300WM AI AXMC from West Wales Muzzle Loaders & Rifle Association, hope your keeping well mate and your still shooting and riding your camo quad bike. Great Historic Military content, keep it up mate.
Carl, great to hear from you mate! Not shooting as much these days and I sold the quad bike just before we moved from Wales. Loved that shooting club WWML&RA, been in a few clubs but that one was by far the best and what a great bunch of characters we had there. Thank you for commenting mate all the best.
Cabbage mechanic
I started as a Fusilier and they called us "budgies" for obvious reasons with the hackle. I then went onto the Small Arms School Corps - Shit and Shovel Corps/Salisbury and Amesbury Sewing Club to name a few. My father was Queens Own Hussars - Queers on Horseback.............All banter and most regiments give as good as they get.
Do miss the old squaddie banter can't beat it. Thanks Mick appreciated 👏
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Really glad I stumbled across your site - your topics bring back loads of memories.
@micksouthwales I really enjoy doing them, thank you for your support 🙏
QOH ... probably the best regiment I was attached to (LAD). Our B squadron leader was one of those rare leaders so respected every member of the squadron would have followed him into any situation in a war.
I always knew the Royal Artillery as "Drop Shorts", RAOC as "Stackers" and ACC as "Slops". I joined The Royal Corps of Transport at 16 and have always been proud to be a "Trog", even after the Really Large Corps was forced upon us... because once a Trog, always a Trog!
Steve, cheers mate and thanks for commenting 👍
Ex RAOC. 😂😂
My fav isn't a nickname but a inter service quip:
Yomping is like Tabing only slower.
Yomping is marine name for army tabbing. Paras use tabbing.
@@robintasker9078 obviously. Your a civilian aren't you. My joke means, for those that are civis.
Marines are slower than squaddies.
@@chrismac2234The Royals are as smart as a guard but twice as hard.
I was attached to the Pongos (RM generic name for all the Army) for 3 years. Just before one exercise I did with them, I got the same smart quip.
So off I went, packed my Bergen, drew 320 clansman full kit, put that in as well and toddled back to my hilarious colleagues. I casually placed said bergan on an FFR tailgate and offered the “tabbing challenge” of picking up my bergan from the tailgate and doing a little Grand old Duke of York “tabbing” up and down a hill with my normal kit.
Of the comedians, 5 managed to lift it and get it on, 1 x epic fail, legs buckled 😂
Of the 5, 3 of them managed to complete the challenge but were completely knackered on return. They actually thought I’d over weighted the bergan to make a point. 😂😂😂
@@MarkN67 love it xx
Curries formerly Army Catering Corps aka Aldershot Cement Company. Me, no complaints ever. Bloody good cooks, often in difficult shitty conditions and had to do their bit on stag too. Good soldiers!
Agreed scoff was always on the ball, never too impressed with the old horror bag though 😆
Always looking to get out on patrol in NI do a bit relieve the boredom. We had a great chef in South armagh never let us down loved his NASI GORI he said I can cook other stuff I am a chef 😂😂 we loved it couldn't get enough he was always busting to get out relieve the boredom 😢😢 great for a stand down off patrol good lad❤❤
@roberthewer2268 I noticed that on a Belfast tour, we were rotating the chef's through our foot patrols they all wanted to come out, don't blame them really.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd RUC NOSE BAG was always 10 x better than ours curled up ham sarnie fanta orange I hate gave me heart burn and boiled egg and claccy bar
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd good lads kept an eye on them make sure they were OK 👌 on patrol in derry 79 an RMP and a brigadier joined our patrol the big brass fell over has we crossed waste ground un front of sanger 1 Creggan camp laughed my bollocks off THE RMP impressed me cool guy very impressable 18 year old I was
You are a breath of fresh air!
That's very kind Jonathan thank you mate 👍
Brings back fantastic memories from some one who served 24 yrs Thankyou and keep them coming
Cheers Stuart much appreciated 👏
'Wooden tops' was a very young children's programme on TV many years ago. The family of wooden tops were sublimely gormless. 'Chunkies' was the name of The Royal Pioneer Corps - basically, the navvies of the Army.
Then we went metric and called them cubes.
You have to admire the RPC as one of their very unpleasant jobs was "cleaning/clearing the battlefield" of the remains of the dead. I did read that the British Army was or maybe still is, the only Army who does clear the battlefield.
Chunkies refers to Pioneer cap badge, a Pineapple. R.A. were 9 mile snipers.
As an ex pioneer, I can tell you. During bthe WW2 we were The Pioneer corps, with 3 million workers/servicemen. The soldiers had PC on their shoulders. In the WW2
ration packs there were pineapple chunks in a tin, labelled PC. hence 'chunkies'.
Yes we cleared the dead from the battle field, i helped on OP desert storm.
@@binnawan dont forget air defence they were cloud punchers
3 RTR from Cornwall, Devon and Dorset were called the Armoured Farmers.
My dad was a Dorset armorered farmer !! Thank for the memories
Within REME we had nicknames for the different trades - far more than there are now. Any VM (Vehicle Mechanic) was part of the 'Black Hand Gang'. 'Sparky' described the Vehicle Electrician The various Electronic Technicians were, to all other trades, 'Wobblies' because, since they considered themselves much 'better qualified', walked around wobbling their heads as if to say 'I'm better than you lot' (apparently) Recovery Mechanics were either Reccy Mechs or tow-boys. Armourers were 'Guns'. Any purely admin staff were 'pen-pushers'. Any staff sergeant tradesman was a 'Tiffy' - Artificer - as he had completed that course at Arborfield or Borden. Some of the many general nicknames for any trade were Mr Fixit ('cause we did), spanner-jockey, Wherr'aveUbeen,Toolbox Tom, and the unofficial internal motto for the corps was Ubendum Wemendum.
