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Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms.
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Subject: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 06 Mar 01 - 06:41 PM I have my first mobile phone and - ergo - re-newed an interest in the benefits of abreviating messages. I remember stories of WW2 acronyms written on the back of soldiers envelopes written to wives and lovers. Known examples:-
In a related acronym thread two more where mentioned but no explanation was offered:
TIA Line Breaks added - Joe Offer- |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sarah2 Date: 06 Mar 01 - 08:31 PM I don't know about acronyms on the backs of letters, just the normal U.S. military ones, which live on today: SNAFU: situation normal all f******d up FUBAR: f******d up beyond all recognition and the name JEEP is from GP, General Purpose vehicle. Sarah |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: SINSULL Date: 06 Mar 01 - 08:41 PM A little off the beaten track. One of my teachers told the story of her brother in a POW camp. He wrote home (amid mostly blacked out lines). They are treating us well. Tell Dad. Tell Aunt So-and-So, and don't forget to tell it to the marines. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sarah2 Date: 06 Mar 01 - 09:40 PM Sneaky lot, those soldiers, Sinsull. You have to wonder how those guys kept their sense of humor, too. That's a great story. Sarah |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Date: 06 Mar 01 - 09:42 PM Sins, sounds like a song in there somewhere! |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Marymac Date: 06 Mar 01 - 09:51 PM It's not an acronym, but a bit of WWII folklore--when the first American soldiers got to new towns, they always saw "Kilroy was here" on the wall. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Spud Murphy Date: 06 Mar 01 - 10:45 PM COMSOPAC; CINCPAC; FMF; VMAC; 1BD; MOB5; and hundreds more, all in the PTO. For the ETO, ask someone who was there. Everything with a name, had an acronym, even the dogfaces, who were called GI's. (Government Issue) Spud |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Robo Date: 06 Mar 01 - 11:08 PM And don't forget The Honeymooners' Ed Norton regaling Ralph Kramden with his own SWAK --"Sewer Workers Are Kings!" Rob-o |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Jeri Date: 07 Mar 01 - 08:22 AM Well, I don't know if things in WWII were like 1970's basic training. We'd have mail call, and our TI (Training Instructor) would read the names off the envelopes, and hand out the mail. She'd also read the acronyms people wrote - out loud and with a translation. I think the guys who wrote them thought they were being sneaky. It's funny - I can figure out (well, get close, anyway) most of Spud's acronyms, but I don't have a clue what CHINA MALTA and LONDON are. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: SINSULL Date: 07 Mar 01 - 09:35 AM Anyone remember the "good luck sign"? I forget which war - Korea maybe. A group of POWs were being photographed for propaganda. They were clean and in uniform, apparently well cared for. But they all had a middle finger raised. They told the photographer it was a sign of good luck. And had the crap beaten out of them when the photo was released and the truth came out. Have to admire their spunk. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Date: 07 Mar 01 - 09:38 AM Legs Open No Drawers ON. Well you did ask, love, john |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 07 Mar 01 - 01:25 PM LONDON - capital (ho ho ho) Just keeping the idea alive a bit longer, I am really intrigued now. So what is the CHINA syndrome? we still falter on MALTA. I have started the research amongst the older audience at Folk at Frampton (nr Stroud, Village Hall, Tues) |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Peter K (Fionn) Date: 07 Mar 01 - 05:00 PM Alan Bennett did a sketch sending up this stuff, way back when he was in Beyond the Fringe.The only bit I can remember is NORWICH - (k)nickers off ready when I come home. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Long Firm Freddie Date: 07 Mar 01 - 05:22 PM BURMA - Be Upstairs Ready My Angel LFF |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 07 Mar 01 - 05:54 PM CONSTANTINOPLE Dont ask! lol |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 08 Mar 01 - 12:10 PM yea I forgot BURMA though MY angel was usually Undressed! (in my dreams) CONSTANTINOPLE surely an ancient mariner is not too coy to spell that one out. Gimme. Any more? Any silver surfers out there who actually used them?
