Glossary

Butchers- Look (Cockney slang Butcher's Hook- Look)

Butties- sandwiches (slang)

Chah- tea (slang)

Comforter- the lining for the helmet; a sort of woollen hat

Corned dog- Corned Beef (slang)

Fruit salad- medal ribbons (slang)

Gash- spare (slang)

Gib- Gibraltar (slang)

Goon- Guard in a POW camp (slang)- comes from a 1930s Popeye cartoon

MGB- Motor Gun Boat

MTB- Motor Torpedo Boat

ML- Motor Launch

Oik- worthless person (slang)

Oppo/oppos- pals/comrades (slang)

Killick- leading hand (Navy) (slang)

Potato mashers- German Hand Grenades (slang)

QM- Quarter Master (stores)

Recce- Reconnoitre (slang)

SBA- Sick Bay Attendant

Schnellboote -German for E-boat (literally fast boat)

Scragging - roughing someone up (slang)

Scrumpy- farm cider

squaddy- ordinary soldier (slang)

Stag- sentry duty (slang)

Stand your corner- get a round of drinks in (slang)

Tommy (Atkins)- Ordinary British soldier

Two penn'orth- two pennies worth (slang for opinion)

WVS- Women's Voluntary Service