"Tommies" from the Royal Irish Rifles in the trenches during the First World War.

Tommy Atkins (often just Tommy) is a term for a common soldier in the British Army that is particularly associated with World War I. German soldiers would call out to Tommy across no man's land if they wished to speak to a British soldier. French and Commonwealth troops would also call British soldiers "Tommies". Image File history File links Download high resolution version (950x672, 256 KB) Photo by a member of the Royal Engineers No 1 Printing Company. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (950x672, 256 KB) Photo by a member of the Royal Engineers No 1 Printing Company. ... The Regiment of the Infantry of the Line that became to be known as The Royal Ulster Rifles dates backs to the reign of King George III. In 1793 there was some expansion of the Armed Forces to meet the commitments of the war with France. ... Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... Clockwise from top: Trenches in frontline, a British Mark I Tank crossing a trench, the Royal Navy battleship HMS Irresistible sinking after striking a mine at the battle of the Dardanelles, a Vickers machine gun crew with gas masks and a Sopwith Camel biplane. ... No Mans Land may refer to the following: No Mans Land is an island in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. ... Flag of the Commonwealth of Nations The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, most of which were once governed by the United Kingdom and are its former colonies. ...

Overview

Tommy Atkins has been used as a generic name for a common soldier for many years. The precise origin is a subject of debate, but it is known to have been used as early as 1743. A letter sent from Jamaica about a mutiny amongst the troops says "except for those from N. America (mostly Irish Papists) ye Marines and Tommy Atkins behaved splendidly". // Events February 14 - Henry Pelham becomes British Prime Minister February 21 - - The premiere in London of George Frideric Handels oratorio, Samson. ...

According to Lieutenant General Sir William MacArthur, in an article in the Army Medical Services Magazine (circa 1950), "Tommy Atkins" was chosen as a generic name by the War Office in 1815. Specimen forms of the "Soldier's Account Book" for that year, show the name "Tommy Atkins", in the space allocated for the soldier's signature. The Oxford Concise English Dictionary does not discuss any causality, and simply states its origin as being a 19th century term "from the use of the name Thomas Atkins in specimens of completed official forms in the British Army." Old War Office Building, Whitehall, London - the former location of the War Office The War Office was a former department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1963, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence. ... The Battle of New Orleans 1815 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

A common belief is that the name was chosen by the Duke of Wellington having been inspired by the bravery of a soldier at the Battle of Boxtel in 1794. After a fierce engagement, the Duke, in command of the 33rd Regiment of Foot, spotted the best man-at-arms in the regiment, Private Thomas Atkins, terribly wounded. The Private said "It's all right sir. It's all in a day's work" and died shortly after. The Most Noble Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS (c. ... 1794 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Official name 33rd Regiment of Foot Nicknames The Havercake Lads The Pattern The Dukes Motto Virtutis Fortuna Comes (Fortune Favours The Brave) Description Line Infantry regiment Creation date Originally on the 14th of March 1702 by the 8th Earl of Huntingdon under Royal Warrant as Huntingdons Regiment of Foot. ...

A further suggestion was given in 1900 by an army chaplain named Reverend E. J. Hardy. He wrote of an incident during the Sepoy Rebellion in 1857. When most of the Europeans in Lucknow were fleeing to the British Residency for protection, a private of the 32nd Regiment of Foot remained on duty at an outpost. Despite the pleas of his comrades he insisted that he must remain at his post. He was killed at his post and the Reverend Hardy wrote that "His name happened to be Tommy Atkins and so, throughout the Mutiny Campaign, when a daring deed was done, the doer was said to be 'a regular Tommy Atkins'". 1900 (MCM) is a common year starting on Monday. ... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from the British perspective. ... Lucknow (Hindi: लखनऊ Lakhnau) is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. ... The 32nd Regiment of Foot of the British Army was first raised in 1702 as a regiment of marines to fight in the War of Spanish Succession. ...

Rudyard Kipling published the poem Tommy (part of the Barrack Room Ballads - themselves dedicated "To T.A.") in 1892 and in 1893 the music hall song Private Tommy Atkins was published with words by Henry Hamilton and music by S. Potter. In 1898 William McGonagall wrote Lines In Praise of Tommy Atkins, which was an attack on what McGonagall saw as the disparaging portrayal of Tommy in Kipling's poem. Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling (December 30, 1865 – January 18, 1936) was a British author and poet, born in India. ... 1893 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ... William Topaz McGonagall (1825–September 29, 1902) was a weaver, actor, and poet. ...

The British were still called Tommies by the Germans in World War II. The phrase — "for you Tommy the War is over!" — has become a stock phrase, expressed by a German upon the capture of a British soldier or airman. They also nicknamed the Sherman tanks which were out-gunned and poorly armoured compared to German tanks and which ran on petrol so tended to "brew-up" (catch fire) easily, "Tommy cookers". Combatants Allied Powers Axis Powers Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 17 million military deaths 7 million military deaths World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th century conflict that engulfed much of the globe and is accepted as the largest and deadliest... The M4 Medium Tank was the main tank designed and built by the US for use in World War II. In the UK lend-lease M4s were dubbed M4 General Sherman after Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, continuing a practice of naming American tanks after famous Generals. ...

"Tommy" by Rudyard Kipling

I WENT into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,

The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."

The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,

I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:

O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";

But it’s "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,—

The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,

O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,

They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;

They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,

But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";

But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,—

The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,

O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep

Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;

An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit

Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.

Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"

But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,—

The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,

O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,

But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;

An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,

Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;

While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",

But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,—

There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,

O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there’s trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:

We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.

Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face

The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.

For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"

But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;

An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;

An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool—you bet that Tommy sees!

Rudyard Kipling Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling (December 30, 1865 – January 18, 1936) was a British author and poet, born in India. ...

"Private Tommy Atkins" lyrics by Henry Hamilton, music by S. Potter

O, we take him from the city or the plough,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

And we drill him, and we dress him up so neat,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

We teach him to uphold his manly brow,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

And how to walk, and where to put his feet.

Ta-ran-ta-ran-ta-ra

It doesn't matter who he was before,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

Or what his parents favor'd for his name;

Ta-ran-ta-ra

Once he's pocketed the shilling,

And a uniform he's filling,

We'll call him Tommy Atkins, all the same.

O!

Tommy, Tommy Atkins,

You're a "good un," heart and hand;

You're a credit to your calling,

And to all your native land;

May your luck be never failing,

May your love be ever true!

God bless you, Tommy Atkins,

Here's your Country's love to you!

In time of peace he hears the bugle call

Ta-ran-ta-ra

And in Barracks, from "Revally" to "Lights Out!"

Ta-ran-ta-ra

If "Sentry go" and "Pipeclay" ever pall,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

There's always plenty more of work about.

Ta-ran-ta-ran-ta-ra

As happy as a school boy, and as gay;

Then back he goes to duty,

All for Country, Home and Beauty

And the noble sum of half a crown a day.

O!

Tommy, Tommy Atkins,

You're a good un, heart and hand;

You're a credit to your calling,

And to all your native land;

May your luck be never failing,

May your love be ever true!

God bless you, Tommy Atkins,

Here's your Country's love to you!

In wartime then, it's "Tommy to the Front!"

Ta-ran-ta-ra

And we ship him off, in "Troopers" to the fray,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

We sit at home while Tommy bears the brunt,

Ta-ran-ta-ra

A fighting for his country - and his pay.

Ta-ran-ta-ran-ta-ra

And weather he's on India's coral strand,

Or pouring out his blood in the Soudan,

To keep our flag a-flying,

He's a doing, and a dying,

Ev'ry inch of him a soldier and a man.

O!

Tommy, Tommy Atkins,

You're a "good un," heart and hand;

You're a credit to your calling,

And to all your native land;

May your luck be never failing,

May your love be ever true!

God bless you, Tommy Atkins,

Here's your Country's love to you!

Henry Hamilton Henry Hamilton (c. ...

"Lines in Praise of Tommy Atkins" by William McGonagall

Success to Tommy Atkins, he's a very brave man,

And to deny it there's few people can;

And to face his foreign foes he's never afraid,

Therefore he's not a beggar, as Rudyard Kipling has said.

No, he's paid by our Government, and is worthy of his hire;

And from our shores in time of war he makes our foes retire,

He doesn't need to beg; no, nothing so low;

No, he considers it more honourable to face a foreign foe.

No, he's not a beggar, he's a more useful man,

And, as Shakespeare has said, his life's but a span;

And at the cannon's mouth he seeks for reputation,

He doesn't go from door to door seeking a donation.

Oh, think of Tommy Atkins when from home far away,

Lying on the battlefield, earth's cold clay;

And a stone or his knapsack pillowing his head,

And his comrades lying near by him wounded and dead.

And while lying there, poor fellow, he thinks of his wife at home,

And his heart bleeds at the thought, and he does moan;

And down his cheek flows many a silent tear,

When he thinks of his friends and children dear.

Kind Christians, think of him when far, far away,

Fighting for his Queen and Country without dismay;

May God protect him wherever he goes,

And give him strength to conqner his foes.

To call a soldier a beggar is a very degrading name,

And in my opinion it's a very great shame;

And the man that calls him a beggar is not the soldier's friend,

And no sensible soldier should on him depend.

A soldier is a man that ought to be respected,

And by his country shouldn't be neglected;

For he fights our foreign foes, and in danger of his life,

Leaving behind him his relatives and his dear wife.

Then hurrah for Tommy Atkins, he's the people's friend,

Because when foreign foes assail us he does us defend;

He is not a beggar, as Rudyard Kipling has said,

No, he doesn't need to beg, he lives by his trade.

And in conclusion I will say,

Don't forget his wife and children when he's far away;

But try and help them all you can,

For remember Tommy Atkins is a very useful man.

William McGonagall William Topaz McGonagall (1825–September 29, 1902) was a weaver, actor, and poet. ...

See also

• Jack Tar
• Brodie helmet
• Digger
• Doughboy
• G.I.
• Joe Bloggins

US Marine Corps M1917 Brodie pattern helmet The Brodie helmet (also called the shrapnel helmet or Tommy helmet, and in the United States known as a doughboy helmet) was a steel helmet designed and patented in 1915 by John L. Brodie. ... Digger was a popular term used to describe Australian and New Zealand soldiers in the trenches engaged in mining activities, especially the Australian soldiers of Cornish mining heritage, during the First World War. ... Doughboy was a slang term for American infantrymen, best known from its use in World War I, although it dates back to the Mexican-American War in 1847. ... The abbreviation G.I. or GI is most commonly used to shorten government issue, and has different meanings depending on the part of speech in which it is used. ... Joe Bloggins, or Private Bloggins, is a hypothetical Canadian soldier referred to in training, often when giving a cautonary example of incompetence leading to misfortune. ...

Reference

Oxford Concise English Dictionary, Judy Pearsall (Editor), Oxford University Press, 1999.

External links

• Tommy Atkins Society
• The last time I saw Tommy, illustrated poem by Joshua Quagmire