Me? I was a telecommunications technician, but an honorary member of the Black Hand Gang while serving temporarily as a Vehicle Electrician. My first task, directed by the Tiffy, was to take out all the bolts from a box at the rear of a Chieftain tank. This being done, I was then told to move the top plate, which I did. I was then told to look at my hands - absolutely pitch BLACK (it was the expansion box for the exhaust!). I was then accepted as a member of the team for the next four weeks.
REME avionics were greenies. I believe this was because the first greenies were ex Fleet Air Arm and electronics officers had a green band around their rank rings. Airframe and engines techs were called blackies, no idea on that one.
I started off at Arborfield and did an apprenticeship as a Tels tec and then seven years with Rough Engineering Made Easy during which I converted to aircraft at Middle Wallop with a three year attachment to Air Corps when they were still flying Auster Mk 6&7's and eventually Mk 9's, we also had a Chipmunk but I have no idea why. In those days choppers were Navy and RAF only. With Air Corps Tels tecs looked after Radio, Flying Instruments and Electrics, and Vehicle Mechanics Were trained to look after Engines and Airframes.
When I joined my unit the aircraft were being looked after by the RAF, and in my case that was 2 to each trade. we also had to do ground handling and hand starting ( prop swinging ) as well, because there were no starting trollie's off base.
After that I went back to a REME workshop and proper army radio equipment. I remember that MP's were called Meat Heads, and at the apprentice school we had a mix of regiments and I remember that the Band Sgt was in 11th Hussars who had the nickname The Cherry Pickers. My dad and granddad were both in the Northumberland Fusilliers who were called The Fighting Fifth, ( they were once known as the 5th of foot )
Falling Plates were the Green Howards.
Black Mafia were the Royal green Jackets.
Thanks for the nod mate,from this Ex Argyll. All the best.
Cracking Regiment my friend all the best 👍
I had a uncle in the tankies in ww2 I remember him telling me stories of tanks being hit was called "brewing up" tough times loved these films my dad was 7rha
And I think that the Germans called the sherman tanks Tommy Cookers. Awful name. Thank you mate 👍
the jerries also named oue tanks tommy cookers ... some sence of humor that eh
I served along side 7 RHA airborne in Belize 88
The Shermans were nicknamed" Ronsons "after the lighter advert ( Lights up first time )
I'm ex Duke of Wellington's so we were the "Dukes" or "Duke of boots" , another was Prince of Wales Own who were the "Rocking Horses" because of their cap badge .
Grunt refers to the noise a marine makes when trying to stand up wearing a bergan .
Cheers Jon, appreciated mate 👍
😂
Government Reject Unsuitable for Normal Training.
Ex-Scaleyback and a proper bleep (Morse operator!) here - I seem to remember something to do with old batteries. Love the channel, and it brings back an awful lot of great memoires.
Cheers Hank, thanks for commenting and your support 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Lol. Hank - army name, since someone thought I looked like Hank Marvin! Still stuck with it.
@HankD13 cool nick name 😎
Yeah the old batteries used to leak when worn on backpack ,the battery acid would cause skin problems , hence scaley backs
While in Canada at BATUS, A Coy, 3RGJ was part of a 14/20 Hussars battle group. IE, more tanks than infantry. We were also backed up with a platoon of Guards, can't remember which, I think probably Welsh.
So on the first few days we're doing platoon attacks with tank support. Our 349 radio sets were on a local net with the tanks for communication. As the tanks were moving through us lying in the dirt, the troop commander said over the net, "Be careful of the grunts guys, we don't want any blue on blue casualties".
One of the tank commanders replies, "F@ck the grunts". By this time the tanks were 50m in front of us, speeding ahead to engage in depth positions.
Our NCOs shouted, "Switch fire, aim for the back of the tank turrets" we were like WTF but OK. We had a mad minute dumping our SLR mags into the bins on the back of the tank turrets.
Eventually the Safety Staff realised what was going on and we were ordered to cease fire. Our platoon cmdr and Sgt were incandescent with rage, but I heard him laughing about it with some of his mates later that night.
That night in the non-tac leagure the tankies were emptying their storage bins, ration packs all shot up, doss bags like tea bags.
The tankies managed to redeem themselves a few nights later though. Every night, dead on the stroke of 22:00, a bugler from the guards marched to the centre of the company leagure and played the last post. Most of our lads just wanted to get their heads down as we're up at sparrows fart to practice more attacks, plus you have a 2hour fire picket patrol sometime during the night.
So after a week of this crap, dead on 21:58 three tankies doubled out into the centre of the leagure. The two in front had a huge square funnel with a six foot long flexible pipe over their shoulders. I think the tankies used it to top up their engine oil(OMD75).
When they came to a halt, the young lad at the rear played one of the most beautiful and haunting renditions of the Last Post I've ever had the honour of listening to.
