The Great War
The Tommy's Tongue
J - Johnnie
- Jack Johnson:
- German shell bursting with black smoke. After the boxer Jack (John Arthur) Johnson (1878-1946),
the first black American world heavyweight champion (1908-1915).
- Jacks:
- Military Police.
- Jakes:
- Latrines. Expression dating back to Elizabethan times.
- Jam-Tins:
- Originally, home-made or improvised bombs made from jam-tins, mainly used before widespread introduction of the Mills Bomb.
Later on in the war, however, jam was issued in cardboard tubes. See Tickler's.
The expression was also used as a nickname for the No.8 and No.9 Double Cylinder grenades of late 1914 and early 1915 due
to their resemblance to jam tins.
- Jankers:
- A minor punishment, fatigues. Usually performed whilst confined to barracks (CB). Origin unknown, but may be related to jangle,
which had an archaic sense of
to grumble
.
- Japan:
- Bread. From French
pain
.
- Jericho:
- Severe bombardment.
...this Hun Archie spotted us and opened fire and gave us Jericho for five minutes -
the best shooting I have seen so far!
- 2Lt Gerard Robin, 41 Squadron, RFC.
- Jerry:
- German. Expression became popular later in the war, eventually coming into it's own during World War Two.
Supposedly in reference to the German helmet's similarity to a jeroboam, a chamber-pot.
- Jerry Up!
- Warning exclamation that a German aeroplane was overhead and may drop bombs. A warning to put out all lights.
- Jigger:
- Bicycle.
- Jildi:
- Quick, hurry up. From Hindustani.
- Jippo:
- Juice or gravy, especially of bacon. Very popular at mealtimes. Also the shout given by Army Service Corps cooks to announce mealtimes.
- Jock:
- Soldier in a Scottish regiment.
- Johnny:
- A Turk. From Johnny Turk.
- Judeans:
- Battalions (38th - 42nd) of the Royal Fusiliers, consisting of Jewish officers and men.
The regiment was able to provide the necessary dietary and other religious conditions required by members of the faith.
- Jump Off:
- To begin an attack. The jumping off point was the start line of the attack in the front line trench.
- Jumping the Bags:
- Going over the top. Attacking over the sandbags of the trench parapet.
