Dame Karmen Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 I'll start with what turns out to be my favorite, and family's most enlisted in regiment. Grandpa WW1 (wounded)and 4 of my Moms brothers plus their brother inlaw, and at least one of my Dad's brothers enlisted and served overseas with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. I just discovered in the last couple or so days that all the brothers were with the RWR's. 2 didn't come home. One WW2 at least was wounded in action: Little Black Devils- Royal Winnipeg Rifles" - Infantry of the line usually wore scarlet tunics, while rifle units wore dark green—almost black—tunics. After the Battle of Fish Creek during the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, a captured Métis asked, "The red coats we know, but who are those little black devils?"—hence also the Latin motto: “Hosti Acie Nominati”, “named by the enemy in battle” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RETAC21 Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 I like the "Asturias" Regiment motto: el cangrejo (the crab) because in the Rosellón campaing (1793-95) it never turned its back to the enemy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 My old unit the Royal Guards Battalion was appearently also nicknamed the black devils by the germans as they fought in black uniforms (with two wide white trouser stripes) in 1940. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 (edited) "Devils in Baggy Pants"--504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, US Army; nicknamed by Germans in Italy.----Ah, what the hey..."Devil Dogs", nickname for US Marines, attributed to a German dispatch from the Battle for Belleau Wood during WWI. There is some question of the veracity of origin. Edited November 3, 2011 by shep854 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul in Qatar Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 "Cottonbalers" for the US 7th Infantry. THe nickname comes from the Battle of New Orleans where we used bales of cotton for fortifications. Shame so few young people take to their regimental history. I have been meaning to start a thread on how the Center for Military History has really not done its job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BP Posted November 3, 2011 Share Posted November 3, 2011 "Cottonbalers" for the US 7th Infantry. THe nickname comes from the Battle of New Orleans where we used bales of cotton for fortifications. Shame so few young people take to their regimental history. I have been meaning to start a thread on how the Center for Military History has really not done its job. A large part of it is the Army's proclivity for reflagging, re-roling and moving units at will, along with units not teaching their own history. I mean, when a unit goes on deployment as 1-7 Infantry, comes back to home station and participates in a reorganization, becomes 1-26 Infantry "Blue Spaders" because of their unit insignia, deploys, comes back for another reorganization as 1-678 IN, the "Goat Fuckers" because one time in WWII this private in North Africa. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dame Karmen Posted November 3, 2011 Author Share Posted November 3, 2011 Wow. Lots of "Devil's" nicknames! Here's another. Another Uncle (through marriage) was with this regiment The Devil's Brigade (also called The Black Devils and The Black Devils' Brigade and - Freddie's Freighters "?" - officially the 1st Special Service Force - was a joint World War II American-Canadian commando unit organized in 1942 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) For real amusement, study nicknames of aviation units.One squadron that comes to mind is US Navy Fighter/Attack Squadron 143 (VFA-143), the "Pukin' Dogs", so named because of the posture of the griffin in the squadron emblem. Edited November 4, 2011 by shep854 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky Davis Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 . . . deploys, comes back for another reorganization as 1-678 IN, the "Goat Fuckers" because one time in WWII this private in North Africa. . . HEY! No insults here! I was a proud "Goat Fucker" once . . . better mind your manners, Mister! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hittite Under The Bridge Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) 3/33 Armor - The Pickles. The unit got it's nickname from the WWI tank upon its' crest. Someone said it looked like a pickle, and the name stuck. My favorite unit motto was the 203rd Coast Artillery of the Missouri National Guard. "Don't Kick Our Dog." Edited November 4, 2011 by Hittite Under The Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Pellagio Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 For real amusement, study nicknames of aviation units.One squadron that comes to mind is US Navy Fighter/Attack Squadron 143 (VFA-143), the "Pukin' Dogs", so named because of the posture of the griffin in the squadron emblem. If you're talking the unofficial ones, there are some really good ones based on US army divisional badges like The Choking Chicken, Leaning Shithouse, Titty Fucker, Busted TV, PRIDE, Alcoholics Anonymous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bd1 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 (edited) http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Regimental_Nicknames there´s some, NSFW language of course 11th Hussars “The Cherry-pickers” From an incident in Spain in 1811. French cavalry, contrary to all the usages and customs of war, sneaked up on them whilst they were looting a cherry orchard forcing this gallant band to fight a dismounted action. The horror! ---------------------------------- The King's Royal Hussars "The Emperor's Chambermaids" From the 14th Hussars who captured Joseph Napoleon's carriage at the Battle of Vitoria in 1813. The regiment retained a silver chamberpot from this, the further use of which is not specified. ------------------------------------ The Princess Of Wales's Royal Regiment Di's Guys Camilla's Gorillas ----------------------------------- Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Agile and Suffering ------------------------------------Army Catering Corps (ACC) Ah Cannae Cook Aldershot Cement Company etc. etc. Edited November 4, 2011 by bd1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 That's right! "Chokin' Chicken"; the 101st Airborne. Good for starting a fight under certain circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marek Tucan Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Then there's that1st Cav Div emblem explanation... