|
06 Mar 01 - 06:41 PM (#412347) Subject: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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- |
|
06 Mar 01 - 08:31 PM (#412420) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sarah2 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 |
|
06 Mar 01 - 08:41 PM (#412426) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: SINSULL 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. |
|
06 Mar 01 - 09:40 PM (#412459) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sarah2 Sneaky lot, those soldiers, Sinsull. You have to wonder how those guys kept their sense of humor, too. That's a great story. Sarah |
|
06 Mar 01 - 09:42 PM (#412461) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Sins, sounds like a song in there somewhere! |
|
06 Mar 01 - 09:51 PM (#412464) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Marymac 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. |
|
06 Mar 01 - 10:45 PM (#412486) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Spud Murphy 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 |
|
06 Mar 01 - 11:08 PM (#412496) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Robo And don't forget The Honeymooners' Ed Norton regaling Ralph Kramden with his own SWAK --"Sewer Workers Are Kings!" Rob-o |
|
07 Mar 01 - 08:22 AM (#412669) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Jeri 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. |
|
07 Mar 01 - 09:35 AM (#412710) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: SINSULL 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. |
|
07 Mar 01 - 09:38 AM (#412712) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Dita (at work) Legs Open No Drawers ON. Well you did ask, love, john |
|
07 Mar 01 - 01:25 PM (#412880) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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) |
|
07 Mar 01 - 05:00 PM (#412974) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Peter K (Fionn) 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. |
|
07 Mar 01 - 05:22 PM (#412986) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Long Firm Freddie BURMA - Be Upstairs Ready My Angel LFF |
|
07 Mar 01 - 05:54 PM (#413000) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Dave (the ancient mariner) CONSTANTINOPLE Dont ask! lol |
|
08 Mar 01 - 12:10 PM (#413412) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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?
|
|
08 Mar 01 - 06:36 PM (#413616) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton Nope. I was 4F. Anyone remember what those four "Fs" were supposed to stand for? Sandy |
|
08 Mar 01 - 11:03 PM (#413699) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Spud Murphy Sandy: I'm waiting with bated breath. But I bet it's something dirty. Spud |
|
08 Mar 01 - 11:36 PM (#413721) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton 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 |
|
09 Mar 01 - 12:11 AM (#413741) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing 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** |
|
09 Mar 01 - 12:39 AM (#413752) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Coming Home I Need Amore? |
|
09 Mar 01 - 03:51 AM (#413827) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Steve Parkes 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 |
|
09 Mar 01 - 08:23 AM (#413900) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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 |
|
09 Mar 01 - 09:40 AM (#413968) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe China in rhyming slang means mate i.e. china plate. |
|
09 Mar 01 - 09:47 AM (#413977) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler Come Home I'm Nude Already? RtS |
|
09 Mar 01 - 09:48 AM (#413979) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Steve Parkes Roger, let me know if you get any results! Steve |
|
09 Mar 01 - 10:13 AM (#413996) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing LMAO w/ RtS!!! |
|
09 Mar 01 - 10:18 AM (#414000) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler In my dreams! Many A Lady Today Already (Even more in my dreams!)RtS |
|
09 Mar 01 - 10:27 AM (#414007) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Dave (the ancient mariner) Mr Red : Wife = "Trouble and strife" in Cockney slang Where's Bert when you need him? lol |
|
09 Mar 01 - 10:35 AM (#414010) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Wolfgang If that's allowed (inventions I mean), well: I shall try always not banging unknown ladies Native speakers, improve Wolfgang |
|
09 Mar 01 - 10:58 AM (#414023) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Steve Parkes Also, wife = "Duchhess of Fife", aka "my old dutch". |
|
09 Mar 01 - 02:13 PM (#414175) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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....... |
|
09 Mar 01 - 02:19 PM (#414178) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton I always heard: Dutch canal = pal. |
|
09 Mar 01 - 02:32 PM (#414182) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: katlaughing Maybe this will get others thinking and come up with the real one (Well, done, Wolfgang!)
Come LOL...needs work! |
|
10 Mar 01 - 10:48 AM (#414621) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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! |
|
10 Mar 01 - 12:33 PM (#414701) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Sandy Paton "Forget 'em's there in my list! What's the additional "F"? |
|
11 Mar 01 - 06:52 AM (#415091) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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. |
|
11 Mar 01 - 07:15 AM (#415102) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Willie-O 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 |
|
13 Mar 01 - 08:17 AM (#416479) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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. |
|
13 Mar 01 - 03:47 PM (#416819) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Micca I always understood that CHINA was an 8th Army desert Rats one and meant C*** Hunting In North Africa |
|
14 Mar 01 - 12:23 PM (#417386) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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. |
|
14 Apr 01 - 09:52 AM (#440377) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red 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 |
|
14 Apr 01 - 12:21 PM (#440458) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Irish sergeant 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 |
|
15 Apr 01 - 12:27 AM (#440923) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Chip2447 Dont think I saw TARFU...Things Are really F**ked Up, or LAGNAF, Lets All Get Naked And F**k. |
|
15 Apr 01 - 11:33 AM (#441092) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: GUEST,Pork sausage Mike Mr Red.......CHINA=Come home I need action |
|
15 Apr 01 - 05:27 PM (#441283) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: The Walrus WW2, but not on an envelope U.S. ARMY Uncle Sam Ain't Released Me Yet. Regards Walrus |
|
15 Apr 01 - 10:41 PM (#441457) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Edmund 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 |
|
16 Apr 01 - 01:32 AM (#441518) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: fox4zero 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 |
|
25 Feb 04 - 05:45 PM (#1123819) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WW2 acronyms. From: Mr Red Just heard another one reputed to be from WWII - on the radio MALAYA - my ardent lips await your arrival. |
|
05 Nov 15 - 03:31 PM (#3748779) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: GUEST,Thuggo CHINA come home i'm naked already |
|
05 Nov 15 - 06:25 PM (#3748804) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: EBarnacle On a slightly different mode, can anyone give me a good WW II citation for RTFM? [Read the f***ing manual] |
|
05 Nov 15 - 07:13 PM (#3748821) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: Lighter 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. |
|
05 Nov 15 - 10:53 PM (#3748854) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: EBarnacle It is first documented during the Korean War. Dick Greenhaus encountered it in engineering school between WW II and Korea. |
|
06 Nov 15 - 08:34 AM (#3748898) Subject: RE: Help: LETTER of the Lore - WWII acronyms. From: Lighter 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. |