"Shameful nicknames" Topic

I almost forgot another of my former units, the 20th Engineer Brigade. The shoulder patch was an engineer castle in red and white; both it and the unit it represented were known as "The Brick house".

LT

I had heard the Wehrmacht troops called the SS men "Fire Eaters" as both a name of respect for their fanaticism and simultaneously derision for their tendency to be full of bravado and get killed senselessly with that same fanaticism.

I guess it depends on who you asked and when.

I had heard the 101st was often called the "Screaming Chickens" as well. Didn't other units often say "What is the eagle screaming for? Help! Help!"

Commandoes are often refered to as 'chicken stranglers' – due to their survival training.

brass1

Calley was still guilty. Did he try to use the Nuremberg excuse? Just following orders?

Cheers,

Pro …

Oh, and thanks for the lesson, but I already knew what scapegoating meant.

The 100th Division became known after their capture of the town of Bitche in WW2 as the "Sons of Bitche".

Surprised someone hasn't mentioned the 'Highland Foot & Mouth Regiment' (cannot recollect the designation number!) more famously known as the 'Devils in Skirts'. Fought magnificently during a right carry on up the Khyber Pass…

Procopius,

Of course, Calley was guilty. So were Captain Medina, Lt Colonel Barker, Colonel Henderson, and Major-General Koster, among others, but of the 14 officers charged in the My Lai massacre, the only one actually convicted by court-martial was – inevitably – the lowest-ranking person charged. Odd how effective "I was just obeying orders" can be when you have an eagle or oak leaf on your collar.

It was your seeming belief that guilt or innocence are somehow involved in being made a scapegoat (they aren't) that led to my little lexicographal lecture.

And now, back to our regular scheduled message thread.

LT

The memers of the 6th Marine Division was for a long time known as Pogey Bait by the other divisions, in reference to the rope they wear on their dress uniform.

In reality this is a unit citation bestowed on the 6th by the French for their actions at the Battle of Belleau Wood in WWI.

The other divisions claim it's to commorate the "fact" that one of the holds in one of the transports carrying the 6th contained ten thousand candy bars and one bar of soap, pogey being a slang term for candy at the time.

I'm sure the 3rd NJ Cav and the Garibaldi Guard (39th NY Inf) in the ACW had disparaging nicknames, but I don't know what they are.

JW

The dit about ships names reminds me of the planning fiasco over which ship to send Wrens (Female Sailors) to the first time, as it was known that editors of the red tops would be taking a close interest…HMS Battleaxe was out, obviously, as was Brazen and Beaver (I still dunno what was wrong with Beaver but maybe I'm an innocent) In the end they plumped for HMS Broadsword I think, which inevitable became the 'Porksword'. Also I'm surprised nobodys mentioned the NAAFI standing for No Ambition and all Interest!

Perhaps not entirely derogatory, "The Emperor's Chambermaids", the 14th Hussars, after capturing Jerome Bonaparte's coach at Vittoria, complete with silver chamber-pot!

Or 'The Black Mafia' – The KRRC after the colour of their facings, and the fact that so many of them ended up as General Officers and in staff appointments.

Or 'The First and Worst' The Royal Scots (1st Regt of Foot), aka 'Pontius Pilates' Bodyguard' after claiming they were older than the Regiment de Picardie.

Or 'Hell's Latest Invention' The Highland Light Infantry, aka 'The Hairy Legged Irish' from their initials (HLI).

My old USMC tank platoon was known as the "Crime Wave" after a few…

…Incidents.

"25th ID has been called the Electric Strawberry as well (unit patch)"

Another nickname for 25 ID, based on the patch and location, was "Hawaii Power and Light". 7 ID, the "crushed beer can" (look at the patch). And everyone knows 28 ID "the bloody bucket".

The 11th Hussars being called "The Cherry Pickers" seems to me to perhaps be a bit of a copy or euphemism.

I recall reading in a book published by Penthouse ( Back when they were based in the UK and were more a men's magazine than an autoerotic aid, by having British writers with wit and erudition ) that was an encyclopaedia of sexually-related items, that IIRC Lord Cardigan ( one of them, at any rate ) was so infatuated with his mistress that he actually had their uniform trousers changed to her favourtie scarlet colour; She herself would appear in public with thsoe pants on, and it helped give the unit its name "The Cherry Bums".

As an aside, he spent so much time with said mistress that he had a guard tower built on his property containing a high room with a view of the gate; That way, during their trysts, he could see anyone important arriving and descend to meet them without delay.

I was always told "the Cherry Pickers" related to an incident in the Peninsula War, when they were surprised and cut up by the French whilst "off guard" looting an orchard.

ROFL Covert Walrus. I haven't heard that "I only read it for the articles" excuse for ages!
That's the story as I understood it too Super Max. But maybe we need to throw it open the Peninsula enthusiasts for some verification.

