|
|
Post by alanw on Oct 11, 2012 18:10:36 GMT 12
Hi All If one peruses the posts in this forum, you often see NZDF slang appearing here and there depending on whether you are (have been) RNZAF/RNZN/Army, or grew up on NZDF bases, terms such as Baggies/ Grunts/ Billcream Boys/Blue Orchids/Sea Slugs etc were bandied around. Have a read of this post on the Britmodeller forum, and see how the Brits do it and, and some interesting Historical commentary. I started to wonder if (seeing as our Air Force Army and Navy were initally of British design) any of these terms crossed over when our Defence Forces were in their infancy (so to speak)? www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=234927453&st=0Be interesting to hear any comments or examples, from forum members Thanks/regards Alan |
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Oct 11, 2012 18:43:58 GMT 12
Alan, not Billcream Boys but Brylcream Boys! Brylcream, for the benefit of you young sprogs, was a brand of mens haircream.
|
|
|
|
Post by alanw on Oct 11, 2012 18:53:01 GMT 12
Alan, not Billcream Boys but Brylcream Boys! Brylcream, for the benefit of you young sprogs, was a brand of mens haircream. Hi Shorty Darn it, I knew I had spelt it wrong!!! Didn't check  My Dad used it all the time (so did I at times) so I should have known (blame it on the meds I'm on ;D) Thanks for the correction ;D Regards Alan |
|
|
|
Post by phil82 on Oct 11, 2012 20:28:47 GMT 12
Brycream became associated with the RAF from wartime advertised use by men in uniform, particularly RAF airmen and post-war by famous English cricketer Denis Compton. It was awful greasy stuff, and I for one never used it, or anything else in fact, still don't!
There were other terms which slipped into use from the RAF: Blanket Counters for Suppliers, Snowdrops for RAF/RNZAF Police,[from their white caps], or Elephant Trackers if you were less benevolent, [as in "couldn't track an elephant through snow']. Armourers were "Cracker Stackers", cooks were "tucker f***ers". Anyone working on aircraft on the flight line was a "Liney", anyone in admin was a "Shiney", as in "shiney arse" from sitting down all day!
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 11, 2012 21:28:40 GMT 12
Loads of RNZAF slang came from the RAF, and its predecessors, the RFC and RNAS. I have a page I compiled of wartime slang and abbreviations used by wartime RNZAF members here on my website: www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/RNZAF%20Slang.htm |
|
|
|
Post by Tony on Oct 11, 2012 22:01:47 GMT 12
|
|
|
|
Post by ngatimozart on Oct 11, 2012 22:09:44 GMT 12
This is the ARRSEpedia history of the RAF ;D. It's funny as and I haven't looked at their version of the RN history yet. ;D ;D  |
|
|
|
Post by JDK on Oct 11, 2012 23:20:18 GMT 12
One of my most valued books is Partridge's Slang. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dictionary_of_Slang_and_Unconventional_EnglishHe was very strong on service slang between 1880 - 1950, and also good at differentiating between the various versions in Commonwealth Englishes (Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, et.al) both in general and in military slang in each of those countries. Not current, but invaluable in my field. Regards, |
|
|
|
Post by phil82 on Oct 12, 2012 0:55:04 GMT 12
There were also a few songs with various word changes, sung by RNZAF/RAAF to the RAF.
"Land of soap and water....."
"Beneath the Southern Cross we stand..."
I had a book of them but loaned it to Bryan O'Connor and never saw it again!
|
|
|
|
Post by kiwiinoz on Oct 12, 2012 5:42:59 GMT 12
Here's a few I recall
Engines were Sumpies or blackhanders and heavy's
Airframes were framies, snap heads
Avionic's were queer traders
Firemen were woodenheads
Suppliers were grocerers
Jet pilots were knucks
P3 pilots were fishheads
NATTS flight were called lepper flight
Cooks were also fitters and turners ( fit it in the pot and turn it into sh*t)
Airmen cadets were sproggs
General service instructors were government sponsered idiots, gravel crunchers
|
|
|
|
Post by expatkiwi on Oct 12, 2012 6:50:36 GMT 12
Other RNZAF terms I remember from my time in: "Jankers", "I.E.", and "Jungle-Bunny-Hats"
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 12, 2012 9:54:50 GMT 12
Jankers is certainly derived from British Armed Forces, and I suspect probably comes from Urdu or Hindi - like a lot of the common slang in the British military.