Of course everyone was standing rigidly to attention, including the really pissed off guards.
Afterwards the three of them received a standing ovation from the company, and 6 beers from the Colour Seargeants truck(maximum 2 beers per man).
Paul, mate, what a cracking story that was, very many thanks for sharing it.
Stories like these were always told around the camp fire. I heard of the thanks being riddled with infantries bullets. Nice to hear the full story.
Thanks
QS
Remember it well ! I was A coy , then mortars 3 RGJ
@@Darenbranch hi Daz, 🫡
@@Paul-Weston hi mate 👍
In the Signals, we had a trade called technical storeman - so whilst an ordinary storeman was called a 'blanket stacker' the technical storeman was called an 'electric blanket stacker'. Used to refer to the Army Air Corps as 'Teeny Weeny Airways'. Didn't realise that the term Planks for the RA was a polite, historical reference - we all assumed it was because they were thick as two short ones, lol. We always referred to the RCT as 'trogs' - no idea why, but my brother in law, ex Trog, confirmed this. And as a final comment on the ACC - it's purportedly the hardest course in the British Army, because no c**t has ever passed it. Great channel, just discovered, so many thanks mate.
Brilliant Neil many thanks for your support mate 👍
The RLC have been upgraded to a T trade, so now they’re Duvet Technicians, not blanket stackers any more!
@@bob_the_bomb4508 Brilliant!! 😅
Cracking video 😅😅😅
ACC was also known as slop jockies, or if they were REME (gods corps) attached, we called them cabbage mechanics.
Another video on nicknames or sayings for specific trades would be good.
A few from the REME were
Recovery Mechanic - Can't spell it but can f**kin lift it.
Vehicle Mechanics - Squat to piss.
Techs - Wobbly heads.
Good idea. Thanks 👍
ACC. Aldershot Concrete Company
I can tell you for an absolute fact the reason that Tech's in REME were called "wobbly heads" was due to half or fully falling asleep during trade training. So boring you would fall asleep and on waking your head would wobble. I am speaking from experience.
Great video.
Some additions.
ACC -Slop Jockeys, Ration Assassins
RLC - Rag and Sh4g
Devon and Dorsets - Dungeons & Dragons
WRAC - Guildford G4sh
Pioneers- As mentioned above were always chunkies, I do not know why so if anyone does, chuck it in here.
Sorry lads, deliberate mistake, I mentioned ACC and not RCC.😮
Some of the nicknames the squaddies have for each other are funny too. A guy I used to know as a private got a minor punishment of having to peel potatoes on his day off. He got the nick name "Spud" and it stuck right up to him being a warrant officer. That was over 15 years later. Tiny was 6'7, and "racing snake" was the slowest runner. I worked with the unit as a civilian trainer and got the nickname "thicko" due to my multiple degrees.
Worked with a guy who was a little slow in movement so he was known as "Turbocharged Inertia"
I was a storeman class 1 REME, looking after A & B vehicles, POL and starred items, Rough Engineering Made Easy or Spanner Monkey
Well done, love the channel 👍
Lovely thank you Ian for commenting mate 👍
Was in the PARAS from 82-2000. Green on mucker AB ALL THE WAY! 😊😊
Much respect 🙏
So you were a crap hat!
@@TheJon2442 yes 😆
@TheJon2442 I think the lad was Para not Maureen. 🟦
@@colin...101Disappointing that the Oxford English Dictionary has the term completely wrong. They surely consulted a margarine and decided to be politically correct and inclusive...
Very good!! Enjoyed this.
PW Ha-Ha, Rejects last chance (RLC), in The Queen’s Company Gren Guards we are called “The Borg”
Thanks for your support 🙏
Your right about the RGJ being called the black mafia it was due to the fact that we had so many senior officers (General). Falling plates that's I think was due to the fact that the 3 Bns where constantly doing tours. Within the 3 Bns 1 RGJ was known as the Farmers, 2 RGJ as the Handbag's and 3 RGJ the cowboys
Army nurses QARANC was Quick and Ready and Never Cought.
M8t u got it in one!! I've got a lot of gd m8s an family in the RGJ. Who all say the same thing m8t lol'lmao .. gess u was RGJ? YA SELF!! If i didn't go in the PARAS then i would have been 2'RGJ... gd reg!
Oh poo I had that written down for QARANC but forgot to say it 😆 can't read my own writing. Cheers
Mate…the falling plates wasn’t the Green Jackets. That was the Green Howards. I’ve seen - and been involved in - MANY fights over that “nickname” - think on what that actually refers to. There’s banter and there’s outright shameful insults. Ex Green job.
I was in 2 RGJ and my cousin was in the Para's Frankie Pye.
@@TheWizardOfTheFens agreed 👍
As an ex RAMC CMT I was called a "scab lifter" lol
Not heard that one for a long time, thank you for that, much appreciated 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd we were also called linseed lances…🇦🇲
RAMC, Run Away Mummies Calling or, Rob All My Comrades...
@@catpainblackudder01 never heard those tbh....but I certainly didn't run away or rob anyone lol.
I remember being told that the term scaley or scaley back' came from when the radio's used a wet, or liquid battery, it would leak and the affect of the acid would cause the skin on their backs to become dried and scaley.
Anyway, great video!