I think most have already been mentioned, but…

- 9th ID's divisional patch was known as the psychedelic cookie.

- We referred to the infantry symbol as "crossed stupid sticks". Similarly, we referred to the crossed cannons of the artillery as "crossed sewer pipes".

- There's the old 1st Cav saying: Their patch shows "the horse they never had, the line they never crossed, and the yellow speaks for itself…".

- In reference to Combat Engineers being made up of brawn with very little brain, others made the suggestion of confusing an engineer by putting a shovel and a pick in the corner and telling him to "take his pick". He'd spend hours trying to figure it out…

- The British used to refer to the Italians as "the gentlemen" in reference to their aversion to combat.

All these things are said in jest, and not without a touch of sardonic humor that is prevalent in the military. I tip my hat to all of them. They also serve.

GregS

HMS Repulse and Renown spent so much time in dockyards that they were called HMS Refit and Repair. Not sure which name went with which ship, though.

DLM

dmclellan in a similar vein the USS Intrepid during WWII spent so much time in repair of battle damage it was called the "Dry I."

Once I coined a nicknme for a submarine, wich as the only nuclear submarne snk at dockside during construction. so I give you the "Glug-Glug Guitarro." It was known as the only submarine which somehow destroyed/closed its shipyard.

The Dorsets in the Sudan. "the dying Dorsets"
They lost half their strength to Typhoid.

Oh and Colby Buzzels Platoon in Iraq.
"Goof Troop", the memnbers being "Goof Troopers" and their Stryker IFV was called the "Shortbus"

HMS Penelope in WW2 was known as "HMS Pepperpot" on account of all the holes- it was one of the most frequently hit cruisers until it was finally sunk by torpedoes in the Med.

Certainly not meant to be derogatory, but it must have been an ironic moniker for the crew.

My brother's USMC Heavy Lift Helicopter Squadron called themselves "Screw Crew Manglers".

Tommiatkins, you obviously read My war!

""Asphalt soldiers" referred do the black uniforms worn in full dress or by bodyguard units, etc. I don't think it was intended to be derogatory."

Err, yes it was. It was the nickname applied to SS LAH, as they spent all their time on the parade ground (this was v. early in the war of course). It later became a badge of ironic pride, hence it appearing as a phrase in so much of the Waffen-SS fanboy literature.

>It later became a badge of ironic pride, hence it >appearing as a phrase in so much of the Waffen-SS fanboy >literature.

Interesting. I wasn't aware of that, though I was aware of the attitude toword the SS on the part of the regular army, which intensified as the war went on (i.e., resentment at the SS getting first pick of equipment, etc).

Who would be a SS fanboy?

US Military Airlift Command (MAC)

MAC = Maybe Airplane Come

My mother retired as a civilian for MAC and she said the original name came about because what was some officers from what was then Military Air Transport Service reached their breaking. At the time officers from other organization loathed Strategic Air Command and its officers irritating habit at schools, classes, conferences, etc of always saying "that's not the way we do it in SAC." Cigar smoking for late Curtis LeMay impersonation optional.

So after one of those sessikons, a bunch of MATS officer were trying to figure out what would irritate SAC most? One young lieutenant then said "wy don't we make MATS a Command like SAC?"

Blanket Stackers for the Pioneer corp.
Falling Plates for the Green Jackets.
Really Large Corp for the RLC.

"Who would be a SS fanboy?"

All the people who buy Nazi memorabilia, neo-Nazis. Waffen-SS veterans, anyi-Semites etc etc

I served in the MDARNG's 29th Infantry Division, which is represented by a blue-grey ying and yang patch. While in Infantry Officer's basic camp in the 1980's I heard more than one reference to the Division, as the Town and Country Surf Division, becuase of the patch's resemblence to the sportswear company's logo:

tcsurf.com

- George

Other USN names:

USS Nimitz: Numbnutz
USS Saratoga (CV-60): "The Sinking Sixty from Dixie"

Loses somewhat in the translation

'The Piggies'- Belgian Chasseurs Ardennais (because of their boar emblem) usually accompanied by grunting and squeeling noises.

Baththub Boys- Belgian Navy

ZMFN- literally Zeemacht/Force Navale on sailors' caps became 'Zonder meisjes, flauwe nachten' or Without girls boring nights.

Dust Movers Belgian mech. infantry

White Mice- Belgian Military Police

"Little Swans" nickname for Belgian policemen on motorbikes. Nothing to do with that elegant bird however. Probably Antwerp slang for 'Swines'

"Who would be a SS fanboy?"

Just peruse the shelves of your local military bookshop for the all 'Black Knights of the SS', 'SS Tank Aces', 'Flags of the SS', 'Real combat stories of the SS', 'SS divisions on the Eastern Front', 'my time in the SS', 'Jut jawed Aryan SS supermen and saviours of western civilisation from the slavic untermensch', 'photos of SS pretty boys in leather', 'The SS – just misunderstood' type books and wonder who writes them and buys them.

