A witty saying proves nothing. - Voltaire

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W - William

WAAC:

Women's Auxiliary Army Corps.

Wad:

Sandwich.

Wallah:

Chap. Person in charge of a particular object, duty or task. Used in conjunction with appropriate word. For exmple, the soldier unfortunate enough to be on latrine duty was invariably known as the shit-wallah. From Hindustani wala, man or protector.

Weary Willie:

German shell passing safely, albeit rather slowly, overhead. Expression first used In 1914, from a pre-war Comic Cuts character of the same name. The expression was also used later in Gallipoli as a term for shrapnel.

Wet One's Stripes:

The practice of buying a round of drinks in the mess of a newly-promoted NCO.

Whippet:

Specifically, the medium mark A British tank first seen in 1917, but later applied generally to any type of light tank, including the French Renault. From the breed of dog noted for its speed.

Whitesheet:

Wytschaete, Belgian village on the ridge just north of Messines.

White Star:

A mixture of chlorine and phosgene gas. From the identification marking painted on the delivery shell casing.

Whizz-Bang:

High-velocity shell. From the noise of the rapid flight and the explosion. Usually applied to the German 77mm. I don't want to go in the trenches no more, where the whizz-bangs and shrapnel they whistle and roar. From I Don't Want To Die, popular contemporary song.

Wibble-Wobble:

Tank.

Willie:

Tank. From the prototype British tank, Little Willie.

Wind-Up Tunic:

British officer's tunic with the stars worn on the shoulders instead of the sleeves, a standing order in some regiments even during the early stages of the war. The practice of wearing the badges of rank on the epaulettes was favoured by many officers as it made them less conspicuous to the enemy, and after the war the wearing of rank badges on the sleeves was discontinued. The same officers often carried the .303 Lee Enfield rifle into battle in preference to the issue service revolver for the same reason. However, some senior officers disapproved of this practice, viewing it as a case of an officer with the wind-up (see windy).

Windy:

Afraid, nervous. Such a person was said to have the wind-up. More acceptable than cold feet. From the production of intestinal wind or gas due to nerves.

Wipers:

Ypres (Flemish Ieper), Belgian town in West Flanders. From the pronunciation of a literal 'Y' at the beginning of the word, said to have originated with Commander-in-Chief of the BEF Sir John French (later Earl of Ypres), who neither knew nor spoke any foreign language and, furthermore, had no inclination to do so.

Wonky:

Defective.

Woodbine:

A cheap and particularly offensive cigarette. Also an Australian nickname for a British soldier, due to his fondness of the aforementioned cigarettes.

WRAF:

Women's Royal Air Force.

WRNS:

Women's Royal Naval Service.