Many thanks for your support it's very much appreciated 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Keep up the great work!
@@S-North I will try to keep going with the silly little videos 😆 thank you for your support it's so important
No my old pal my old beauty'- Chunkies were RPC (Royal Pioneer Corps). Not being critical, really enjoying this vid. I know a bloke who I call Foxhound and he calls me Watchdog. Savvy? He was the only WO3 in the history of the BA.
The Light Infantry were known as 'Arthurs' by the RGJ - half a cap badge! RGJ battalions were; Farmers, Cowboys and Handbaggers. Devon and Dorsets - Doughnuts and Dumplings. Paras - Dopes on ropes, twats on thongs; all by those who have never passed 'P' Company. It's interesting that after PWRR's (Baharry) VC, the comments about Squidgy's Own soon dried up. I have many more but I think probably not for this forum. Great stuff! More please.
Thank you brother 🙏
Love your posts my friend. Served in the Grenadier Guards, The Coldstream Guards called us goblelers, why I don't know, neither do I want too. But we called them sheep shaggers. . All regiments in the British army are the best, we know that. Just banter between regiments.
Cheers Malc, I love all the banter between us mate something very special 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd And the Para's don't care what the rest of the Army thinks, I reluctantly agree, they are the best, even though it pains me to say it.
And back in 69 learnt at an early age (Boy Soldier) Coldstreamers christened Sheepshaggers as they in the Crimean War freezing and starving, slaughtered sheep to eat and then donned the skins, hence over the years Sheepshaggers, Us Gren's Woodentops, Bill Browns, The Models, and most famous Gobblers, at Waterloo I think, slaughtered turkeys for meat hence Gobble Gobble, thats my limited knowledge Ex Sigs instructor, brill site sorry have not spotted your name Stuart Ex 2GG
I was a Gobbler... The sheep shaggers hated us And vice versa
Ex - Rock Ape Just subbed. Bloody Good Drills! Best Wishes Johnny
Cheers Johnny, good old RAF Infantry 👍
What Sqn's ?
@@michaeljepson QCS
I'm sure there's nothing here that you haven't heard before and its probable all changed by now, but here we go.
In the RN the nicknames for the other services were as follows:
Fleet Air Arm - The Airy Fairies
Submariners - Bubble Heads
Royal Marines - Leather Necks/Boot Necks (or simply Booties)
Royal Air Force The Brylcreem Boys
The British Army - Pongos. (because where they go, the pongos)
Within the Navy each branch had its own nickname for example:
Officers - Wuperts & Wodneys
Officers Stewards - Flunkies
Cooks - Chefs (you don't bite the hand that feeds you)😊
Stores - Box Kickers
Electrical Engineers - Greenies
Electronic Engineers - Pinkies
Certain Weapon Engineers - Missile Mincers
Mechanical Engineers - Bin-Bags or Binmen (always dressed in blue overalls)
Any of the Seaman branches - Dab Toes
Medical - Scab Lifters
Thats brilliant, Ive not heard the RN ones before. Im sure a Submariner once told me they refer to the rest of the Navy as 'Skimmers' or 'Targets'? lol. Thanks for commenting
9/12 Lancers- Three Quarters Cavalry
Army Catering Corps-
Turners and Fitters (turn food to crap and fit it in your mess tins).
Loads of derision for the ACC: Chefs course is hardest in the Army….no one has ever passed it.
Only an Army Cook could burn water.
They can do in 15 minutes what it takes the human body 24 hours to do…..
RAF Regiment- Rockapes (one RAF Regt Officer shot another one while hunting. At the board of inquiry he stated he thought he shot a rockape!)
And, of course The Short Range Desert Group.
Officers are Ruperts!!!!
During the night of D Day there were many thousands of straw dummies dropped by parachute to confuse the Germans. They were nicknamed Ruperts. No one is sure which one was nicknamed Rupert first: the Officers or the dummies!
Ulster Defence Regiment- Uncle Dermott’s Rangers.
At one point the Royal Irish Rangers were the Rarely Irish Rangers as the 1st Bn were all Scousers!
When I came off my first Regtl Med Assistant course the old ex Rhodesian Battalion Intelligence Sergeant called me a Tampax ‘Tiffy.
RAMC - Run Away, Matron’s Coming
RADC - Fang Farriers
RAVC - Dog Fondlers
Royal Marine Brigade Air Support - Teeny Weeny Airways
Light Infantry- Arfurs because they had “half a cap badge”.
The female soldiers in the UDR were called plus ones as the patrol briefings would be “a multiple of 12 soldiers plus one Greenfinch.” (that was their Radio Appointment Title). And very brave women too. Top respect to them.
I like how you explained WRAC, much more gentlemanly!
What about doing some of the traditional nick names for certain surnames?
Eg Windy Miller
That's a great comment and thanks for the ideas
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd 👍🏼
Rockapes, the story I heard was , one of them shot a Rock Ape while on watch in Gib during WW2, he mistook an Ape for an intruder
@@davidharris4062 I suppose it could have been Gib 😊👍🏼
Not even seen the video,but subbed.Anyone who has served deserves at least that.
Kenny you're a star mate thank you for your support 🙏
I was in mid seventies, teeny weeny airways we called the AAC. I remember the Green Howards suffering in Ireland. We were all Kings Division.
