Paratrooper: American, British Paratrooper's Terms

pof
Jumping_C119
SAYS "WE SPEAK THE SAME LANGUAGE"
YA, RIGHT !!

American, British Paratroopers in France during WW II

The picture speaks volumes of the mutual respect and friendship they felt for each other.

Now, having said that lets review their common Airborne vocabulary !!
The following is meant as an informative and humorous look at the different ways we say the same things.
If it offends anyone , all I can say is: " you are too DAMN sensitive to have been a

PARATROOPER ANYWAY !!"

We would like to say , the following glossary of terms were the result of the collaboration of Paratroopers of the 50's and the Ex-Red Devils Worldwide web sites but in actuality they were mainly the efforts of an ex- Red Devil British Para by the name of , Brian M. Riordan. and his fellow British Paras

Brian gives an example of how using the "SAME" language can get you in trouble: "There is an expression we use that got a pal of mine in a lot of trouble when I was at the British Embassy. He told an American hostess :

" Keep your pecker up ducks". which in Britishese mean your spirits!! "

Brian, has been working diligently trying to teach me "Britishese." But being from Alabama, I told him I couldn't even understand my "Yankee" Buddies.

To find a specific Term, or Slang Name : Click on Edit and then Find in Page
you can also use "Ctrl + F"
But Hell, it's more fun to just go down the whole list and have one Great Laugh !

100 Bucks or Pounds says you can't tell me which Song is being played.
You can only choose one song and
Remember, WE ( I ) DECIDE IF YOU ARE RIGHT OR WRONG !!

Click on buttons to replay if you are still confused.

God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen

My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of Liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrim's pride!
From ev'ry mountain side,
Let freedom ring!

Jumped, No Reserve until 1955	Always Jumped With Reserve
"Utrinque Paratus" This is the regimental motto of the Parachute Regiment, It's plastered on anything Airborne as far a literature goes. Unlike our American counterparts "Airborne All The Way" we do not use it on a daily basis in conversation. Its means: "Ready for Anything" "Ad Unum Omnes" is the Motto of AIRBORNE FORCES and means: " All to One End".	"Airborne All The Way" It might NOT be plastered on every thing , but every time we get "PLASTERED" we damn sure use it! And just like our British Counterpart's "Utrinque Paratus" it means: "Ready for Anything" and it also means "I'm an American Paratrooper, I'm Bold, I'm Bad, and Hell, even if I ain't ready I will still try it!!
PARA Never call a British Para a "Paratrooper" Unless you are prepared for an in depth explanation of the difference in the two! Been there; Done That !!	PARATROOPER
Now let's see the most important one:"Names for girls": BINT, Tart, Kifer, Skirt or Bit of Skirt. Australians use Sheila.	Babes, Broads, Chicks, Dolls, Honeys,
GRUB	Chow
Scoff	Food
A "Fag" = A Cigarette	Butts, Smokes, Coffin Nails
Pint	Beer
Blasted = "Drunk"	Stoned, Wasted, Plastered , Screwed-up
Piss Up = "Party Time"	It's Show Time, A Blast
Colours , Honour	Colors , Honor
Having a Go	Taking a shot
Liftwebs	Risers
Candle or "Whistled In"	Streamer
National Servicemen	Draftee
Crap Hat = Non Jumper could not wear Red Beret also 'Cherry Beret' (pronounced - cherry berry) meaning serving in a Para unit with out his wings	Stright Leg or LEG= Non Jumper could not blouse Boots
PENGUINS	Another way to say Leg
Bright Spark	Rocket Scientist Doing something Dumb
Rivet check	Hitting the side of the aircraft
Bag of Washing	Malfunction
Piled-in ="Bad landing"	Crashed, or Busted my ASS
Dispatcher	Jumpmaster
Kit Bag	GP Bag
Bash or Tabbing Speed marching to battle. (Tactical Advance to Battle)	Force March
Two's Up	After You
GAT	RIFLE
4 by 2 (cloth, for cleaning rifle)	Patch (cloth, for cleaning rifle)
PULLTHROUGH they use weighted cord	Cleaning Rod for rifle used metal rod
Dakota	C47
Boxcar	C119
Fat Albert	C130 Hercules
Packers	Riggers
Gongs = (Medals)	Ribbons
Cabbage (Medal Ribbons)	Salad
Scrambled Egg , Braid on Cap	SAME
Squadie	GI
A "Tom" ; "Joe"	Grunt, Recruit
Bum Bandit, "A Gay"	Queer, Fag, Homo
Rupert	Platoon Commander (Officer)
Subaltern	First Lieutenant
Company Sergeant Major = C.S.M.	First Sergeant
Regimental Sergeant Major, R.S.M.	Did not have one ?
Denims (1940/50' they were brownish)	Fatigues (1940/50' they were green)
Crab-air	Royal Air Force or RAF
In the Shit = "In Trouble"	A Jam, Deep Shit,
The "J" = Jungle	BoonDocks = Woods
Queens Regulation 252 Conduct prejudice to good order and military discipline or Conduct unbecoming of a soldier of Her Majesty's Forces.This regulation covers anything from being late to getting drunk and pissing the bed or not having the regulation underwear on. The soldier could be sentenced by his CO to anything from RP's (Restriction of privileges) to 28 days in the cells (stockade). RP's which involve such duties as cleaning toilets and such. Tradition in the British Army will be to peel 3 tons of potatoes every day for a month! With a blunt clasp knife for good measure!	ARTICLE 15 SAME, SAME, SAME !!! As our British Paras Friends, only big difference was when Captian Salcedo use to read it to me; He never mentioned nothing about "Her Majesty's Forces"!!
Glasshouse	Stockade
C.B.	Confined to Barracks
SKIV'N (getting out of duty)	Goofing Off
Head Down = "Sleep"	catching ZZZ's
Shitter = "Toilet"	same also John, or Crapper,
Lid= Helmet	Steel Pot or POT
Fart Sack	Sleeping-bag
Waterbottle	Canteen
Mess Tin	Mess kit
Eating Irons	Eating Utensils
Gobbling Rods	Eating Utensils
Gut wrenches	(Kife Fork and Spoon) in combination set
Brew Can	Tin Cup
NAAFI	USO
Passion Wagon The truck that picked up the WAAF's and brought them to the dances.	NOT sure but would think It started with a "P" and ended with a "Y"
Blood Wagon for ambulance	Meat Wagon
Puttee (circa 1800/1960's)^**	Canvas Leggons
GAITERS	Canvas Leggons
Rubber Dicked "told to do something, you don't want to do!"	Shafted, Screwed,
STAG	Guard Duty
Emu Bobbing	Policing the area
Jankers	KP
Spud (potato)	"SAME"
Spud bashing	KP
Slop Jockey = A Military Cook	Belly Robber
Cookhouse	Mess hall Duties
Mufti (civilian clothes)	Civvies
Gelt ="Money"	Coins, Stash, or Green
Give us a "Tap"	Lend me some money!
"Boy, I'm on my chin strap" A term used for exausted, worn out.	"Boy, my ass is draging".; I'm Beat or I'm Bushed
Keep the "Broard Shoulders"	You can "Take It"
Good Egg	Great Guy
"Mucker" A "US" Buddy	not sure we have a special term for our British Buddies
"Dog's Bollocks" British slang for "great"	"Cat's Meow"
Crap="No-good "	same, also Junk, Trash
Kit Check	Equipment Check
Shortarm Inspection Inspection of Willy & his 2 Mates	"Same" = Editors Note: (Call mine Wee Willy, Now)
Slit	Foxhole
Use your ABI! which means Airborne Initiative.	The only thing I remember being told was "Use your head--"STUPID"
Stand To = Early Morning Ritual, In your slit, Foxhole, ETC.	same ,30 min before dawn to 30 min after sun up.
Stand Down	30 min before dusk til 30 min after sun down.
Last Post	Taps.

