NICKNAMES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 253, 4 December 1914, Page 3 (Supplement)

NICKNAMES.

OF BRITISH REGIMENTS

Some interesting information on this subject might ho written tor the Club liy ;omo military correspondent. llie King's Own Borderers were known in the Army as the " Duty 25th." hi the -Napoleonic wars ihey wore white kneo breeches; the mud dimmed their lustre, hence the nickname. Tlie ">Ulii were termed the "Dirty Hall Hundred," from the colour of their facings—;i sombre green. The 25th wer 0 not named Cameronians horn the famous clan. In IWJ they were a body of SUU men from Ayrshire and Lanarkshire, 'followers of Cameron, the noted Covenanter. Tlie Cameron Highlanders, 7Uth, were raised by Cameron of Erracht. in 17'J3; none but those who spoke Gaelic were enlisted. The 90th were, raised in 17'J4 by Graham of Bulgowan, afterwards Lord Lydendoch. They were known as the "Grey Brceks.'' Th« 11th Hussars were the "Cherry Bottoms*' from their crimson trousers. The 7th Hussars, raised in Scotland in 1G1X), gained the nickname of the "Saucy 7th." It was claimed that tho jacket hung from the shoulder, was adopted in honour of the uurry at Brussels, on tho march to Waterloo, the officers appearing in their shirt-sleeves; but this is probably mythical. The Royal Scots (Ist Foot) were termed "Pontius Pilate's Guards" from the tradition that Scots, or, rather, Caledonians, allied with the Romans, were present at the Crucifixion. Also a myth.

"BRITISH," SURELY. It may he noted that, in proportion to population, the Scots. Irish, and Welsh regiments were more than double the number of English in the fierce fighting at Mons and elsewhere in France. John has a habit of claiming that he "killed the bear.'' when it was Nancy who did the job. We ought to read and hear lit* of th. 1 term English for British. In future the Colonials cannot be ignored; they are British. The tendency to assume that mere numbers are everything has been inherited by the people of tho United States; they ignore Canada and Mexico, and term themselves tnc only Americans. Many years ago. in the pa>sage from tho Lakes down the St. Clair tfiver, a lady one morning came on deck, looked around in a bewildered manner, and asked, "Which is the American bide:'" I said, "Both sides, madam. This river is in North America."—R. Graham Ferguson, Kansng, U.S.A.

ABOUT THAT SHILLING. A CALL TO DUTY. (By HerWt I). Down.) While you call the Kaiser names we dare not publish, While you yell like, well—like nothing hereabout. While with meetings and with maflic You keep holding up the traffic. Tommy's mother puts the saucepan "up the spout."

You will scream "God Save the King" until you're voiceless: You will dance until you've corns on every toe; Hut are you quite as willing To table down your shilling For tlie boy who takes your place against the foe?

You >lap poo rTommy's back until lies aching; You holler ''Give 'cm bean*!" and •'Make 'cm fight!" Wave ;i flag until you're fired out. Drink his health until you're find out. Ilm ilie shilling—that's another question Quite.

Tommy doesn't want your singing or your drinking— He will dance with you when once the war is o'er— He can do without your chatter. And your anti-German clatter. Do your duty! Tommy asks for nothing more.