We used to call The Green Howards The Frankies.
Ex RAF chef here. Stewards were known as ' soup jockeys' and chefs known as cabbage machanics.
😂👍🫡
Never served but most of my mates were squaddies (hate the term ex-squaddies) my mates were different mobs....Royal Anglian and Sherwood Foresters, my grandad was Royal Artlillery....he joined as a boy soldier Royal Horse Artillery then full time Royal Artillery during the Second World War got himself a field commission and a mention from Eisenhower. Brave bugger he was, cousin joined the RA, my dad was Royal Air Force...ATC predominantly with #1 sqn and 207 sqn.
All told me stories and nicknames....None to be printed only verbal!
Great video squire! Try a dead cat windshield for your mic could save you a few quid.
Thank you very much it's appreciated 👏
hi ex scaley here. have some others for you and a change if thats ok. Chunkies were pioneer corp originally, RA another was cloud puncher, and scaley back also was refered to the cable pulling jackets worn way back which were scaled to help the cable stay still. ACC were combat egg operators or laddle slappers (you can only have one sausage youre taking another mans rations) also WRACs would be called split ar** or ground sheets (bad i know i married a WRAC) love how i stumbled across your channel i was out in 2009 did 18 and a breakfast. keep it up legend
Cannon Fodder - Infantry
Drop Shorts, 15 mile snipers - Artillery
Scaly Backs - Signals
Really Large Corps - RLC
Bootnecks - Marines
Wedge Heads - Engineers ( we were responsible for using the dead corpses to wedge the field guns after the Artillery refused to man them ,hence why we ended up wearing the blue lanyard and the artillery were made to wear a yellow/ white one for cowardice.
An Ex Sapper
FOLLOW THE SAPPER!
An absolute pack of Cnuts - RMP
Ex-Gordon here, 2/51 Highland TA. Our fellow highlanders were Queen's Own Highlanders, the Blue Mafia (Blue Hackles), and The Lovat Scouts, the Highland Bobbies, because of their black Balomorals with black and white dice around the brim. Also, the Black Watch were often greeted by the rest of us with sheep calls, as they were known as the Sheepshaggers.
Cheers Chris appreciated mate 👍
"Boys of The Watch do not weep, it was not you whò shagged the sheep, for over the hills and far away, came the cry of "Cabarfeidh"
Getting on a RBAT was fun, (Rumety Bumpy Army Truck), and we wonder why civvies dont understand us.
Great video. My Grandpa was RTR. His ship was heading for Singapore in WW2 when it fell so he was diverted to Burma. Mum used to deliver the line: "Your Grandpa marched 1,000 miles on a fighting retreat being chased by the Japanese... I think you can do double Maths on Monday morning." It was a proud moment when I was able to use a variation on my own children... On your mic issue I think i can help. I train people on shooting video with smartphones. I'd recommend a Rode Smart Lav + mic (about fifty quid) and a cable extension (about a tenner) and you can get a windshield for it. These are also known as dead cats. They fit on the end of the mic and help cut out wind noise. If you're stood on a mountain in a force nine gale you'll still have problems but you'll get rid of day to day wind. All this uses good old fashioned copper wire and will plug into a headphone jack. If you dont have a headphone jack you'll need an adaptor for an iphone or android. This will plug into your charging port. Rode also do Wireless Go which are Wireless mics for mobile phones but they're about £250. Again, you'd need windshields. People will wear wobbly footage but they won't wear wobbly sound. Good luck! 🇬🇧
Thanks for commenting 👍 great story thank you for sharing 👍
The Falling Plates was actually the Green Howards. Unfortunately people just hear the word Green and assume the regiment is the Royal Green Jackets.
Falling plates was a shooting contest in the light infantry
@peterleigh7485 yes mate, I think a falling plate competition was part of every battalion competition. It's also a competition at Bisley. We had a competition one year to find the best half section in the battalion. So each platoon was broken up into teams of four. 1 Corporal/Lance Corporal and 3 Riflemen. We had a 2 mile CFT followed by a military general knowledge quiz, followed by a falling plate shoot. Extra points earned for rounds returned after all 10 plates are down.
They got called the falling plates when in op banner where they tragically had a lot of casualties at the time.
True I served over there when they were losing men every week it seemed
And me, mid 70s. They took a lot of hits. @@mobrien145
LUMPY JUMPERS...haven't heard that for years ! Best nickname ever !..lol
Catering Corps - Cabbage Mechanics, RAMC - Pimple Lancers, AAC - Tiny Weenie Airways,
Hi really enjoyed your Regimental nick named. I'm a former Green jacket and 10 Para. Josh Williams
Cheers Josh mate 👍
I'm proud to have been Green Slime.
When I was serving we were sometimes also called Cabbage Heads or Snot Heads.
Cypress green is the best shade of green. 😊
Thanks Tom 👍
Ex EWop me - had to work with you Muppets for quite a while lol!
Fellow Slimer.
@@gunnargundersen3787 Manui Dat Cognitio Vires 👍
"Cabbage Heads" are actually the Maureens: we'd never insult the Unintelligent Corps so... 😉
Love this, I'm an ex scaley ( Royal Corp Of Signals ) The term 'Bleep' was specifically for those lads and ladies who had joined EOD (typically 11EOD Regt ) . That's exactly what I did. Specialising in Bomb Disposal, So not a term that was widely used across mainstream units. A term more used by officers and SNCO's who were usually RLC ( Royal Logistics Corp ) it allowed them to quickly call upon our services should the need arise.
