Looking for a Colonials view

[Jock Scot]

Allegedly buttons where put on the sleeves to stop the soldiery from wiping there noses on their sleeves. Unfortunately it does not stack up. As buttons appeared on Officer's jackets first.

A midshipman in the Royal Navy has the nickname of "snotty". I assume they still have midshipmen?

[Nervous Jock]

Can someone please educate this poor colonial? I'm not up on my British slang.

What the heck is a Mick? a Taff? a Gren? a Coldcreamer? a Jock?

I understood a total of 0/5 from those words.

This isn't a criticism but merely a general comment: when posting, do realize that there are XMTS members from all around the world who may not understand your local colloquialisms. Then, occasionally I see the odd post where I would have understood it better had it been written in Swahili. (HMm. Could've sworn it SOUNDED like English)...

Irish Guard
Welsh Guard
Grenadier Guard
Coldstream Guard
Scots Guard.

So much better than 1, 2, 3, 4 ,5

[Nervous Jock]

A midshipman in the Royal Navy has the nickname of "snotty". I assume they still have midshipmen?

I always like the nickname "The Andrew" for the senior service

[Good Egg]

I always like the nickname "The Andrew" for the senior service

And 'Crabs' for the other lot, chocks awah!

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Originally Posted by Nervous Jock
I always like the nickname "The Andrew" for the senior service

And 'Crabs' for the other lot, chocks awah!

Are you referring to "Crab Fats", as applied to the "Puss"(a name commonly used to refer to the Navy) (Royal Navy term, abbrievated for Pusser, as in a ships Purchasing officer - pusser...)

Another more plausible explanation as to why the RN refer to the RAF as 'crabs' goes back to the days of rum, sodomy and the lash (about last week in fact). One of the more unsavoury aspects of the average matelot was his unfortunate habit of contracting pubic lice or "crabs" during his shore leave. The treatment for this condition was to get a chum or shipmate to apply a liberal application of a greasy blue/grey ointment (known affectionately as "crab fat") to the affected area. The proper name for the ointment was Blue Unction.

While some of the explanations below are derived from or purported to be the "official" version the RAF have been named "crabs" due to the fact that they have no limit to the number of sideways paces they can do as a drill movement. While army and navy have a fixed limit of sideways paces the RAF can actually march the entire width of a parade ground sideways.

Once upon a time, the RAF flew Spitfires with tail wheels near the tail and huge Merlin engines at the front. This meant that during taxiing, all they could see to the front was an enormous engine. In order to see what was in front of them, they had to look over the side and zigzag, thus they'd be moving sideways. On landing, they would sideslip to lose height.

Because of airfield security, the only time land-locked mortals got to see the RAF anywhere near close up was during landing, take-off and taxiing, when they were moving sideways. Since only crabs walk sideways, clearly the RAF was staffed by crabs.

Coupled with the fact that the Fleet Air Arm attracted all the best pilots and the Army always won inter-service regattas, a once popular forces T-shirt logo read: 'Fly Navy.Sail Army. Walk Sideways!'

[Nervous Jock]

And 'Crabs' for the other lot, chocks awah!

ah, the non military service

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

A midshipman in the Royal Navy has the nickname of "snotty". I assume they still have midshipmen?

Probably called Midshippersons nowadays. Still snotty, though.

[Good Egg]

I thought it was 'crabs' because their uniforms are the same colour as a popular crab in the Far East. Blue unction - certainly a better story.

[###KILTEDKIWI###]

Probably called Midshippersons nowadays. Still snotty, though.

Thats alot more friendly than what i used to call them, thats for sure..

even got a b@llocking (from a W.O) for failing to salute some "snotty" whilst walking down the wharf one day...

He said if If i have to do it, so do you P.O...

[Adam Pound]

Thats alot more friendly than what i used to call them, thats for sure..

even got a b@llocking (from a W.O) for failing to salute some "snotty" whilst walking down the wharf one day...

He said if If i have to do it, so do you P.O...

I used to like waiting 'til our snotty officers got right in front of us before bellowing " Attention!" to the group, right into their ear

No-one could say I wasn't punctilious about letting the squad (and the deaf officer) know what they were expected to do.

Officers, teehee.....