Talk:List of nicknames of British Army regiments

Explainations

I think that some explanation of many of the nicknames is required, on the lines of the List of warships by nickname. Some are completely obscure to anyone not a military historian or serving British soldier. At the same time, I would recommend deleting some self-publicising names such as the "Fighting blankety-umpteenth", as being not particularly notable. HLGallon (talk) 13:40, 22 June 2008 (UTC)

Official Nicknames

A lot of these entries appear to be OR as they are not claimed as nicknames on the regiment article pages "The Agile and Suffering Highlanders" is not an official regimental nickname but a derogatory name used by others - The nicknames claimed by the regiment are "The Argylls" and the "The Thin Red Line"- Jim Sweeney (talk) 19:26, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

See Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Military history/British military history task force#List of nicknames of British Army regiments WP:MILHIST project asked for opinions --Jim Sweeney (talk) 19:56, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

I agree that work is needed. I found The Nulli Secundus Club claimed for The Coldstream Guards when that page says "The Lilywhites". I'm not sure about the "official" bit - nicknames are often unofficial - but perhaps the Army has formalised these things. In which case the page should say what it is about. But please do so without edit warring William M. Connolley (talk) 20:10, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Nulli Secundus is their motto second to none --Jim Sweeney (talk) 20:20, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Nicknames in the British Army by their nature are not 'official' some may be complimentary, but by the nature of soldiers most, even those used within units, are not. To give a rather benign example the RGJ were known by many as the Black Mafia, something of which they were rather pround (even had it on T Shirts) however its use and derivation wasn't entirely complementary.

To give another, RMP are know to all and sundry as Monkees - decidedly not complementary but very much a nickname and used by themseves see the 'A Monkey's Tale' series of books.

Certainly more references are needed but stop trying to find 'official' recognition it doesn't work that way Tragino (talk) 07:03, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

If there is a concept of "official" nicknames, then the page should note that (with some ref) and perhaps distinguish official form unofficial nicknames. If that distinction makes sense. It would certainly be a good idea if the nicknames listed on this page agreed with those on the regiments pages, which is certainly not always true. Would it be better if the page were alphabetised by regiment, rather than nickname? William M. Connolley (talk) 07:23, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

The problem with the RMP is they are not a regiment but a corps so don't belong here anyway. Sorry dont understand stop trying to find 'official' recognition it doesn't work that way what doesn't work that way --Jim Sweeney (talk) 07:28, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

That definition of "regiment" (excluding the redtops, sorry, RMP) is too prescriptively narrow. For the purposes of this page (as with most aspects of service administration), arms, services and corps should be treated the same as teeth arms regiments. Otherwise, the Royal Artillery, Royal Engineers and Royal Signals must be removed from the page. Similarly, I doubt whether there are many, or even any, "officially" recognised nicknames. Service life is full of homely or derogatory descriptive terms, all of which add to the flavour of life and break the tedium of many postings or activities. To restrict nicknames to the self-serving "Fighting old blanks" which are trotted out drunkenly at regimental guest nights would not serve this page. HLGallon (talk) 08:10, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

They should however be (as ever) publishe din reliable sources. The reference for Agile and suffering Highlanders doesn't really seem to meet the mark to me. David Underdown (talk) 08:56, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Agreed, re. Reliable sources. The various corps and other bodies seem to have been deleted from the page. They have as much right to remain there as some of the regiments cited. Once I have reliable sources for any notable nicknames, I will reinstate them. HLGallon (talk) 16:56, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

This is nicknames for Regiments Corps, Brigades, Divisions do not belong here but lend themselves to another article List Of British Army Nicknames--Jim Sweeney (talk) 18:58, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Work Done

All pre 1922 amalagamation regimental nicknames have been added and referenced all unreferenced nicknames removed. --Jim Sweeney (talk) 15:06, 7 May 2009 (UTC)

Nicknames seeking support

The Lincolnshire Regiment (10th): a distant relation (2nd Battalion WWII, Major, mentioned-in-despatches) told me his regiment was known as the "Yellow-bellies" because the uniform once included yellow waistcoats.Roop1940 (talk) 17:32, 11 December 2009 (UTC)

I've always heard "yellowbellies" as a generic nickname for anyone from Lincolnshire. David Underdown (talk) 09:24, 14 December 2009 (UTC)

Requested move

The following discussion is an archived discussion of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on the talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

The result of the move request was: Page not moved - see User:Propaniac's comment at the end - decide on what goes here first, then request move if appropriate  Ronhjones  ^(Talk) 22:15, 22 January 2010 (UTC)

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List of nicknames of British Army regiments → List of nicknames of British Army regiments and corps — Existing name of article too precise. Corps e.g. Royal Engineers have as much right to be included as any of the regiments listed (and indeed are older than many). The suggestion of an article on List Of British Army Nicknames would lump corps such as Royal Engineers with items such as personal weapons and equipment. HLGallon (talk) 00:56, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

• Comment why not make another List of nicknames for British Army corps? or alternately, there's a rename to List of nicknames for British Army units. 76.66.197.17 (talk) 02:47, 3 January 2010 (UTC)

• Oppose As the name says nicknames of British Army Regiments. These are easily sourced as many are 1/200 years old. If required there is nothing stopping editors creating another article List of nicknames of British Army Corps/Brigades/Divisions. etc --Jim Sweeney (talk) 08:08, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

This is avoiding the question. I am *not* seeking to include formations (divisions, brigades etc) but arms of service and corps (e.g. REME, R.Sigs. etc) which have the same standing as regiments. To restrict this page to "old" regiments and exclude corps would seem to some to smack of snobbery. HLGallon (talk) 13:03, 14 January 2010 (UTC)

• Comment This seems to be more of a question of what the page should include, than what the page should be titled. It appears to me that the better way to handle it would be to start a new discussion, under a new heading, on this Talk page about whether the page should also include corps nicknames in addition to regiment nicknames, and if nobody responds or objects, go ahead and add the corps nicknames. If the page includes both regiment and corps nicknames I would think it would then be uncontroversial to move it to a more accurate title. Propaniac (talk) 21:08, 22 January 2010 (UTC)

The above discussion is preserved as an archive of a requested move. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section on this talk page. No further edits should be made to this section.

Question...

I heard somewhere that there's a British regiment called "The Immortals," but I don't see a mention of them in this article.

Does they exist? --24.193.1.9 (talk) 02:25, 22 May 2011 (UTC)