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assessor Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 The sergeant major of the unit we were attached to always referred to the REME detachment as "Snap-On's Commandos" or "Snap-On's Fusliers" (or "Bunch of idle, insubordinate, non-military tossers", depending whether he wanted us to actually help him or not...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shep854 Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 Then there's that1st Cav Div emblem explanation... Now, that's mean... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Tanker Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 For 50 years the 2nd Infantry Div. was the " Indianhead Div. " then it got PC'd to the " Warrior Div". Lot's of sneers pertaining to the 69th Armor just the number sixty-nine combined with the motto " Vitesse Et Puissance " . Latin for what .... we eat ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Pellagio Posted November 4, 2011 Share Posted November 4, 2011 For 50 years the 2nd Infantry Div. was the " Indianhead Div. " then it got PC'd to the " Warrior Div". Lot's of sneers pertaining to the 69th Armor just the number sixty-nine combined with the motto " Vitesse Et Puissance " . Latin for what .... we eat ? Having a picture of a cat there doesn't exactly help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hittite Under The Bridge Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 The sergeant major of the unit we were attached to always referred to the REME detachment as "Snap-On's Commandos" or "Snap-On's Fusliers" (or "Bunch of idle, insubordinate, non-military tossers", depending whether he wanted us to actually help him or not...)RASC- "Run Away, Someone's Coming!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hittite Under The Bridge Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 (edited) If you're talking the unofficial ones, there are some really good ones based on US army divisional badges like The Choking Chicken, Leaning Shithouse, Titty Fucker, Busted TV, PRIDE, Alcoholics Anonymous. Electric Strawberry-25th ID, Electric (or psychedelic) Butter cookie-9th ID, Almost Airborne 82nd AB, Horny Horses 6th CAV., Puking Buzzards 101st AB Flaming Assholes 37th, 40th IDCrushed Beer can 7th ID,Bucket of Blood 28th IDRoosevelt's SS 30th IDFrench Telephone 76th ID Edited November 5, 2011 by Hittite Under The Bridge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Pellagio Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 (edited) For the Australian army there are some: RA Sigs - 'Interflora' after the flower delivery company Artillery - 'Wheels that don't move, a gun that doesn't fire and a hat they can't wear' (Never mind the jokes around the word 'Ducunt' on the hat badge) AUSTINT 'Vadge-Badge' or 'Flaming Triffid' Royal Australian Regiment - Skippy Badge (Skippy was an extremely popular Australian TV show in the 60's along the lines of Lassie but with a kangaroo) 1st Commando Regiment 'Stroke Softly' (But you either better be Chuck Norris or have no aversion to crapping in a bag the rest of your life if you want to say it out loud) Edited November 5, 2011 by Luke Y Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 3/33 Armor - The Pickles. The unit got it's nickname from the WWI tank upon its' crest. Someone said it looked like a pickle, and the name stuck. My favorite unit motto was the 203rd Coast Artillery of the Missouri National Guard. "Don't Kick Our Dog." Coast Artillery and Missouri? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hittite Under The Bridge Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Coast Artillery and Missouri?I'm assuming that it had something to do with the Mississippi River, since the 202nd Coast Artillery was assigned to the Illinois National Guard. IIRC both units were reequipped as AAA units in WWII. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyE Posted November 5, 2011 Share Posted November 5, 2011 Am I right in thinking the Armored Regiment that Elvis Presley served in was known for years afterwards as 'The Kings Own'? Propably been reflagged so many times that either 12 current regiments can claim the linage or nobody remember exactly which unit it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swerve Posted November 6, 2011 Share Posted November 6, 2011 http://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Regimental_Nicknames there´s some, NSFW language of course 11th Hussars “The Cherry-pickers” From an incident in Spain in 1811. French cavalry, contrary to all the usages and customs of war, sneaked up on them whilst they were looting a cherry orchard forcing this gallant band to fight a dismounted action. The horror! ----------------------------------That one stuck for a long time, & in the mid C19 was sometimes modified to "Cherry bums", because of the red trousers they started wearing after Prince Albert married Victoria. The Desert Rats were never a regiment (division, now brigade), & the name stuck so firmly that some people may forget it's a nickname, but it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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