"ROOKIES"
Lhe £ditor, "The Listener." Sir,-The letter signed "S.C." awakened my interest in the origin of the word "Rookie," and I feel I must endorse "S.C.’s" contenticn that the word is an old British Army word for recruit. It was on the evening of a day in October, 1915, that I first heard the word, and it was addressed to a party (of which I was one), by a lance-corporal of the East Surrey Regiment. We had just arrived at the barracks in Dover, where we were to undergo training; and although the term made us feel very raw, after about three months we were applying it to other new arrivals. Then we felt quite "old sweats." Perhaps "S.C." will remember the 9th East Surreys who formed a part of the 24th Division, which formed the apex on which the full fury of the German offensive broke itself in March, 1917. Yours. etc..
EAST
SURREY
Nelson, May 9, 1940. (We thank all those correspondents who have written to tell us that there were ‘Rookies’ in) the Great War. However, we now know, and cannot afford space for further reminders.-Ed. ).
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19400524.2.20.1
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 48, 24 May 1940, Page 12
Word count
Tapeke kupu
189"ROOKIES" New Zealand Listener, Volume 2, Issue 48, 24 May 1940, Page 12
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in