|
Post by yenilira on Oct 24, 2011 13:33:34 GMT 1
There's been articles and posts on matters of a land-based war nature, i.e. the Army, and of us 'Brylcreem Boys', but I haven't seen any in relation to our heroes of Scapa Flow, Trafalgar, the Atlantic Convoys, et al.
Have you ever been taken aback, or told to show a leg?
Just two of the myriad of phrases coined by the lads sailing under the 'White Duster' (and 'Red Duster') in years gone by, and now integrated into common everyday parlance.
Written by Nick Jolly - "Jackspeak: A guide to British Naval Slang and Usage" this book has more than four thousand examples of sayings collected over the last forty years.
On an interesting point, whilst researching this, I came across ref. to the 'Italian Chapel' at Lamb Holm, Scapa, built by Italian POWs at the end of WW11. I am familiar with this structure, but has anyone been up that way?
Now, there's another book for you, Sher, if you're interested in that sort of thing.
Anyone come up with other maxims from the 'Grey Funnel Line'?
YL.
|
|
|
Post by whitstabletangerin on Oct 24, 2011 14:22:58 GMT 1
My old man was on the trawlers out of Fleetwood when after being on leave in Blackpool returned to find the trawler had been taken to Barrow to be fitted with a few additional items. Now under Royal Navy orders the ex trawler was assigned to the Artic convoys on the Murmansk runs and the word "dodging" was used in bad weather.
Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 24, 2011 14:43:44 GMT 1
"Between the devil and the deep blue sea" originated from that the 'devil' was the longest seam in a wooden ship, and when it needed caulking at sea, an unlucky tar was lowered on a rope......
YL.
|
|
|
Post by yeoldetangerine on Oct 24, 2011 16:57:19 GMT 1
Whit, respect to your Dad. I remember from childhood many of the Old Trawler Crews from Fleetwood, and the tales that one or two told about the trip to Murmansk, most never mentioned it, it was just "known". I remember one who wouldn't talk about it, but happily showed his lost fingers from Frostbite.
My Dad was ex Fleet Air Arm, so many of the phrases were just part of everyday speech. Davy Jones Locker, Wavy Navy, Pusser's Rum, jankers, Anchor's Away, Over the Side, In the Brig, I'll stop now cos it's getting boring LOL
He went through the Suez Canal on HMS Indefatigable, luckily got off at Ceylon ( as was), or I might not be here.
|
|
|
Post by Tangerine Sherlock on Oct 24, 2011 20:33:52 GMT 1
Yeni if i bought any more reference or research books on the RAF mainly bomber command i think the wife would be carpet bombing me i should use something called a library? according to her Last week was happy as i finally got my hands on a copy of a book about bomber command missions flown by each squadron that went out of print in 1976 now i thought 56 quid was a steal considering its the size of 2 yellow pages books combined lol but the wife thought not dare not even mention to the wife that i spent 112 quid last week ordering copies of squadron diaries from the national archive , hopefully they will arrive while she is out fingers crossed lol
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 24, 2011 21:06:43 GMT 1
I think Ted is getting a bit jacked-off reading about non-footballing topics ............ YL.
|
|
|
Post by whitstabletangerin on Oct 24, 2011 21:26:02 GMT 1
Sherlock, you would probably know a fare amount from your research books re 543 sqn, the sqn I flew with for 2 1/2 years, that was a Valiant sqn based at Wyton. Unless of course the info you have is just on the war years.
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 24, 2011 22:07:46 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by whitstabletangerin on Oct 24, 2011 22:23:45 GMT 1
Thanks for the info Yeni, when we last played Peterborough I called in at Wyton (april 2010) and the Canberra was still there at the gate, it hasn't much changed (the Station) since the 59-62 period and remember the arrival on a lambretta on a very hot September day and catching a glimpse for the first time of a Valiant bomber., painted in white it looked enormous.
The lads from north of the border were Gers fans, Rangers were playing at Highbury in a European cup game, you did tell me who against was it Sparta Rotterdam ?. We hired a vauxhall victor for the trip south, bench seat column gear change etc.
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 25, 2011 0:00:12 GMT 1
Yes, something like that.
Good to see how our old bases now look, in some respects, though I'd hate to go back to Oakington....
YL.
|
|
|
Post by Tangerine Sherlock on Oct 25, 2011 9:24:00 GMT 1
Its just the from 37-47 that i research really thats more than enough for now plus most people ask if i can find out any information for them between this period.
and of course i love reading about the v bombers as you know
|
|
|
Post by Tangerine Sherlock on Oct 25, 2011 9:25:07 GMT 1
so many old bases just sat rotting away like the one in the lakes if it has not been turned into a housing estate yet
|
|
|
Post by yeoldetangerine on Oct 25, 2011 10:33:31 GMT 1
Whereabouts in the Lakes, Sherl?
|
|
|
Post by Tangerine Sherlock on Oct 25, 2011 10:59:51 GMT 1
Millom near Duddon sands mate
RAF Millom well whats left of it as most of the site is now taken over by Her Majesty's Prison Haverigg pity really as it was a key bombing and gunnery school
They opened a museum on the site but it fell in to financial trouble last year and is now closed
and early this year their main attraction the fuselage of the Supermarine Swift plane which held the airspeed record for a time was removed it is one of only a few remaining in the world, i think it found a new home but not sure where
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 25, 2011 11:48:18 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by yeoldetangerine on Oct 25, 2011 14:39:42 GMT 1
Cheers, Sherl, knew about the museum, but hadn't made the connection.
Yeni
Cold enough to freeze the Balls off a Brass Monkey (cannon balls piled on a copper frame, it shrank in the cold and the balls fell out)
Shiver me Timbers (obvious, that one)
Sun's over the Yard Arm ( amazing how phrases from the days of sail survive into the nuclear age)
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 25, 2011 19:10:08 GMT 1
Somebody will be walking the plank ........ if they don't keep to the bliddy topic....
|
|
|
Post by alderneytangerine on Oct 27, 2011 20:41:37 GMT 1
Terms used when I was in the Andrew.
Seen off - Cheated Sniffer - A sniff of someones rum Sipper - A sip of someones tot Gulper - A gulp of someones tot (very rare) Winger - A young lad being taught seamanship by a older seaman Boatswain - Lover of boats Coxswain - Lover of cox Gronk - An ugly lady (we had a gronk board on one ship with a monthly winner, but it got cancelled because the Chief Stoker won every month with a picture of his wife) Brown hatter - A homosexual Brown hatters overalls - Pyjamas Splice the mainbrayce - Double tot (whoo hoo) Pig - Any officer Sh*t in it - Be quiet
Had too many red wines can´t think of anymore just now. They were good days. Really sad to think that our latest Navy cannot travel the way we used to.
|
|
|
Post by whitstabletangerin on Oct 27, 2011 21:12:35 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by alderneytangerine on Oct 27, 2011 21:41:18 GMT 1
No that was my second ship. The first was called the Arc. Noahs official number was 1 mine was 2. and I was messman at the last supper.
|
|
|
Post by yenilira on Oct 28, 2011 11:00:29 GMT 1
ARK ?
As in "Ark Royal", I presume?
|
|
|
Post by alderneytangerine on Oct 28, 2011 11:52:02 GMT 1
No. Noah wasn´t on aircraft carrier, nor was I.
|
|