Nickname

Teabag.

Thanks for that (?).
Not wishing to drag things too far from "1940's" I thought I should start a new subject. I just wondered when RSigs started calling themselves "Scaleybacks". I dimly became aware of it about the same time as RAF Gutersloh started the expression "Crab Air".
Was it a derogatory (I thought I'd launch that word before the Saturday night wine kicks in!) term or were you blokes comfortable with it?

brum

brum wrote:

Teabag.

Thanks for that (?).
Not wishing to drag things too far from "1940's" I thought I should start a new subject. I just wondered when RSigs started calling themselves "Scaleybacks". I dimly became aware of it about the same time as RAF Gutersloh started the expression "Crab Air".
Was it a derogatory (I thought I'd launch that word before the Saturday night wine kicks in!) term or were you blokes comfortable with it?

brum

Some other units might have used it in a derogatory fashion but I don't think we were that bothered. It is alleged to have come about due to carrying batteries in the early days and the acid damaging the uniform backs which made it look like one had scales.

I know the RA don't like the use of planks, or the few I have mentioned it to don't. Queers On Horseback (QOH). Rickshaws Camels and Taxis (RCT). There are probably loads of unofficial ones in use or used to be. Banter and not to be taken seriously or you could get into trouble and I never joined the army to fight as they say!

Teabag

As a pimply youth I was a signaller, riding in an Austin Champ. No FFR in those days, we had to change batteries through the back of the canopy. I found that contact with battery acid tended to affect our clothing to the extent of making us look like something found on page three of a gay porn mag. I don't think "Scaley" would describe it!
No mate, there must be another reason for the title "Scaleybacks", (and I'm glad you weren't offended by it).

brum

I suspect most of the nicknames for various outfits and regiments are a rather affectionate thing, but some guys do take offence.

For our guys Lord Strathcona Horse were often referred to as 'zipperheads' due to the hood they wore on their winter outfit that had a zipper down the centre so it could lay flat as a wide collar when not up as a hood....damn warm gear too for Canadian winters!

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) were variously known as The Princess Pats, Peeps, and a few other I can't recall.

Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), largely Francophones, didn't have a nick as far as I can recall, apart from every guy in RCR's attached to a non-Francophone outfit was likely known as "Frenchie".

The Royal 22nd Regiment, also Francophone, was of course known as The Vandoos ("22" being "veingt deux" en francais).

but such nicks are markedly different from what you lot levied against your comrades....but then Canadian humour tends to be a bit different than British. Which some of us are quite thankful for! (I've watched Benny Hill, you know...peculiar stuff....)

Stephen Lock wrote:

I suspect most of the nicknames for various outfits and regiments are a rather affectionate thing, but some guys do take offence.

For our guys Lord Strathcona Horse were often referred to as 'zipperheads' due to the hood they wore on their winter outfit that had a zipper down the centre so it could lay flat as a wide collar when not up as a hood....damn warm gear too for Canadian winters!

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) were variously known as The Princess Pats, Peeps, and a few other I can't recall.

Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), largely Francophones, didn't have a nick as far as I can recall, apart from every guy in RCR's attached to a non-Francophone outfit was likely known as "Frenchie".

The Royal 22nd Regiment, also Francophone, was of course known as The Vandoos ("22" being "veingt deux" en francais).

but such nicks are markedly different from what you lot levied against your comrades....but then Canadian humour tends to be a bit different than British. Which some of us are quite thankful for! (I've watched Benny Hill, you know...peculiar stuff....)

Stephen IIRC one of your infantry regiments were known as the 'Chicken F*****s'!

I was affectionately Known as "Craphat", by the Paras.
I say affectionately But really it was for anyone without a Red Beret

Yeah,
I remember the Greenjackets coming out with the same stuff.
Apparently it all stems from that brown flat thing you see blokes in WW2 wearing on the backs of their heads.

brum wrote:

Teabag

As a pimply youth I was a signaller, riding in an Austin Champ. No FFR in those days, we had to change batteries through the back of the canopy. I found that contact with battery acid tended to affect our clothing to the extent of making us look like something found on page three of a gay porn mag. I don't think "Scaley" would describe it!
No mate, there must be another reason for the title "Scaleybacks", (and I'm glad you weren't offended by it).

brum

Hi Brum, I think they were issued with some kind of protective leather thing and that scaled. I'm sure the reason is out there somewhere but as usual you come up with one version and someone is bound to have another. More beer needed!

soprano54 wrote:

Stephen IIRC one of your infantry regiments were known as the 'Chicken F*****s'!

Oh great....now you've peaked my morbid curiousity!!! Which infantry outfit was it?

One of our regiments -- and off hand I forget which one -- has a goat for mascot. While I've not "heard" anything, I have no doubt there were various nicks applied there...I mean, c'mon -- it'd just be too easy!!!

Granted, a goat is not a sheep (!!!) but still....

It,s the RCR,the story goes that a drunken Royal was caught trying it with a chicken out back of Fort York. That's what I heard,

TonyE wrote:

It,s the RCR,the story goes that a drunken Royal was caught trying it with a chicken out back of Fort York. That's what I heard,

Well I hope it was a good looking chicken is all I can say!

TonyE wrote:

It,s the RCR,the story goes that a drunken Royal was caught trying it with a chicken out back of Fort York. That's what I heard,

I heard he was caught in Sennelager trying that trick.

Then there was the the RCR and Queens Own Rifles (Of Canada) who were caught in a hootchie doing their thing. Some one got back to base early and requested , " Burning Ring of Fire", dedicated to the RCR and Q.O.R's on the radio station. Apparently the Brigadier was not impressed.

Is this that "Zulu Warrior" thing again ?

I suspect...well, sort of suspect ...the chicken story is an urban legend sort of thing (one has it happening out behind Fort York another version has it happening at Sennelager...classic urban legend discrepancies). It's sort of like gerbil stories....(don't ask!!! LOL).

As for the RCR/QOR liaison.... it's possible, I suppose. I mean such things happened more often than any of us were ever aware of, I am sure! Sometimes it got found out and sometimes (most times, I'm guessing) it didn't.

The "Burning Ring of Fire" request is funny, though...juvenile, sure, but so what? LOL Better than beating the crap outa the guys, I must say.

hmmmm....what's this "Zulu Warrior thing"??? Geez, you guys! All these cryptic quips!!