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The Great War

The Tommy's Tongue

Return to Vocabulary Index

O - Oranges

O - Pip:
Observation Post (OP). From the phonetic alphabet.
Ocean Villas:
Auchonvillers, a village in the Somme region of France, just north of Albert.
Odds and Sods:
Miscellaneous details attached to Battalion HQ performing nominal duties.
Oil:
(Australian) Authentic, the truth.
Oil Can:
Trench mortar bomb.
Old Contemptible:
Member of the 1914 British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who took part in the retreat from Mons and other early battles of the war. From Kaiser Wilhelm's comment that his forces in Belgium were being held up by Sir John French's contemptible little army.
Old Eyes:
Guards division. From the symbol on the divisional sign.
Old Namurers, The:
The Royal Irish Regiment. The name is derived from their participation in the storming of Namur in 1695. Consequently, they were awarded the first battle honour given to a British regiment.
Old Sweat:
An experienced soldier.
On the Mat:
To be called before the Commanding Officer (CO) to answer a minor charge.
On the Peg:
Under arrest or on a charge.
On the Wire:
Missing or killed in action.
On the Word Fix:
Punctually. I was there on the wordfix. From the command fix bayonets.
One Pip:
2nd Lieutenant, from the rank insignia. A two pip is a full Lieutenant. See Loot.
Over the Top:
Make an attack, to go over the top of the trench parapet, or over the bags (sandbags).