Crabs
Plastic PPRuNer
"Rum, sodomy and the lash"
"The only traditions of the Royal Navy are rum, sodomy and the lash." (or words to that effect)
The comment was in fact made by Churchill's assistant, Anthony Montague-Browne, not Churchill himself.
The comment was in fact made by Churchill's assistant, Anthony Montague-Browne, not Churchill himself.
So to recap then, rum is a constant throughout the variations on the theme; baccy, the lash and gramophone records all appear depending on where you heard the quote, but the one the RN don't seem to have a problem with is the bum (sodomy for the officer types). Apparently it doesn't count after 3 days at sea and you're not queer if you don't push back! And the WAFUs have the cheek to take the p*ss out of the crabs!!
BTW I believe the requirement for uniforms for the newly formed RAF coincided with a cancelled order for uniforms for the Russian Army (due to the 1917 revolution) and the material found it's way to MOD tailors. The colour was 'crab blue' and we have been using it ever since.
BTW I believe the requirement for uniforms for the newly formed RAF coincided with a cancelled order for uniforms for the Russian Army (due to the 1917 revolution) and the material found it's way to MOD tailors. The colour was 'crab blue' and we have been using it ever since.
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Crabbo - spot on!
The colour of the RAF uniform (grey/blue) has nothing to do with the sky etc.
Post WW1 and the formation of the RAF as a seperate service the 1st crab blanket-stackers were sent in search of material for the new uniform. They came upon a shed load of pre-russian revolution material going for a billy-bargin.....and the rest as they say is history.
The fact that the colour is was the same as RN crab-fat leads to the nickname 'crabs'. To this day the blanket-stackers are still buying 2nd hand crap kit ; that must therefore be the 1st tradition of the RAF?
(Although with the fine physique of most crabs it'd be hard to look smart in anything.)
Rgds & best wishes to ALL in the great sandpit! (Esp the junglies & booties - Fear God Honour the King!)
The colour of the RAF uniform (grey/blue) has nothing to do with the sky etc.
Post WW1 and the formation of the RAF as a seperate service the 1st crab blanket-stackers were sent in search of material for the new uniform. They came upon a shed load of pre-russian revolution material going for a billy-bargin.....and the rest as they say is history.
The fact that the colour is was the same as RN crab-fat leads to the nickname 'crabs'. To this day the blanket-stackers are still buying 2nd hand crap kit ; that must therefore be the 1st tradition of the RAF?
(Although with the fine physique of most crabs it'd be hard to look smart in anything.)
Rgds & best wishes to ALL in the great sandpit! (Esp the junglies & booties - Fear God Honour the King!)
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BarryMonday
When you are at sea it's 'Rum, Bum and Baccy', and when ashore it's, 'Wine, Women and Song'.
Allegedly.
SL
Duh, I forgot to mention, going back to the 2001 post, that the ointment used to treat pubic lice (AKA crabs), was called Blue Unction. The colour of this paste was not dissimilar to the RAF uniform colour. Hence it was also known as 'Crab Fat'.
Singapore, in the 50's and 60's, apparently.
When you are at sea it's 'Rum, Bum and Baccy', and when ashore it's, 'Wine, Women and Song'.
Allegedly.
SL
Duh, I forgot to mention, going back to the 2001 post, that the ointment used to treat pubic lice (AKA crabs), was called Blue Unction. The colour of this paste was not dissimilar to the RAF uniform colour. Hence it was also known as 'Crab Fat'.
Singapore, in the 50's and 60's, apparently.
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Why have the RAF got a problem with Jack, afterall they were spawned from them. Why else would you 'board' an aircraft? Why is the guy in charge a 'Captain'? Everyone on 'board' is known as 'crew'. On Nimrod you go to the 'Galley' for your 10th do-nut and tea. And the home of the RAF, Cranwell was previosly an RNAS. So Crabs go back to your roots, call yourself Jack, cos you probably are!
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NVD,
As a quick aside why is it, whilst in shallow water where there are lots of underwater obstacles to hit, the most important man "on board" is in fact a pilot
Could do with a few more "pilots" in the southern hemisphere apparently
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
As a quick aside why is it, whilst in shallow water where there are lots of underwater obstacles to hit, the most important man "on board" is in fact a pilot
Could do with a few more "pilots" in the southern hemisphere apparently
all spelling mistakes are "df" alcohol induced
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
crab@SAAvn, Jungly, Almost, but not quite.
At the beginning of the First World War, a company called Garstang in Lancashire received an order from Imperial Russia for one million yards of grey woollen cloth for Russian Army uniforms. Unfortunately, by the time it was woven, dyed grey and ready for shipment, Tsarist Russia was no more and so the cloth was left to moulder in a warehouse.
Towards the end of the war, the RAF's founding fathers picked the colour sky-blue for the uniform of the new Service, and put out an invitation to tender for a huge amount of sky-blue cloth. Garstang, which already had a million yards from the Tsarist order, came in with the lowest price and was awarded the contract. However, when they tried to dye the grey material sky-blue, it came out as a dirty blue-grey colour, which was nevertheless accepted and made into RAF uniforms. (waste not, want not - there was a war on). It was introduced in 1919.
And, yes, the colour was identical to crab-fat jelly, the ointment used to treat "crabs", so the RAF became known as crabs.
"Fly Navy, sail Army, walk sideways".
Interim ranks and uniform 1918 - 1919
Initial uniform and final ranks 1919
Final uniform and ranks 1919 - Current - Reeve, Banneret and Fourth-Ardian.
At the beginning of the First World War, a company called Garstang in Lancashire received an order from Imperial Russia for one million yards of grey woollen cloth for Russian Army uniforms. Unfortunately, by the time it was woven, dyed grey and ready for shipment, Tsarist Russia was no more and so the cloth was left to moulder in a warehouse.
Towards the end of the war, the RAF's founding fathers picked the colour sky-blue for the uniform of the new Service, and put out an invitation to tender for a huge amount of sky-blue cloth. Garstang, which already had a million yards from the Tsarist order, came in with the lowest price and was awarded the contract. However, when they tried to dye the grey material sky-blue, it came out as a dirty blue-grey colour, which was nevertheless accepted and made into RAF uniforms. (waste not, want not - there was a war on). It was introduced in 1919.
And, yes, the colour was identical to crab-fat jelly, the ointment used to treat "crabs", so the RAF became known as crabs.
"Fly Navy, sail Army, walk sideways".
Interim ranks and uniform 1918 - 1919
Initial uniform and final ranks 1919
Final uniform and ranks 1919 - Current - Reeve, Banneret and Fourth-Ardian.
Last edited by ORAC; 29th Mar 2003 at 10:03.