Very many thanks 👍
The 'Falling Plates' was a perjorative term applied to 1 GREEN HOWARDS after their 1972 roulement tour of Ardoyne when they suffered 6 dead during July and August of that year.
Thank you 👍
Pioneers were Chunkies in my day. Int Corps - Muppets! Beret the same colour as Kermit. ACC Chef - hardest course in the Army - no one ever passed it! Love this mate - subscribed!
Thank you for your support it's very much appreciated 👍
and now the chunkies are within the rally large corps and before disbandment and before the RLC we were retrained up to infantry class soldiers i was one of them 'and believe me we eared our brown hats condensed infantry training to take over a role in baor from1 Gloster regt working with the RCT 2 company's of Royal Pioneers as infantry that was until the fall of the wall .
MY brother was a ACC there was one saying it takes the body 8 hours to turn food to sh&t the ACC could do turn in to SH&t in 4hours everytime he heard this he would grab 1/2 pint ladel
As an ex-Sapper in the Royal Engineers we got called Wedgies because of the Wedge shaped segments used in building MGB's (Medium Girder Bridges).
Gloucestershire Regiment Vet (Glosters) “Mess tins” due to the cap badge size,
The Green Jackets were indeed known as The Black Mafia.
We were of course very proud of the name which made us sound like a bunch of hard-nuts, however I suspect that the reason might have been because a lot of the General Staff officers were Green Jackets (such as Field Marshals Roland Gibbs and Edwin Bramall who served as consecutive CoGS between 1976 and 1982). This may have led to suspicions of favouritism by other regiments.
Within the Green Jackets each battalion had different nicknames based on the antecedent regiments.
1st. battalion which had been the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (43rd & 52nd) were The Armoured Farmers.
2nd. battalion were called Handbags due to the ammunition pouches used by the Kings Royal Rifle Corps and other regiments over 200 years.
3rd. battalion as far as I remember were the Turd battalion, for obvious reasons.
Thanks for commenting 👍 brilliant info 👍
We called the Light Infantry "Arfurs" as in 'Arf a Cap-Badge.
Backfired a bit when the GreenJobs were subsumed into The Rifles.@@LetsTab59-bd4fd
Royal Corps of Transport were nicknamed Trogs. Royal Artillery were called Planks. Royal Engineers were called Wedgeheads. At one time 17 Port & Maritime were called 17 Sport & Pastime. This was due Sports people got posted there as the unit did not deploy much. Kriss Akabusi & Kelly Holmes were on the strength to allow them to train for Olympics.
That's some good ones there Nobby 👌 cheers mate 👍
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd Your welcome, buddy.👍👍
Radio controlled taxis
I left the mob in '95 after 25 years service. My wife still calls me "wedge" and keeps reminding me that I am too old and decrepit for soldiering.
@alanpearson7554 Alan, thank you for commenting, hey you're never too old my friend. All the best 👍
Royal Artillery when i was in were called The Nine Mile Snipers.Also the REME the Hit And Miss Mob.Thanks.Great Video.
Thank you for your support 🙏
Royal Artilllery were known as Planks if I remember rightly.
My School mate went in the Para's, and I went in the Marines, and he always calls me cabbage head. Amongst other things we can't go into on here. All banter and acceptable. Some of those names brought back some good memories.
Cheers Jerry, love a bit of the old squaddie banter.
Ahh, go on. Write it in code.
Sea hat's aswell 😊
The kings troop…. Cus now it has a lot of ladies in it …… it’s sometimes called “My little pony troop”…..😂👌🏽
😆 🤣
Lmao
I knew the infantry as pongos, because…wherever the infantry goes the pong goes too! I was Coldstream and we were known, officially, as Lily-whites but unofficially we were the sheep-shaggers? Can’t think why but we enjoyed our ‘84 tour of The Falkland Islands 🤔
😂😂😂
Na the bootnecks call the full army pongos.
Further to my last regarding the Royal Green Jackets and Regimental nicknames. Back in the day, this snap shot of 1984 can be used as an illustration, the RGJ had 2 Field Marshalls, 2 Generals, 2 Lt Generals and 6 Major Generals all holding senior appointments at the same time. It led to the oft mention comment that 'Green Jackets run the Army' and why the Regiment was widely known as 'The Black Mafia' (after our black buttons etc) . It was a very sad day when the Regiment was renamed/amalgamated call what you like . Something few former 'Green Jackets' can forgive.
No wonder they got that nickname cheers mate 👍
'Scaley Backs' comes from the leather scale jackets worn in WW1 to protect them from the battery acid in the early radio sets. The Army Air Corps are also 'Teeny Weeny Airways'.
Royal signals wasn't formed until 1921
I was on a course once with a lad from the Argyles he was know as Argyle and Suffering. Caterers were Ration Assassins, we also thought that their course must have been the hardest in the forces, as nobody had ever passed it lol
I miss them all
Great comment Allan thank you mate 👍
I once heard the Argyle's called Porridge Wogs ;-)
@user-oj4us3cm8d yes heard that more than once, me and all the Scottish guys in basic training were called that often
There called wooden tops cos of there lid. Or tinpot ! If u got any porbs with nick names of the army get in tuch n I'll help you out! 😊
Please list any I have missed 🙏
I'm ex Scots guards and I thought it was because we looked like wooden painted guardsmen kids used to play with before plastic was invented. 😂
Wooden tops was a BbC children’s program in the 60’s if you watch it you will see on why the guards were given the name.
