More actions
Category man: A man medically pronounced unfit for Overseas Service. One capable of light duties on Home Service, or employment at a Base or Lines of Communication, in Hospital Ships. "Category" acquired at the front a general meaning of something inferior, second or third rate, and was used in that sense colloquially, for example, "This is a category sort of road." "Without actually calling you a liar, I would put you down as a Category Man - C3 in veracity." [1]
References / notes
- ↑ Edward Fraser and John Gibbons (1925). Soldier and Sailor Words and Phrases. Routledge, London p.50.
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.