Scaleys

brum wrote:

Daveb wrote:

What I did witness though was the advent of RAF Gutersloh calling themselves "Crabs".
Hanging about, waiting for a flight, mid 70s, we noticed that there were mugs on  sale, emblazoned with "Fly Crab Air".
Nobody had a reasonable explanation for the title but I suspected it was a morale thing.

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Not sure if this came up before, but senior offspring recently back from short stay in Afghan was equally confused....... Enquiries told that " Crabs" referred
to helicopter flights who logically made approaches sideways to give pilots a better view of a landing or pick up area.

Gordon. wrote:

I first heard the term in 66 .at Singapore.

That's it then. Nowt to do with sappers carrying batteries and RN personnel chatting up the Persian talent in WW1, or tables used by RAPC in the Sixties, it's roots are in the Far East. Maybe a Chinese pronunciation of "Scale" like they do with "Lookee Sharpee" for get your finger out.

Over to Eric England for informed comment & Jimsigs who might be able to confirm
" Scaley" (or Scalee) was in common usage in Singapore as early as 1966.

Cartav,

Can't remember any references to 'Scaleys' whilst in Singapore during 1960's.

Cip,hers
I see you have changed yet again your Avitar to British Commonwealth Occupation Forces. Think I remember seeing this flash in JRBD, on the way through and onward to the 38 Parallel.

Jimsigs

brum wrote:

Daveb wrote:

I suppose the strange thing is that in my twelve years I never heard the term "Scaley" used anywhere and have not considered the term to apply to me,

I, too, never heard the nickname "Scaleys" or even "Scaleybacks" during my service and we had R Sigs blokes attached to our regiment.
Perhaps this started after 1980,(when I was demobbed).
What I did witness though was the advent of RAF Gutersloh calling themselves "Crabs".
Hanging about, waiting for a flight, mid 70s, we noticed that there were mugs on  sale, emblazoned with "Fly Crab Air".
Nobody had a reasonable explanation for the title but I suspected it was a morale thing.

I first heard of R Sigs being referred to as Scaleys in the 60s when we had a Rear Link Detachment attached.   I believe Crab Air came from the haphazard, (To us Pongos) manner in which the RAF approached the Runway.   Butcher Radar, who were located next to the Runway in Airport Camp Belize, had a selection of 5 signs which they held up,  Strictly Come Dancing fashion,ranging from "Excellent" to "Crap" whenever a VC 10 or Harrier landed!  

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the "Wedgie" nickname for Sappers. To my knowledge,  this first appeared in Squaddie slang around the early '80s, it was particularly applied to Combat
Engineers who were encouraged to wedge their heads under pieces of equipment.

Joining the drifting-off-subject trend, if I may.

An inter-service nickname had its birth when we were in Derry.

Strange things were going on with the accom. in Fort George and new arrivals had to live on a ship, called "Rame Head".
The matelots who crewed the ship called we Pongos "Gizzits".
This arose because, when we saw something shiny, interesting and portable we would ask what it was and then say "gizzit !". (Translates as "Please be so kind as to give it to me").

I wonder if the nickname is still around ?

brum wrote:

Joining the drifting-off-subject trend, if I may.

An inter-service nickname had its birth when we were in Derry.

Strange things were going on with the accom. in Fort George and new arrivals had to live on a ship, called "Rame Head".
The matelots who crewed the ship called we Pongos "Gizzits".
This arose because, when we saw something shiny, interesting and portable we would ask what it was and then say "gizzit !". (Translates as "Please be so kind as to give it to me").

I wonder if the nickname is still around ?

It is and employed in Cyprus mainly, apparently when guys are posted in to take over a particular position the outgoing incumbent normally hands over his car for a nominal sum. This is known as a "Gizzit".

Jimsigs,
There was a separate unit for the Commonwealth Line of Communications. Initially it was called Britcom Independent Line of Communications Signal Squadron. It was later renamed the British Commonwealth Communications Zone Signal Squadron and included a Troop of Royal New Zealand Signalers. The excellent co-operation and efficiency of the communicators of Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada working together was impressive. Many of the Signalers were either reservists or National Servicemen with no military experience.
The Britcom flash (my Avtar) was originally used as the Occupation of Japan Commonwealth flash with King's Crown. When Elizabeth took over as OC Commonwealth it changes to the Queen's Crown. It was the flash we wore in Korea at the unit described in the above paragraph.

Len (Ciphers)

jimsigs1 wrote:

So both Brum & Ciphers have also never heard of the term 'Scaleys'. Thought I was right and as you say Brum, perhaps its an 1980 thing.

Agree never heard the term 60s/70s seem to remember "bleep"

Thanks for that Ciphers,

Thought I'd seen that flash when I was out in Korea/Japan.
One question Len, I served in 29 Bde Signal Troop - think it was L Troop but cant be sure. The flash we wore was a white circle on a black background. The US 1 Corps had a similar flash I seem to remember. Do you think there was any connection ?

29 Independent Brigade WW2 - US 1 Corps - 29 Independent Brigade - Korea as I remember.

Len (Ciphers)