When I was in the Army, 'Chunkies' were the RPC (Royal Pioneer Corps). The cavalry regiment The Queen's Own Hussars (QOH) were 'Queers on Horseback'.
Mercury, the Roman god of communication, shown in The Royal Signals' cap badge was affectionately referred to as 'Jimmy'.
The motto of the RAPC (Royal Army Pay Corps) was "Fide et Fiducia" (faith and confidence)... the rest of us thought it meant "Fiddle and F*ck".
There was only one 'crack' outfit and that, obviously, was the WRAC.
😂🤣😆🤣
Aah, the Army catering Corp, the human body takes 18 hours to turn food into s**t, it was said the catering Corp could do it in 18 minutes (I do jest, I really enjoyed Army food). Apparently the catering Course was the hardest course in the Army as no one passed.. (I'll get my coat).... I guess there are a lot of names that are too rude to mention. One of my supervisors was ex-RMP. She didn't take too kindly to the word monkey being mentioned!
I believe that the name Scaley goes back to WW1 when the linemen used horse drawn limbers to lay line. They were always busy and the horses lost all their hair as a result of the mud. The skin on their backs became very scaly hence "scaley backs". At that time the linemen would have been part of the Royal Engineers. Linemen were know as "Hairies" and revelled in the fact that they wore leather belts to carry their tools - some will remember PC STILL Pliers, Clasp knife, Spun yarn etc etc!
ACC - Army Catering Corp, but to us they were the called the Aldershot Concrete Corp, said to be the hardest course in the army as nobody had passed it! Royal Hampshire Rgt was called Cat & Cabbage. As a Gloucester Rgt soldier, we were often referred to as the rivets due to the two cap badges, one at the front and one at the back.
Simon, you were a Glorious Gloucester. Respect 🙏
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd I was sent to the Falklands with the Royal Hampshires straight from basic training in 1982, there was 4 of us Glosters. We were based at Fox Bay East. The whole training platoon were attached to them, (mixed regiments from the Prince of Wales Division depot) We flew to Ascension Islands and the rest of the way was on a Sealink North Sea Ferry 🤢
Ration Assassins
@simonbridges7171 what a cruise that must have been. I get sea sick booking the channel tunnel 😆
I’ve heard the ACC be referred to a Cookhouse Commandos. Usually cos they’d claim to have been everywhere, and done everything!!!😂
I served as a reservist in 4 WFR ( Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters ) An friend of mine who served 24 years with the 1st (Regular) battalion, told me about the time that some members of the battalion were caught selling 66mm LAWs. The battalion got the unfortunate nickname “ We Flog Rockets”. I wonder if any former members of the regiment recall this incident? I also have to say that during the course of my service, I had the pleasure of working with several SNCOs who were attached to our unit as Permanent Staff Instructors, and to a man, they were a great bunch of guys.
Good old Woofers
I did my basic at ATR Bassingbourn. There was a great Geordie lad in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers called Jonny West, we called him Westie (easy and obvious nickname). He called his hackle a feather duster (one of the NCOs, Cpl Bell, also RRF hated it with passion, so he regularly gave Westie a good beasting. And me for laughing every time he said it) and that stuck with me. All Fusiliers became house maids 😂
My personal nickname that stuck with me throughout service was Westlife. The lads said I should be in a boy band, not the Army... bastards! 😂
😂😂😂
Thats mint m8 thats were i did jr'paras there m8t also thats were n was in the film Full Metal Jacket!! Cos thats were thay filmed it m8t lol'lmao winks lol
I was in the RGJ, we called our sister regiment the light infantry - arfers, cos they only had half of our cap badge (the bugle). Ironically the rifles now only have the bugle
The Blues and Royals, (the better half of The Household Cavalry Regiment) are the only regiments in the British Army to be officially called by their nickname. Blues was the nickname for the royal Horse Guards, also called the Oxford Blues because the Earl of Oxford insisted if he was funding A regiment they should wear his colour while the rest of the British Army at the time wore red. Royals was the nickname for the royal dragoons the two regiments that amalgamated in 1969 to become the Blues and Royals. Affectionately called “Dinks” or “dinky doo’s” By The Life Guards.
Great bit of insight my friend and fine Regiments both. Thank you for commenting, hope good old Planet Thanet is doing well. Back down that way in March.
great little video been around various regs and places so I know most of the regs you talked about
Cheers Simon 🍻
Outsiders called us cherry berets but we Maroon Machine and I and my comrades called ourselves The Maroon Mafia 👍
I like Maroon Mafia, 👍 thank you for commenting 🙏
The shiny2 was one I heard about paras in NI us Royal Marines had lots of names for paras! (Lots of respect to)
@@paddymallory4080sporty 1 para, shiny 2 para and gungy 3 para
@@paddymallory4080
Don't you mean "Paras" and royal marines..? 😉
Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment (2nd Foot) “Mutton Lancers”
Remember the falling plates from op banner when in NI. Also remember well the Argyll and Bolton Wanderers, as a Bolton fan I remember that with some amusement. The int corps we knew as snot hats. We had exercise winter WRAC when on Cyprus posting when the tourists weren't about - the task of finding a lady for the colder months
I was based in Cyprus for a tour in early 80s. Wracs were Winter Rations etc and in the summer we binned them all and went for the Swedish and Danish birds. The following winter we were out of luck for some reason.