^**PUTTEES

^*RQMS   SWR. RIORDAN   ^#MSM
   KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES
   KENYA 1917

^*RQMS =
Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant ( Warrant Officer 2)

^#MSM = Meritorious Service Medal.

(Editor's note; Now that's British !!)

Brian also advised me up until he left the army in 1965 when overseas WO's and Sgt's would have Indian Servants !! There were several types.
1. Bearer : He took care of all your kit, polished brass and boots, made your bed, cleaned your room. He would be address as Bearer.
2.Char Wallah : Kept you supplied with endless cups of char(tea) hot regardless of the heat.

3.Dhobi Wallah : Did all your laundry.

As Brian pointed out:
Life was hell for the British overseas don't you know!!

A "Char Wallah"

Editor's Note:
No, I'm not making this up !!

Brian

More on the "Char Wallah" John Penman advised me :
"Brian is quite right (for once)---but I can elaborate on the Char Wallah's side of things.
Both times when we were in Bahrain, we would go up to the
"Wog Shop" on the night time and order an early call, and tell them what we wanted !!!

The following morning while we were still asleep they would come into the "Twyneham's"---clean our boots and Belts give us a shave with a "Cut Throat Razor"-----then wake us up smack on the time we had ordered----and on our locker at the side of the bed would be whatever hot drink and sandwich we wanted!!!

I tell you CJ----life was a "Bitch" "Bitch" now that's one word we all said alike in the 50's. But of course you had better not say it in todays Paras ; Right Honey ??

OK , Guys, Mates, Chaps, Buddies, Limeys, and Yanks its up to you to send us more goodies for our "Glossary". E-mail them to Paratroopers of the 50's

Brian, also explained how the term "LIMEY" originated: Back in the old days of sailing ships British sailor suffered from scurvy a lack of vitamin C. The preventive measure was to give limes to the crew ..thus the term "Limey"

For all you Paratroopers and particular you guys of the Mid 50's , Check out our page on the 1956
SUEZ COMBAT JUMP
The material was frunished by Bryan Hunter,
of 1 Para who fought at Suez.

To find out more about the British Paras one only has to visit these Excellent Sites:

	EX RED DEVILS WORLDWIDE		Parachute Assoc. Scotland
	Royal Army Pay Corps.		Great coverage of the Falkland Islands Campaign .

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