BAB: Initials of "Bab Code." The name of a confidential Army Telephone Code Book brought out in 1916. It contained groups of figures representing technical phrases. Being somewhat complicated, occasional confusion resulted through hasty or inadvertent misreading of the figures. On one occasion, it was told, an officer meaning to telephone the numerals "46778652," signifying "Extra Rum Required," hastily telephoned instead "46798654," signifying "Enemy about to attack." The book was sometimes spoken of as "the Adjutant's nightmare." It was small and easily mislaid, also, every other day, the authorities made perplexing alterations of code-numbers and additions.[1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.11–12.
Compendium of the Great War.
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This compendium forms the central hub of words, phrases, people, and places relative to the Great War period of 1914–1918. These also include battles, political events, ships, trench slang, British and American service terms and expressions in everyday use, nicknames, sobriquets, the titles of British and Commonwealth Regiments and their origins, and also warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary with the war, which is reflected in the language used, some of which may seem derogatory by today's standards. Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.