I.E. for those who don't know means Interior Economy, the military term for housework (sweeping, polishing, cleaning windows and brass, etc). I believe it also is British.
I've never heard the term "jungle-bunny-hat" but it doesn't sound very PC.
I do recall in my time the WAAF's were referred to as Fat-bums.
|
|
|
|
Post by JDK on Oct 12, 2012 10:03:18 GMT 12
"I remember" is interesting but not a lot of use without a where and when. How do you 'seep' in the RNZAF, Dave, do you use a 'boom' or a 'bd'?  Military slang is relatively static in peacetime at 'home' but goes through quick and major change at wartime and overseas deployments. Then there's what you might call permanent background - often shared with other services or (Commonwealth) nations and on top of that are new terms that appear as a result of new events - a classic being the British army's "Yomp" from the Falklands War entering common use afterwards, then dying away. Regards, |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 12, 2012 10:17:54 GMT 12
"I remember" when I was in the RNZAF 1989-1993, Woodbourne, Whenuapai, Hobsonville, Wigram and Ohakea.
As for seep, boom and bd - you have completely lost me!
|
|
|
|
Post by phil82 on Oct 12, 2012 10:42:46 GMT 12
Jankers is certainly derived from British Armed Forces, and I suspect probably comes from Urdu or Hindi - like a lot of the common slang in the British military. I.E. foir thiose who don't know means Interior Economy, the military term for housework (seeping, polishing, clening windows and brass, etc). I believe it also is British. I've never heard the term "jungle-bunny-hat" but it doesn't sound very PC. I do recall in my time the WAAF's were referred to as Fat-bums. Nope, RAF equivalent to IE was "Bull" night, hence the verb "to bull" or polish, and not as might be generally thought, short for Bullshit, although there was plenty of that around! |
|
|
|
Post by JDK on Oct 12, 2012 11:26:28 GMT 12
As for seep, boom and bd - you have completely lost me! Missing etters as in yor mention of 'seep' - w or l? ;D |
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Oct 12, 2012 14:21:31 GMT 12
I seem to recall that the Navy equivalent of IE was "make and mend"?
The navy has lots of different slang such as uckers and scran.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 12, 2012 16:07:44 GMT 12
Thanks James, fixed now.
|
|
|
|
Post by ngatimozart on Oct 12, 2012 20:38:49 GMT 12
I seem to recall that the Navy equivalent of IE was "make and mend"? The navy has lots of different slang such as uckers and scran. Yep it's "make and mend" Scran is food but a scran bag is a bloody mess. Think uckers is a game. Doing your dhobies is doing your laundry and dhobi dust is laundry powder; a dhobi walla is a laundry worker. Doing the bright work is polishing brass. Gophers is cordial, squirt (or Nelsons blood) is Navy rum. A tot is 1/8th of a pint and sippers is someone allowing you some of their tot, or sharing a tot. Splice the mainbrace is a double tot; neaters is a neat tot, i.e., a tot that is not diluted. No 1, Jimmy, or j immy the one is the executive officer. Being dragged up through the hawse pipe means commisioned from the ranks (the hawse pipe is the hole the anchor cable passes through on or in the side of a ship. The wardroom (or piggery) is the Officers Mess. A 2 and a 4 is 24 cans of beer. Lay aft means you are required on the quarter deck. Avast means hold. A tea leaf is a theif. Helo = chopper or helicopter. |
|
|
|
Post by shorty on Oct 13, 2012 7:04:56 GMT 12
Uckers is Ludo which for some reason is/was popular with Navy types
|
|
