Sunday Jan 20^th, 1918

Chilly in morning but grand when sun came out. Shelling overhead all morning. Air fight and Johnny brought down.  Number 4 Platoon along with David, Charlie and Sandy.  Grand afternoon, hot in sun, chilly as night comes on.  Johnny’s shells burning just over ravine.  Wrote home 8^th letter.

Johnny Bulgar

Soldiers often used nicknames to refer to themselves and to troops of other nationalities.  These nicknames could vary across theatres of war. The British troops in Salonika used the term ‘Johnny’ or ‘Johnny Bulgar’ to refer to the enemy.  While many of the enemy troops were Bulgarian, there were also Germans, Austro-Hungarians and Turks fighting the Allies in Salonika.

The British troops referred to themselves as ‘Tommy’, probably because of the character Tommy Atkins in Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Barrack Room Ballads’ of 1892.  This term may have been brought into WWI soldiers’ consciousness as Tommy Atkins was the example name used by the Army when demonstrating how to fill in its recruitment forms.³

Overseas Service Chevrons

The Battalion diary today mentions the issue of chevrons for overseas service.  Army Order Number 4 of December 20th, 1917 laid out the details. Eligibility was very broad and included both men and women; officers and other ranks; all British, Overseas and Indian forces; Army and Navy; Nursing Services; WAAC; VAD; Red Cross; various Ambulance Services; and Native and Chinese Labour Corps.

Any one who had spent one or more years serving overseas by the end of 1914 could wear one red chevron.  All other chevrons earned after January 1915 were blue.  The maximum number of blue chevrons that would be earned was four (apart from those who went on to Russia who were eligible for a fifth).  The initial Order excluded time spent as a Prisoner of War from the calculation of eligibility – this was later rescinded.

It was to be worn on the lower right sleeve of the uniform jacket (as illustrated in the photograph).  Official wear was to be largely discontinued after 1922.¹²

13th (Service) Battalion War Diary – 20th January 1918 – Vladaja Camp

GRO No 297 para 1641 dated 15-1-18 ref Chevrons for service overseas issued. Indents are being submitted for the necessary groups of chevron. Para 1642 also issued, this refers to the use of sugar tickets whilst on leave from the force. The Bath Valley Baths have been allowed to the Battalion on Monday 21^st. The Transport bathe at the Rates Baths. 2Lt J Byrne having rejoined from hospital is again taken on the strength from 19-1-18. 1 OR having rejoined is taken on from 17-1-18. 1OR having rejoined is taken on from 19–1-18. 4 OR struck off effective strength under GRO 1011 with effect from 20-1-18. 2Lt LA Turvey to be T/Lieut 30-10-17 (Gazette no 30424 dated 13-12-17)

References & further reading

¹ A Guide to Overseas Service Chevrons in Researching WWI (includes full text of Army Order Number 4)

* image may be subject to copyright

² Overseas Service Chevrons in Tales from the Supply Depot

³ ‘Tommy, Doughboy, Fritz: Soldier Slang of WWI’ by Emily Brewer, Amberley Publishing