RASC - Royal Army Service Corps
Aka - Run Away Someone’s Coming
We called the Royal Military Police swan vesta's and the infantry as chunkies. Some of the nick names you mentioned Keith I haven't heard in quite a while, and others I've never heard of... Sides splitting nevertheless !!! 🤣😂😅🤣😂🤣😅
Thank you, I like the Swan vesta one not heard it before made me smile 😊 thanks mate 👍
When I was in chunkies were the Royal Pioneer Corps.
I feel a tiny bit insulted as a long serving Sapper we were never referred to as Chunkies, that honour was reserved for the Royal Pioneer Corps!!
Apologies, I got that completely wrong. No disrespect intended.
I wasn’t a soldier, I was a policeman and I heard the police mounted section referred to as “donkey wallopers”. There are a lot of ex armed forces serving in the police so I guess it would’ve come from then.
We had our own nicknames, the county forces were “county mounties” the Met police were “the metrocomicals”, CID were “c**** in disguise”, traffic were “black rats”, or “rats”, AFOs were “crayon eaters”…
That's interesting as I never realised the different police units would have nicknames. Thank you for commenting it's appreciated 👍
I remember Scaleys, Slop Jockeys for ACC, Dropshorts for the Gunners, Grunts for Infantry, RAF were Crabs, RAF Regiment were Rockapes, Bootneck for a Royal Marine, Donkey Whallopers for Houshold Cavalry, Boneheads were 17/21L.
👍🤣
I was on a course with a poor bloke called Gunner Graham .. or La de Da as he was obviously known. You could see a piece of him die everytime somebody cracked that thinking they were the first one to do so.
I knew a Gunner his surname was Reah
@@magirusdeutzjupiter2234There was a Driver Laurie & Driver Carr from the RCT on a course I done at Leconfield too.
@@smudgealdrin1512 Ha ha
Oh and 13th/18th Hussars were called the NAAFI Hussars because their cap badge was basically a sideways N. Duke of Wellingtons - Duke of Boots. Royal Anglians - The Angle Irons. Royal Fusiliers - Budgie hats. Duke of Edinburghs - the Durrs. Loads more and when the Alzheimer's subsides a bit I'll come up with some. Don't forget RAF were Crabs and the RN were Matelots! Germans were The Hun, Canadians were Canuks, Americans were Spams etc, etc,
Awesome job thank you
Woodentops. Yes, a few varieties but I recall the Coldcream Guards (don't arsek) and the Ganny Dears. Good soldiers but a bit too tick-tock.
Remember working at Bulford Camp, the Duke of Wellington's regiment was called the Duke of boots. The chefs were called slop jockeys.
Cheers Ben 🍻 all the best mate 👍
Grease mechanics A.C.C .😄😄
If you are looking for a great value outdoor jacket ..head to Decathalon !
Awesome that you were a tiger bro !! My Dad was a sergeamt in the King's Royal Rifle Corps.. later RGJ ... as you said !! Penninsula barracks was the Black Maffia..at Bushfield Camp in my Dad's KRRC day!.. My Grandad was Royal Scots.. WW1 sergeant and survived the Somme.. lucky bugger !! lol I was RM.. but only blue.. went unter a volvo in a motorbike accident.. prevented me from my green beret ! lol
Great family history and even if you weren't able to get your green lid you were a RM and now your a Veteran brother.
@@LetsTab59-bd4fd That's so kind !! ..were I not a complete crumpled cripple.. lol I would have got that green titfer tat !! lol
I had a boss who was an ex Grenadier Guards sergeant, I was ex-REME. He used to refer to me (jokingly) as "That Corps person". A proper cockney and a lovely bloke.
🤣👍
One saying we had in the Scots guards
Paras = we always win
SAS = who dares wins
REME =who gives a fuck who wins as long as there's a piss up at the end of it. 😂
Scots guards usual got called Jock guards or sweaty socks = Jocks.
Coldstreamers got called sheep shaggers because a lot came from the wilds of Northumberland.
Welsh guards got Troggs or naafi forks cos the leek on the beret looked like a naafi forks
The grenadiers got mars bars but I'm not sure where that came from.
Yeah some funny old names in the army. 😊
Irish guards got Micks
Nice few there Kev, appreciate that 👍
Here's some I've heard over the years.
REME - (W)reck everything, mostly engines
RMP - Swan Vestas
KRH - Sh1te hawks
Royal Welsh - Feather heads
'Rob All My Comrades' - RAMC WW1.
My son is currently serving in the REME as an Avionics Technician. He has told me that the most derogatory term for the RLC is Rejects Last Chance.
Cheers Cliff 🍻
We refer to them as Rejects Lesbians and Commonwealth these days 😁
Camellias gorillas 😂😂brilliant
😂😂😂
RCT - Rice Crispy Testers
RASC - Rissoles, Arseholes, Sausage and Chips
Like that one