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton Date: 08 Mar 01 - 06:36 PM Nope. I was 4F. Anyone remember what those four "Fs" were supposed to stand for? Sandy |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Spud Murphy Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:03 PM Sandy: I'm waiting with bated breath. But I bet it's something dirty. Spud |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton Date: 08 Mar 01 - 11:36 PM Since we, as Malvina Reynolds put it in one of her songs, were left behind "to keep the lassies warm," the Fs were for "Find 'em, Feel 'em, F**k 'em, Forget 'em." As a wayward youth, I thought that was pretty cool, but, hard as I tried, I fear I failed to do my part. Sandy |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:11 AM CHINA must be "Coming Home something or other," eh? I thought maybe "I need ass" but that sounds abit over the top for then? Not quite elegant enough, I think.**BG** |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Date: 09 Mar 01 - 12:39 AM Coming Home I Need Amore? |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Steve Parkes Date: 09 Mar 01 - 03:51 AM I was told at school (but not by a teacher!) that CHINA stands for "C*nt Hunting Is Now Allowed". I could never understand the point of sending that to your girlfriend, who presumably already knew. Mind you, I was never in the Forces, only the cadets! Steve |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 09 Mar 01 - 08:23 AM of course "me old china" was cockney slang (dunno bout the rhyme) for wife. the jury is still out on MALTA and ISTANBUL (modern version) and the verdict on CHINA has to be "not proven" but by the folk process I go with katlaughing. Unless A stands for Action! Sandy - I have heard the 4F's but we just recited the phrase not the abreviation. Ta |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:40 AM China in rhyming slang means mate i.e. china plate. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:47 AM Come Home I'm Nude Already? RtS |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Steve Parkes Date: 09 Mar 01 - 09:48 AM Roger, let me know if you get any results! Steve |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:13 AM LMAO w/ RtS!!! |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:18 AM In my dreams! Many A Lady Today Already (Even more in my dreams!)RtS |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:27 AM Mr Red : Wife = "Trouble and strife" in Cockney slang Where's Bert when you need him? lol |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Wolfgang Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:35 AM If that's allowed (inventions I mean), well: I shall try always not banging unknown ladies Native speakers, improve Wolfgang |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Steve Parkes Date: 09 Mar 01 - 10:58 AM Also, wife = "Duchhess of Fife", aka "my old dutch". |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 09 Mar 01 - 02:13 PM Wolfgang Great! But what can you do with CONSTANTINOPLE? Of course I am hand picking these results (see below). Must dash, the last text message I sent via mobile phone was BURMA and I just dun gotta go and see if these durned things work. Wooooeeeee....... |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton Date: 09 Mar 01 - 02:19 PM I always heard: Dutch canal = pal. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Date: 09 Mar 01 - 02:32 PM Maybe this will get others thinking and come up with the real one (Well, done, Wolfgang!)
Come LOL...needs work! |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 10 Mar 01 - 10:48 AM Still looking for genuine old ones. Katlaughing - Constantinople does need work maybe I will have a go. I didn't want to muddy the waters until the real old ones had gone stale, as it were. Sandy - I realised why the 4 F's were a little unfamiliar - as lads the phrase we referred to consisted of 5 F's. You forgot the "forget 'em"! Too non-PC these days! |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton Date: 10 Mar 01 - 12:33 PM "Forget 'em's there in my list! What's the additional "F"? |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 11 Mar 01 - 06:52 AM Find, follow, feel, f***, forget. If I remember. Fingers are beginning to forget I guess. I decided to trawl the net but need better search criteria, however an NZ site offered these Couple Has Indeed Now Adjusted (20th) wedding anniversary. Coupled Hearts In Natural Accord Men Always Less Than Angelic Frequently Reckoned As Narcissistic, Chauvinist Europeans and many of that ilk There was one for Liverpool but it has a nuaghty word of more than four letters and I don't understand it. Attributed to Jo Brand. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Willie-O Date: 11 Mar 01 - 07:15 AM Only one I know that isn't already mentioned is "PUFfO"--goes along with FUBAR and SNAFU. Pack Up and F**k Off. As in "Just another snafu, we better PUFFO before we get FUBAR'ed!" Willie-O |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 13 Mar 01 - 08:17 AM Aparrently the Folk Lore Society had something about this in their last Newsletter issue. I am on the trail. Don't expect anything too exciting but it is in my mind right now. Malcolm at the Vaughan-Williams library (EFDSS) was most helpful but referred me on to FLS for the recent copy he doesn't have. I even asked folklorist Roy Palmer but it was a bit out of his ken. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Micca Date: 13 Mar 01 - 03:47 PM I always understood that CHINA was an 8th Army desert Rats one and meant C*** Hunting In North Africa |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 14 Mar 01 - 12:23 PM Thanks me old china. I am hunting the FLS newsletter but try as I might I can't get any purchase on it. It may be relevant. When it gets this difficult I usually get my teeth into it. Byte for now. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 14 Apr 01 - 09:52 AM summary of those found and update from the Folklore Society newsletters dating from 1990 to present. referred to as Postal Graffiti (and they eschew prudery) SIAM sexual intercourse at midnight (one more I recall from my youth) EGYPT eager to grasp your pretty tits (torso) HOLLAND hope our love lasts and never dies ITALY I trust & love you BURMA be undressed and ready my angel FRANCE free rides all night come early AFRICA after f***ing rinse in carbolic acid CHINA c**t hunting in north africa NORWICH (k)nickers off ready when I come home LOUTH let's open that hole GRIMSBY great rape in my sisters back yard BOSTON better on sofa than on nothing BOLTOP better on lips than on paper SWALK sealed with a loving kiss SWAK sealed with a kiss SWANK sealed with a nice kiss SWALCAKWS sealed with a lick 'cos a kiss won't stick POLO pants off legs open SMILE s**k my large erection GYPO get your p***k out CHIP come home I'm pregnant GREAT gradual rape excites all types GOLDLEAF go on lie down lets enjoy a f**k BIBBY better in bed beside you SYSTEM see you soon to embrace madly a modern selection from Memorial Universtiy folklore students in Newfoundland ADIDAS all day I dream about sex LUL love U a lot MUT miss U terribly SWASK sealed with a sexy kiss SWAH sealed with a hug SWAT someone who's always there SWAC someone who cares SOOT stay out of trouble SADIDP sex always developes in dark places AFA a friend always FYEO for your eys only LYLAS love you like a sister WBS write back soon
still no authentic WW2 MALTA.
TTFN |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Irish sergeant Date: 14 Apr 01 - 12:21 PM Amazing. I have a slang dictionary that covers some of them but not malta. We had BOHICA=Bend Over Here It Comes Again When I first enlisted in the Navy In 1974 these were popular. NAVY= Never Again Volunteer Yourself FTN=F#@k The Navy and FIGMO= F*#k It I Got My Orders. Nothing in MALTA. Great post by the way Kindest reguards, Neil |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Chip2447 Date: 15 Apr 01 - 12:27 AM Dont think I saw TARFU...Things Are really F**ked Up, or LAGNAF, Lets All Get Naked And F**k. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Pork sausage Mike Date: 15 Apr 01 - 11:33 AM Mr Red.......CHINA=Come home I need action |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: The Walrus Date: 15 Apr 01 - 05:27 PM WW2, but not on an envelope U.S. ARMY Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet. Regards Walrus |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Edmund Date: 15 Apr 01 - 10:41 PM In WWII during a course on identifying aircraft we were told to notice the Wings Engine Fuselage & Tail , which the sergeant remarked was the WEFT system. When it didn't work for us uninitiated recruits, we soon came to call it: the Wrong Every F*****G Time system Edmund |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: fox4zero Date: 16 Apr 01 - 01:32 AM It was post-WWII, but when I was a (young)flight surgeon stationed in Anchorage, we often hosted a SAC KC-97 refueling tanker with a sexy female pictured on the nose, titled "JITA".....Jab In The Ass. Remember, the B-47's refueled in air by coming on to the tankers from the rear. Larry |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Date: 25 Feb 04 - 05:45 PM Just heard another one reputed to be from WWII - on the radio MALAYA - my ardent lips await your arrival. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: GUEST,Thuggo Date: 05 Nov 15 - 03:31 PM CHINA come home i'm naked already |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: EBarnacle Date: 05 Nov 15 - 06:25 PM On a slightly different mode, can anyone give me a good WW II citation for RTFM? [Read the f***ing manual] |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: Lighter Date: 05 Nov 15 - 07:13 PM I doubt RTFM is that old. I didn't encounter it until the 21st century. In spite of looking for exactly this kind of stuff. Everywhere. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: EBarnacle Date: 05 Nov 15 - 10:53 PM It is first documented during the Korean War. Dick Greenhaus encountered it in engineering school between WW II and Korea. |
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Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: Lighter Date: 06 Nov 15 - 08:34 AM Hmm. That changes things a bit. Maybe it was once mainly used on the job by engineers. Certainly it only became commonly known in the '90s. Google Books produces nothing before 1990. To judge from those sources, it was popularized in computer contexts. No surprise there. |
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