Funnily enough the NKVD doesn't get quite the same coverage, but I suppose their uniforms aren't quite so fetishistic.

The guys of one vessel I was on told me of a time they were in Baltimore. There was a US Naval hospital vessel secured there also. Apparently it had a disproportionate number of women some of whom came for a visit much to the delight of our guys. The ship's name? Canopus. What was it's nickname? Can o' Pus**. :) Not very original I'll admit, but funny.

The RAF regiment got it nickname "Rock Apes" from a nightime shooting accident in which on officer shot at (cant remember if he missed, clipped or lightly wounded) another officer while out hunting monkeys.

During an interview with either the police or the military he said something along the lines of.. "in the dark he looked just like a rock ape"

I read that somewhere not long ago.

"As a whole the RAF are known as either 'Crabs' or 'Guins' (as in Penguins) by the other forces."

The Rock Apes refer to the "blue" RAF as guins(ie birds that can't fly)

Bootnecks for the RM

SRDG(short range desert group) for the RAF Regt as well.

Not a nickname as such, but Brits find the French C.R.A.P.s pretty funny

I can't believe the Army Catering Corps haven't had a mention, surely someone came up with something – or is it entirely unprintable?!

Army Catering Corp AKA The Cabbage Mechanics?

ACC (army Catering Corps): Aldershot Cement Company

(for the benefit of our Colonial friends, Aldershot is (was?) the location of the ACC's depot).

or: Anyone Can Cook (Bowdlerised version! ;-))

Funny and interesting!

Let's add some french touch.

I had the honor to serve among the french navy special forces: "Fusiliers Marins Commandos".
The "Groupement" is made of four "Commandos", each one named after an officer KIA either in WWII or Indochina.
Names of those Commandos are, by order of seniority:
- JAUBERT / de MONTFORT / de PENFENTONYO (nicknamed "Penfen") / TREPEL .
There is a common devise among stating: "Jaubert, toujours clair! Monfort, les plus forts! Penfen, les plus fins! Trepel, tous des bresles!"

Anther nickname given to the army paratroopers by the navy commandos is "Fraises des bois" ( small strawberries) according to the colour of their red berets compered to the green berets of the Commandos.

The army marines (Infanterie de Marine) are known as "Marsouins", an animal which leave at sea but which is not a fish, when the navy pilots are nicknamed "pingouins", a bird which swimms but does not fly…

Thanks Byrhthelm, I knew there had to be one but I'd not heard of it before!

Gary

Also read about HMS Agamemnon's being called "Eggs'n' Bacon".

Then there is the Army Air Corps = Teeny Weeny Airways.

"Black bottoms", that's what we Templars call Hospididdlers; the color of their habits hides their fouled mail hosen really well.

I've heard the Royal Tank Regiment referred to as the "Council Household Cavalry" in mockery of the low social status of their officers compared to those of the more public school educated and blue-blooded old cavalry regiments. By way of explanation for non Brits, council houses are local government owned properties traditionally rented to the less affluent working class members of British society or those on state benefits.

Trev

The Royal Scot's nickname Pontius Pilate's Bodyguard comes from when, as Hepburn's Regiment, they were billeted with the French Regiment Picardie, the Senior French Regiment. French Officers said the Regiment was so old they had been on duty the night of the Crucifixion. Hepburn's Officers replied that had they been on duty that night the Body would not have been removed from the grave.

Monck's Regiment refused the King's offer of becoming the 2nd Foot Guards and instead became the Coldstream Guards. Their motto is Second to None and one parade they march first, or last, never second. The only Guards Regiment to have had green facings and dress their drummers in green coats.

Kirke's Lambs is the nickname for Percy Kirke's Regiment – the only regiment in the British army to have a religious symbol (if you ignore the cross) as their badge.

The Middlesex regiment has the nickname The Die Hards – their Colonel fell and lying wounded in front of the Clours he cried out to them "Die Hard the 57th" – and they did..

During the Battle for Crete the lack of air cover gave rise to the comment that RAF meant Rare AS Fairies. Another comment was that everyman who survived the battle and evacuation would receive a medal inscribed Ex Creta.

Fascinating.

Back in the late 80s when the Army went PC and tried to curb all the drinking and smoking, I was in the Divisional Cavalry Squadron for the 2nd Armored Division at Ft Hood and we used to joke the unit patch was going to be changed to "Heck on Wheels."

The division staff DATs were not amused.

DAT of course is a term of respect for armor branch personnel: Dumb @ss Tankers. When the M-1 Abrams showed up they became C-DATs for Computerized Dumb…

The mech infantry guys were known as crunchies for the sound a you hear when the Bradley driver reverses over his still exiting infantrymen.

And the artillery was simply know as the Field Artillery Guys.

The unofficial motto of the Chemical Corps is "Up your @ss with bugs and gas!"

When in doubt, mark the target with a burning scout!