"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went: Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the TrenchesEmpey, Arthur Guy
History
"Over the Top," by an American Soldier Who Went: Together with Tommy's Dictionary of the Trenches
Empey, Arthur Guy
English language -- Slang -- Dictionaries; World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
Haversack. A canvas bag forming part of Tommy's equipment, carried on
the left side. Its original use was intended for the carrying of
emergency rations and small kit. It is generally filled with a
miscellaneous assortment of tobacco, pipes, bread crumbs, letters, and
a lot of useless souvenirs.
"Having a doss." Having a sleep.
"Hold-all." A small canvas roll in which you are supposed to carry
your razor, comb, knife, fork, spoon, mirror, soap, tooth brush, etc.
Tommy takes great care of the above, because it means extra pack drill
to come on parade unshaven.
"Holy Joe." Tommy's familiar but not necessarily irreverent same for
the Chaplain. He really has a great admiration for this officer, who
although not a fighting man, so often risks his life to save a wounded
Tommy.
"Housewife." A neat little package of needles, thread, extra
shoelaces, and buttons. When a button comes off Tommy's trousers,
instead of going to his housewife he looks around for a nail.
Hun. Another term for a German, mostly used by war correspondents.
"Hun pinching." Raiding German trenches for prisoners.
I
Identification Disk. A little fiber disk which is worn around the neck
by means of a string. On one side is stamped your name, rank,
regimental number, and regiment, while on the other side is stamped
your religion. If at any time Tommy is doubtful of his identity he
looks at his disk to reassure himself.
"I'm sorry." Tommy's apology. If he pokes your eye out with his
bayonet he says, "I'm sorry," and the matter is ended so far as he is
concerned.
"In front." Over the top; in front of the front-line trench, in No
Man's Land.
"In reserve." Troops occupying positions, billets, or dugouts,
immediately in rear of the front line, who in case of an attack will
support the firing line.
Intelligence Department. Secret service men who are supposed to catch
spies or be spies as the occasion demands.
Interpreter. A fat job with a "return ticket," held by a soldier who
thinks he can speak a couple of languages. He questions prisoners as
to the color of their grandmothers' eyes and why they joined the army.
Just imagine asking a German "why" he joined the army.
"Invalided." Sent to England on account of sickness.
Iron Rations. A tin of bully beef, two biscuits, and a tin containing
tea, sugar, and Oxo cubes. These are not supposed to be eaten until
you die of starvation.
Isolated Post. An advanced part of a trench or position where one or
two sentries are posted to guard against a surprise attack. While in
this post Tommy is constantly wondering what the Germans will do with
his body.
"It's good we have a Navy." One of Tommy's expressions when he is
disgusted with the army and its work.
J
"Jack Johnson." A seventeen-inch German shell. Probably called "Jack
Johnson" because the Germans thought that with it they could lick the
world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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