Tommy Atkins

[tcrean7828]

Hi folks,

How about some help on this: By crusing through the IWM, I ran across this happy item 'By the early Twentieth Century "Tommy Atkins" or "Tommy" was the almost universal nickname for an English soldier. Imperial War Museum (IWM).
http://collections.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00g005001


If this is so, we now know the identity of the British soldier who helped bury Werner Voss (i.e. tommy atkins helped bury Voss without...) was in fact a British ground troop Gunner of the 174th Brigade, RFA, 58th Division under Lt. Keigan.

Can anyone confirm this Info concerning Tommy Atkins?

Thanks in advance.

tom

[alan peacock]

Tom,
With reference to the name Tommy Atkins the nickname for
a British soldier, to the best of my knowledge this term dates
back to late 19th century. When ID/Paybooks were introduced
and bearing in mind many soldiers at that time may not have had
much of an education, a example paybook with details were posted in
the soldiers barracks with the fictional name Thomas Atkins as
an example hence the nickname 'Tommy Atkins' for a British soldier.
Maybe other Forumites can give more details.

Cheers,
Alan.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by alan peacock

Tom,
With reference to the name Tommy Atkins the nickname for
a British soldier, to the best of my knowledge this term dates
back to late 19th century. When ID/Paybooks were introduced
and bearing in mind many soldiers at that time may not have had
much of an education, a example paybook with details were posted in
the soldiers barracks with the fictional name Thomas Atkins as
an example hence the nickname 'Tommy Atkins' for a British soldier.
Maybe other Forumites can give more details.

Cheers,
Alan.

Actually, it seems to have been used in the late 18th century in this context. I have no documentation, but Wikipedia gives some hints which could probably be researched (and which should be-- never am sure where the info on Wikipedia comes from)--- They say "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".
Robert Graves, in his autobiography Goodbye to All That (1929), states that: "The original 'Thomas Atkins' was a Royal Welch Fusilier in the American Revolutionary War". Graves was an officer in the Royal Welch in 1915, and mentions this among other regimental history, but does not cite his reference.
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.
Richard Holmes, in the prologue to Tommy (2005), states that in:
"1815 a War Office publication showing how the Soldier's Pocket Book should be filled out gave as its example one Private Thomas Atkins, No. 6 Troop, 6th Dragoons. Atkins became a sergeant in the 1837 version, and was now able to sign his name rather than merely make his mark."
No source is provided for this statement.
The Oxford English Dictionary states its origin as "arising out of the casual use of this name in the specimen forms given in the official regulations from 1815 onward"; the citation references Collection of Orders, Regulations, etc., p.75-87, published by the War Office, August 31 1815. The name is used for an exemplar cavalry and infantry soldier; other names used included William Jones and John Thomas.
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.
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'".
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." Doc2

[zoomzoom]

Well, being one from the actual clan, (my real name is Samuel Atkins), I was just under the assumption that back in England we were just damned prolific! Enough so that the name became a genericism. But you fine gentlemen forward some very good ideas on the topic.

ZZ.

[alan peacock]

Doc,
Excellant reply Doc, very detailed ,I found the information very interesting
Well done !
Cheers,
Alan.