This wiki has been automatically Blinking: A word used as a euphemism for "Bloody," to qualify anything and everything, and on any occasion. "Halt! Who comes there?" challenged an outpost sentry, on a mounted patrol approaching his post at night. "12th blinking Lancers" came a shout in the darkness. Satisfied, the sentry simply answered "Pass 12th blinking Lancers and all's well!"
This story also is told of a smart young Staff Officer in the South African War. Riding up one day to a party of dusty infantrymen wearily tramping over the veldt, he called out, "Are you the West Riding?" "No, me lord," came the reply from the ranks, "we ain't. We're the blinkin' Buffs – walkin'."[1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.26.
The above term is listed in our Compendium of the Great War.
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.