Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 5.djvu/447

 9* s. V.JUNE 2, i9oo.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

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and incorporated into the 2nd or Coldstream Guards in 1689.

The "Rothshire Buffs," the old 78th, now the 2nd Battalion Seaforths.

" Cal vert's Entire," the old 14th Foot, now the West Yorkshire, from their colonel, Sir Harry Calvert, from 1806 to 1826. " Entire," because the three entire battalions were kept for the good of Sir Harry, when adjutant- general, and in allusion also to Cal vert's malt liquor.

The " Cherubim(s)," llth Hussars. This is a jocular allusion to a certain part of their anatomy, and to their cherry - coloured overalls.

The "Death or Glory Boys." The skull and crossbones were chosen by the 17th Lancers to keep green the memory of General Wolfe, killed at the storming of Quebec, the first commanding officer of the regiment.

The "Eagle Takers." It was the eagle of the 8th French Light Infantry which the Royal Irish Fusiliers, then the 87th Foot, captured at Barossa in 1811.

The "Ever-s worded," the 29th Foot, now the Worcestershire Regiment. In 1746 a part of this regiment, then at St. John's Island, was surprised by the French and massacred, when a command was issued that henceforth every officer, even at meals, should wear his sword. In 1842-59 the regiment was in the East Indies, and the order was relaxed, requiring only the captain and subaltern of the day to dine with their swords on.

The "Fighting Ninth," the 9th Foot. In the Peninsular War the "Holy Boys" from selling their Bibles for drink.

"Fitch's Grenadiers," the 83rd Foot, from the small stature of the men and the name of their first colonel.

The "Flying Bricklayers," the mounted Royal Engineers.

The "Four-wheeled Hussars," the Royal Horse Artillery, on account of their similar facings.

The "Gay Gordons," the Gordon High- landers.

The "Gentlemen Dragoons." The 17th Lancers once bore this title.

The " Glasgow Greys," the 70th Foot, from being at its inception largely recruited in Glasgow. " The 70th were long known as the Glasgow Greys" (Tinsley's Mag., April, 1886, p. 321).

The "Glove Rangers," a sobriquet of the Royal Marines.

The "Green Dragoons," the 13th Dragoons, whose regimental facings were green. Now called the 13th Hussars ; and the regimental facings have been white since 1861.

The " Green Horse," the 5th Dragoon Guards, so called because they are a horse regiment and have green for their regimental facings. Now called the Princess Charlotte of Wales's Dragoon Guards.

The "Green Howards," the 19th Foot, named after the Hon. Charles Howard, colonel from 1738 to 1748.

"Guise's Geese," the 6th Foot, or "Saucy Sixth," now the Royal Warwickshire Regi- ment, so called from their colonel's name, 1735-63.

"Havercake Lads," the 33rd Foot, were so called from the circumstance that their recruiting sergeants always preceded their party with an oat-cake on their swords. Oatmeal porridge and oat- cake entered largely into the diet of the Yorkshire and Lancashire lads, who consequently prided themselves on the name of "Havercake Lads."

The " Horse Marines," the 17th Lancers, were so called from the employment of two troops of the regiment as marines very many years ago on board the Hermione frigate during fighting in the West Indies.

The "Immortals," the 76th Foot, were so called because so many were wounded, but not killed, in Hindustan (1788-1806).

" Liverpool Blues," the 79th Foot.

"Lobster."

" Sir William Waller received from London a fresh supply of 500 horse, under the command of Sir Arthur Hasleig, which were so completely armed, that they were called by the Kings Party 'the regiment of lobsters,' because of their bright iron shells, with which they were covered, being perfect cuirassiers, and were the first seen so armed on either side." Clarendon's 'History of the Rebel- lion.'

The " Moke Train," a name once given to the Army Service Corps.

" Johnny Newcome," a nickname applied, not only to a new-comer in the navy, but to a young, unpractised officer in the army, and more generally to any raw, inexperienced recruit.

" * A' comes o' taking folk on the right side, I trow, 3 quoth Caleb to himself, ' and I had ance the ill-hap to say he was but a Johnny Newcome in our town, and the carle bore the family an ill-will ever since." Scott.

The "Peacemakers." The Bedfordshire Regiment was thus nicknamed because it was very much in time at Blenheim, Ramilies, Oudenarde, and Malplaquet. The " Peace- makers " were always strong in numbers and ready for war, like the 110- ton gun to which the artilleryman pointed as he said, " Blessed are the peacemakers." There is a song in the